Brendan Dunlop, Guest Contributor

It is impossible to talk about women’s soccer in Canada without thinking about the Vancouver Whitecaps. For decades, some of the best women’s players in the country spent at least a part of their soccer journey in the Lower Mainland.

Now, thanks to Greg Kerfoot, the Northern Super League has a flag permanently planted in Beautiful British Columbia with Vancouver Rise FC keen to hit the ground running in year one. “Greg Kerfoot has always prioritized investing in the women’s game to make sure there was equal opportunity for men and women, something you can see with Vancouver’s academies spread out across the country which ensure that kids from coast to coast have the same opportunities to grow and develop in the game, not just in the major centres,” says Olympic gold-medal winning goalkeeper Steph Labbé.

Labbé, one of the best players Western Canada has ever produced is currently the General Manager of the Whitecaps Girls Elite, and will be taking the helm of Rise FC as Sporting Director.

“There’s been a fantastic group of players that have come out of B.C, some of the biggest names in the women’s game in our country. They’ve inspired so many young girls to be in the game and to want to pursue the sport.”

Many of the young Vancouver Whitecaps Girls Elite team that qualified for the group stage of this year’s inaugural CONCACAF W Champions Cup as Canada’s lone representative in the continental competition grew up idolizing stars of the Canadian women’s national team, who medalled at three straight Olympic Games from 2012 to 2020.

There will now be a generation of women’s players with an opportunity that Labbé and her Olympic teammates could hardly fantasize about when they were developing players; the chance to play professional soccer at home.

“When I was playing, we never thought of women’s pro soccer in Canada. But when you think of a women’s club in Canada, Vancouver is the first that comes to mind for all of the national team players that have come through the program, and the longevity the team had at whatever level below pro they were playing,” says Labbé.

The Tokyo 2020 hero will have a crucial role in the front office as Vancouver Rise FC Sporting Director and is learning more than a few things about the game away from the touchline.

“It’s been a learning experience, but it’s been unbelievable. I say it almost every day, I’m so grateful to be part of a group that truly believes in this and is investing to do it right. They don’t want to do it halfway, and so they’re the support and confidence that I have from the club to go out and do what I need to do to not just bring world class players to Vancouver, but more importantly, build a world class environment for these players to be a part of.

“I have a lot of experience from being a player in different countries and at different clubs and I’ve seen that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side when you’re looking at different opportunities. I have a pretty good understanding of what players value and what players really look for, when deciding what club they want to play for, and when having those experiences in a club like what really matters.

“We want to build a truly holistic environment that’s going to support our players, not only as athletes, but as people, and create just a place that they love to be. It’s not just about coming and playing professional soccer. There’s so much more to it, and I think if you can sell it in the right way, you can get any player on board.”

There are few soccer markets on the planet that can offer players the living experience that comes with being a professional athlete in Vancouver. From the sea, to the mountains, to the culture and cuisine that Vancouver has to offer,

Along with Calgary, Vancouver was the first group to commit to Diana Matheson’s Project 8 plan in 2022 to create the first Canadian professional women’s league. After months of speculation, Vancouver revealed the club’s branding on August 26 in Vancouver with the 2012 bronze medal hero in attendance.

The Vancouver Rise FC crest was crafted to serve as a powerful emblem of empowerment and progress. The majestic mountains and the radiant sun, such symbols of Beautiful BC, sandwich the club name.

The three peaks represent the three iconic mountains that stand guard over Vancouver – Cypress Mountain, Grouse Mountain, and Mount Seymour. The sun boasts six rays, each representing the six founding NSL clubs.

The official club colours, teal, gold and black represent the province’s natural beauty, captivating sunsets and the depth and strength of the neighbouring Pacific Ocean.

It is the history in Vancouver that, in part, makes building this club from the ground up so exciting for Labbé and her team.

“There’s so many top quality players that have come through the program and are a result of that investment over the years that now want to come back as players, as staff members, as just fans. To finally give those female alumni a chance to come back and support female professional players in this new club, it’s something they’ve been waiting to do for so many years.”

Yet to announce their stadium plans for next spring, Rise FC’s first home match will be another moment in B.C.’s storied soccer history.

“For young girls, young boys, to see that women can also be professionals in sport in this country, will be incredibly powerful,” says Labbé. “I think of the rare few moments that I had as a kid where I got to watch the U-20 national team during the World Cup in 2002 in Edmonton. That moment sparked me to go off and play for Canada and play professionally. So if, that one moment happens more often, and happens, you know, every weekend or every other weekend for young kids, the impact that that’s going to have is immeasurable.”

Vancouver Rise FC will stand as a beacