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Jesse Card – Friend of the Warriors Sponsor

We have to say THANK YOU to our close friend, Bell Warriors Alumni, Jesse Card who has just made a donation to become a Friend of the Warriors Sponsor!  Jesse is the current Acting Executive Director of Youth Ottawa.

“Keeping our sport ACCESSIBLE FOR All is of the utmost importance with the Warriors. Not every family can afford to register their child in a competitive sport.  We do our best to keep our fees as low as possible but we can’t do that without the support of our community.  Jesse is all heart and he appreciates the challenges the Warriors face and he continues to give back to show his support.  He’s a gem of a man”, states Warriors President Paul Stewart

Jesse had quite a distinguished football career which started in 1994 as a young Tyke with our Bell Warriors.  He won Rookie of the Year that year and he never turned back.  He went on to play for the Warriors winning Outstanding DB at Pee Wee, Bantam Rookie of the Year and finishing his Warriors career winning the coveted Coaches Choice Award.

He went on to play 5 more  seasons with the McMaster Marauders while earning an undergraduate degree in  Psychology with a great focus in the application of psychology in sport and organizational structures.  Jesse went on to  advance his studies  earning a Master’s degree in Criminology with a concentration in Crime Prevention. As a Marauder, Jesse’s accomplishments were notable winning 2X Most Improved Player and 3X 1st-Team OUA All-Star  honours,  He is still ranked #1 for Most Career Passes Intercepted (16) and #3 for Most Career Solo Tackles (with 99).  He was a Yates Cup winner and was named to the McMaster All-Decade Roster for the 2000’s!  His football career finally finished but not before it took him to play in Finland.

Jesse returned to Ottawa to start his career building a successful creative mulitmedia agency (House Edge Media).  He soon reintegrated himself into the local youth football community with his company HESN which produced player and league video and markteing tools and opportunities.  He joined our league, NCAFA, as a VP of Communications and Marketing and even found time to return to his roots joining the Warriors as a Bantam DB Coach.

 

“I’ve gotten to know Jesse very well through my work with NCAFA and as a coach.  Jesse was part of my coaching staff.  He is a passionate young man especially when it comes to football and the values it promotes in our youth.  He gets it.  The fact that he continues to do what he can to give back says so much about his character and generous spirit.  On behalf of the Bell Warriors, I am proud to THANK JESSE CARD for becoming a valued Friend of the Warriors Sponsor.  You’re the best young man”, concludes President Stewart

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1st Play Ball Sponsor of ’21 – Steve Landon

How great is this. Coach Steve Landon of our Pee Wee team is not only giving his time to the club, he has become our 1st PLAY BALL SPONSOR of the Year. 100% of the funds are targeted to keep our great sport affordable for all by supporting player financial shortfalls.
Read more about the program at:  PLAY BALL SPONSOR
 
Join us in recognizing and thanking Steve for his thoughtful generousity!!!
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2020 Jim Wagdin Scholarship Winners Announced

It’s official!  The 2019 Jim Wagdin Bell Warriors Scholarship winners have been announced and this year’s winners are Ethan Ryan  of Carleton Place and Daniel Briere of Ottawa.

Ethan Ryan describes some highlights from his many years with the Warriors as, “The skills and life lessons I learned from the Bell Warriors football club were invaluable and contributed to my overall personal growth in becoming a man. Each year a different coach brought new direction and advice on how to be the best team member possible but overall the messages were always the same.  I was taught to value teammates, to give of myself, because someone was depending on me. I was taught to have compassion for my team mates and the opposing teams. I learned to be committed to myself and to my team. These lessons forced me to become responsible. Playing with the Bell Warriors required dedication and I learned to give respect and was given my fair share.  I was an award winner with the Bell Warriors every year I played for them. The Bell Warriors made me the football player and person that I am today.”  Ethan will be at Carleton University this year studying music and is hopeful to play football with the Carleton Ravens when USports returns.  He closed his application with the pledge to, “strive to make the Bell Warriors proud of me.”

Daniel Briere says of his days with the Warriors, “The Bell Warriors taught me what hard work was from a very young age. I was around 11 when I started my first year with the Warriors and it was an experience like no other.  The Bell Warriors football organization gave me the opportunity to create bonds that will last a lifetime and help me create a work ethic that I feel will keep with me until the day I retire from whatever is awaiting me in the future.”  Like all of our successful scholarship winners, Daniel has a proud record of volunteering in our community.  He was a active organizer of his high school’s Relay for Life which raises badly needed monies for the Canadian Cancer Society.  Daniel also was a “Buddy” for Ausome.  Ausome is an organization that gives children with autism a space to engage in physical activity.   Daniel ovserves that, “Being brought up with the Bell Warriors and learning about teamwork has helped me to be successful with these events in my community.”

Join us in congratulating these two exceptional young men who continue to represent the “Warrior Way” and our program with integrity and pride.  CONGRATULATIONS ETHAN AND DANIEL!

 

A special thanks also goes out to KEVIN PIDGEON, President and CEO of the Nautical Lands Group who was our exclusive GOLD SPONSOR of this year’s two Jim Wagdin Scholarships (READ MORE). 

 

Kevin Pidgeon – THANKS KEV for continuing to care!!!

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NCAFA Return to Play – UPDATE

NCAFA Return to Play 
Update – July 2020

Football Canada officially released its Return to Football Guidelines for the country on June 19, 2020.  This will shortly be followed up with OFA guidelines based on rules set out by the Province of Ontario.

As we review the guidelines presented, NCAFA and its member Clubs are working diligently to ensure any return to play strategy has player, parent, coach and volunteer safety first and foremost in our decisions.

We have heard from many of you and certainly appreciate your desire for information. At this time NCAFA will continue with the suspension of all tackle football activity until at least September 1st while we evaluate options as to if / when it is safe to restart our programs.

Thank you in advance for your understanding and patience.

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Ontario Iron Works (The Schwartzes) Step Up!

For more than a decade now, when the Bell Warriors have found themselves in need, the Schwartz family have been there to step up for our club and young players.  Well they’ve done it again!  The Bell Warriors Football Club is excited to announce that Ontario Iron Works, which is owned by Carmen Schwartz and her brother Kevin, have just made a substantial sponsorship donation to our club and is now our newest Gold Sponsor!

The Warriors find themselves in a precarious position this year, as many do, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  “We took on substantial expenses in the Winter months as we always do every year preparing for our April ind00r clinics, Spring Co-Ed Flag football program and Spring Girl’s Touch football program.  We also spent money refurbishing and reconditioning all of our helmets for the fall tackle football season and this year we had to make the difficult decision to purchase more helmets to ensure we had enough helmets in inventory.  Aside from that, we still have to pay to store our equipment and insure it.  With next to no revenues for this calendar year, we have been forced to dip into our reserves quite substantially to maitain operations.  COVID-19 has had a dramatic effect on our non-profit youth club”, states Paul Stewart, Bell Warriors President.

Carmen & her husband Ken Schwartz were both substantial volunteers with the Bell Warriors over the past decade.  Ken was a coach and equipment manager with our club while Carmen was a team manager and eventually a VP of Administration.  In 2015, Carmen was named our Bell Warriors Volunteer of the Year and was honoured as the league’s (NCAFA) Volunteer of the Year.  Their two sons Daniel and Steven both played for years with our club and their daughter Kayla Schwartz was often an eager club volunteer as well.

“The Bell Warriors give so much back to their players, families and our community.  They became a fixture in our family’s lives and we wanted to be there to help them especially this year knowing the challenges the club is facing due to this pandemic”, said Ken Schwartz.

“You can’t beat the Schwartzes.  They are great friends with many of our legacy volunteers and for them to continue to give back long after their sons have graduated from the program is a testament to their business, Ontario Iron Works, and their entire family.  This is a financial and emotional pat on the back.  We desperately needed both and can’t thank the Schwartzes enough for being there (again) for our Warriors”, summarizes Mr. Stewart.

For 65 years, the Bell Warriors Football Club has offered football programs for boys and girls ages 7-23 in the communities of Britannia, Bayshore, Bells Corners, Crystal Beach, Richmond, Munster and Stittsville.  To learn more about the Bell Warriors Football Club sponsorship program, go to www.bellwarriors.ca/sponsors/  or email info@bellwarriors.ca.

Ken Schwartz, Head Controller Ontario Iron Works and long-time Bell Warriors volunteer. Ontario Iron Works is the newest Bell Warriors Football Club Gold Sponsor thanks to a very generous donation made recently by Ken & Carmen Schwartz on behalf of Ontario Iron Works.

 

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Kevin Pidgeon Funds 2020 Scholarships!

“The Bell Warriors Football Club is pleased and excited to announce that Warriors alumni parent and alumni coach Kevin Pidgeon has stepped up to fund this year’s two Bell Warriors Jim Wagdin Post-Secondary Scholarships,” stated Paul Stewart, Bell Warriors Football President

“In funding year’s scholarships, I wanted to be sure that this year’s bursaries could continue to be made without the Warriors having to impact the club’s operating funds.  Jim (Wagdin) is a tremendous visionary and I am truly proud of all that he has accomplished with the club.” – Kevin Pidgeon, COO Nautical Lands Group.

Jim Wagdin volunteered for the Bell Warriors for 24 amazing years as a coach, VP and eventual President of the Club until 2011.  Mr. Wagdin was a man of character, dignity and distinction who set a tremendous example for our young players and families.  In 2011, upon his retirement from the Warriors, Jim was bestowed the honour as the Bell Warriors 1st Inductee into the Bell Warriors Hall of Fame.

In 1999, the Bell Warriors initiated the Warrior Scholarship program offering two $1,000 scholarships to ex-Warriors who are pursuing post-secondary education.  Participation in a post-secondary football program is not a prerequisite. There are however, three selection criteria – Academics, Warrior Experience, and Community Involvement.   An independent committee, as chosen by the Club executive, makes the selections.   $40,000 has been rewarded to date to Warrior alumni for their pursuit of post-secondary education. The Warriors support our players on and off the field!

“This gesture couldn’t have come at a better time.  Our Bell Warriors Football Club is facing unprecedented financial challenges which puts our non-profit sports club in a precarious position.  Despite the fiscal challenges our club is facing, we felt it was important to continue to support our Warriors alumni now more than ever by continuing to offer our scholarships.   We had already incurred considerable expenses, however, associated with our preparations for our Winter Football clinics, Co-Ed Spring Flag Football program, Spring Girl’s Touch Football program and our Tackle Football program.   Kevin’s considerable donation is not only appreciated but it is reaffirming that the Warriors are on the right track.  It’s a humbling pat-on-the-back to all of our volunteers who have selflessly given to their community over the years.  We can’t thank Kevin Pidgeon and his family enough for continuing to value our club and goals,” sums up President Stewart.

A HUGE THANK YOU KEV!!!

Kevin Pidgeon – THANKS KEV for continuing to care!!!

Kevin’s two sons Brendan and Art both played Tyke through Bantam with the Warriors.

 

 

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Celebrating Scotty’s Corner Diner

At the heart of the success of the Bell Warriors Football Club is our tireless volunteers and those that help keep our great sport ‘Affordable For All‘ by making generous contributions.  Scotty’s Corner Diner, in Bells Corners Nepean, was celebrated last night for doing both!

Scott Statham and his wife Jodi Statham are owners of the bustling Scottty’s Corner Diner.  Scotty in his younger years was actually a player for the Warriors.  Years later, when his and Jodi’s boy Logan was old enough, the Stathams came home to the Warriors in a BIG WAY.  Scotty has been a key volunteer and coach for over a decade now and his wife Jodi bled Warriors’ Blue and Yellow.  She did everything for everyone all the time and always with enthusiasm and a glowing smile.  Their daughter Makayla was also part of the Warriors family to the extent that she was our inaugural Volunteer of the Year winner in 2012. 

More recently, Jodi and Scotty started a new business in Bells Corners, Scotty’s Corner Diner, but they still found the time to support our club.   Even though they were time-strapped and likely heavily invested in their own business launch, Scotty’s Corner Diner agreed to coordinate our game-day canteens.  When it was said and done at year end to tally the invoices owed, we were told, “It’s on us.  Thank you for what the Warriors do in our community.”

Although Jodi and Scotty would not accept our money, the Warriors wanted them to realize how much we care about their thoughtfulness, kindness and tireless commitment to our youth, our community, our players and our 64 year-old football club.  At the 2019 Volunteer Appreciation Night held at The ALE  – Amberwood Lounge & Eatery (Stittsville), the Stathams were given a special gift.  In the drop-box frame is our a Warriors Mosquito Jersey (which was sponsored by Scotty’s Corner Diner).  The jersey was #66, the same number worn by their son Logan in his days with the Warriors.  Also enclosed was acknowledgement of their business as a GOLD SPONSOR of the Warriors and a family photo with their family all adorned in Warriors Blue and Yellow.


 

THANK YOU Jodi and Scott Statham and Scotty’s Corner Diner (Bells Corners, Nepean) for all you do for our players, community, and Warriors Football Club!

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Volunteers of the Year – Troy & Allison MacLeod

At our 2019 Volunteer Appreciation Night, our Warriors volunteers gathered for some food & drink and a night to spend some time with our Warriors friends that we’ve made this season and over the years.  It is always a festive celebration and the highlight is the naming of our Volunteer of the Year.

This year we broke new ground selecting Volunteers of the Year – Troy & Allison MacLeod of Richmond, ON.

A quote from Dan Crabtree, VP of Finance, in support of their winning selection stated,  “Troy & Allison MacLeod are the basis of so many of our club’s services.  I am hands down in support of Troy and Allison as volunteer(s) of the year nominees.  They exemplify “going above and beyond”.   They have done so much behind the scene work for Bell over the years and they always made people feel like it was “no problem”.   They have recruited for the club and driven countless of players as well.  This year Allison oversaw our Warriors Wear and Promo Items orders which included sourcing out a new supplier and hosting a new website for orders.   Troy, in his position as Equipment Manager, organized all of the supplies needed to host our 4 levels of Winter Workouts, our 11 weeks of Flag Football, all of our equipment fittings for each level, and game day setup for all four of our tackle football teams.   The couple are not only great Warrior volunteers, they are a shining example of what the impact dedicated volunteers can have in their community.”   – Dan Crabtree, Bell Warriors VP of Finance

Paul Stewart, Bell Warriors President, presented the prestigious award after saying, “Troy and Allison MacLeod work tirelessly year round as a true tag-team.  We work annually to add value for our families and most importantly, set an example for our young players.  Football should be all about being selfless, supportive, caring, and dedicated.  This is where this lovely couple truly shines.   In my 16 years with the club, I have never had more committed volunteers.  Their pleasant demeanor and tireless approach to giving back has also caught on with our many other volunteers.  They have truly embodied a culture that we have been working to instill.  I am proud to consider them as friends and thankful for their contribution to our league and club.” – Paul Stewart, Bell Warriors President

2019 Volunteers of the Year – Allison & Troy MacLeod

 
CONGRATULATIONS Troy & Allison MacLeod and on behalf of our players, families, many volunteers, and the Warriors…..THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!

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Whiprsnapr Brewing holds Warriors Fundraiser

Our good friends at Whiprsnapr Brewing Co. are hosting a Chili contest/Fundraiser for the Bell Warriors!
 
Think you make the best chili? Prove it!
 
When:  Sunday, November 17   1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
 
Bring your best, or taste and judge the best.
Free to enter.  $5 cash for tasting with proceeds to the Bell Warriors Football Club.
Winner gets a $20 gift certificate and all entrants get a beer thanks to Whiprsnapr and while your there, there will be CFL Semi-Finals on their big screen!

Come on out, enjoy some tasty chili, watch some ball and support the Warriors.  It’s a WIN-WIN-WIN!
 

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Inaugural Mosquito 9v9 season crowns WARRIORS!

NCAFA Championship week is always an exciting time of the year with the largest amateur football association showcasing the best-of-the best 8 through 18 year olds from Eastern Ontario and now Western Quebec.  Our Bantam team were hindered with some untimely injuries.  They battled hard in their B-Cup semi losing in a very tight finish to the Gloucester South Raiders 14.12.  Our very young inexperienced Pee Wee team continued to gel and improve as the season went on.  They saw themselves earn a spot vs the Gatineau Vikings in the C-Cup Championship losing in the final minute 26-22 in a heart breaker.  The Warriors Tykes 6v6 also saw themselves in their C-Cup Championship and in the last 30 seconds of the game, they gave up an untimely TD to the South Ottawa Mustangs which gave the Mustangs a 38-34 win. 

Our Mosquito team ended up playing on A-Cup Sunday vs the #1 ranked Bel-Air Lions.  They had faced the Lions twice during the regular season and lost both games.   On that chilly Sunday morning however, our relentless Warriors Mosquitos were not to be denied.  This was an inaugural 9v9 format this year which will continue going forward on the basis of this year’s successful launch.  The Lions played our Warriors tough but in the end, it was not enough and our Warriors were lifting the A-Cup Championship trophy!!!

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CONGRATULATIONS to Coach Pat Kilmartin who laid the foundation for the big win and to Head Coach Keith Stuart, DC Coach Jon Landon and all of our volunteers, parents and awesome players!!!

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A Terrible Loss of a True Warrior

As most of you may have heard already, our community lost a caring friend this week Zachary Statham-Souliere. For so many of us, you will want Zach to he remembered for the bonds he forged with his friends year after year playing Warriors football and how his parents and extended family gave everything they had to his teams and our club to be sure Zach had fond and lasting memories.

The family is asking that everyone please respect their privacy to give them time for reflection in their time of grief. On behalf of our Warriors family, however, it is important for the entire Statham-Souliere family to know that they are in our thoughts and prayers. Our very sincerest condolences.

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Stittsville Volunteer Group of the Year Award

Football isn’t about ‘pats on the  back‘ for a job well done.   Football is about acting with distinction and doing a job well that needs to be done.  It is no different in running a community football program.  “We value setting a selfless example for our youth and doing good in our community”, states Paul Stewart, Bell Warriors President.   

Having said all of that, it is an honour for our non-profit football club to be recognized in our community for the good work we have done for the past 64 years and continue to do night in and night out.  At a ceremony held last night at the CARDELREC-Goulbourn Centre, the Warriors were awarded with their nomination for the Volunteer Group of the Year.  On hand on behalf of the Warriors was Warriors VP of Finance Dan Crabtree and VP of Administration Christine Lavigne.

In addition to hosting our three distinct football programs for boys and girls, the Warriors give back to our Warriors players in the form of bursaries and scholarships.  The Warriors also plan a series of events to raise monies for our operations; and to expose youth to living an active lifestyle while playing our great sport of football:

  • Annually, the Warriors offer two $1,000 post-secondary scholarships to Warriors alumni.  Applications are judged on academics, the alumni’s Warriors experience, and their community involvement
    • 14 Stittsville residents have won scholarships in the past decade: Andrew Fullerton (’18), Stefano Napolitano (’13 and ’17), Kurtis Schaefer (’16), Sean Stoqua (’15), Charles Keenan (’14), Mitchell Henselwood (’14), Bran Hinton (’13), David Sabourin (’11 and ’12), Sam Sabourin (’10 and ’12), Mike Wierich (’11), and Richard Hobbs (’10)
    • $38,000 has been rewarded to date since the launch of our scholarship program
    • The Bell Warriors are proud to support our young players on and off the field
  • Annually, post-secondary bursaries are also made available to our Bantam and Midget aged Tackle football players and a graduating Girl’s Touch Football program player ($500 each)
  • For 23 years, the Warriors host an annual Bell Warriors Golf Tournament (hosted at the Amberwood Village Golf and Country Club, Stittsville)
  • Volunteer Appreciation Night:  hosted annually at The ALE Lounge & Eatery, Stittsville
  • Hosted numerous Warriors Days which were free to expose youth in Stittsville to football
  • Hosted free QB clinics (in Stittsville) in the Winter in 2018
  • Host Winter Workouts annually to introduce youth of Stittsville to football
  • Host two annual banquets and awards ceremonies in Stittsville
  • Host our Bell Warriors AGM in Stittsville annually
  • Partner to offer region-wide Tyke & Mosquito jamborees each August for Stittsville youth
  • Partner to offer region-wide All-Star teams to compete for the Eastern Ontario – Western Quebec Inter-Provincial championship for Stittsville youth
  • Offer Inter-Provincial cross-over games for our Bantam and Midget aged tackle football players of Stittsville
  • If boys & girls want to play football in Stittsville, then the Bell Warriors Football Club are their team for affordable & accessible non-contact and tackle football programs

We are proud of what we do as Warriors in our community.  THANK YOU to Dan and Christine for being on hand to accept our award.

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50/50 is a WIN-WIN! Time to Step Up Warriors!

NCAFA and OSEG are looking for 50/ 50 sellers during Redblack games.

As you may know, OSEG has partnered up with NCAFA to raise money for the OSEG Foundation.  NCAFA is very lucky to have an organisation like OSEG supporting minor football.  Part of the proceeds from the RedBlacks 50/50 goes to every club within NCAFA to help offset equipment costs, and by extension, keeping minor football the cheapest and most accessible sport for kids in Ottawa.

This is an opportunity for you to help out your club and the league by working 4-9 RedBlack home games, while being paid for your time by OSEG.

Gawain Harding, President of the Gatineau Vikings and NCAFA Executive says, “I’ve been doing this for the last 3 years and I have enjoyed the experience greatly.  It’s a fun way to give back.  The time passes quick.  And selling 50/50 tickets is allot easier than you think it is.   People want to buy 50/50 tickets.  You just need to be active and vocal for 3 hours.”

The OSEG Foundation and NCAFA will be having a second orientation session on:

TUESDAY, JUNE 11th at TD PLACE       CLICK HERE if interested

We need to get as many people who are interested out on that date.  Candidates should be:

  • Must be outgoing – approaching strangers may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but sometimes meeting new people can be fun and rewarding!
  • Cash handling is a must – selling raffle tickets in $5, $10 and $20 increments sometimes calls for math on site. Top sellers last season sold over $4,000 per game! That’s a lot of cash!
  • Willing to help make a difference – 50% of the pot does go to one lucky fan, but the real reason for the raffle is for the 50% that is donated to the OSEG Foundation.

It’s time to step up.  For more details, you can also email us at info@bellwarriors.ca.  

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CONTACT

T: (613) 838-4279
E: info@bellwarriors.ca
M: P.O. Box 1269,
Richmond, ON K0A 2Z0

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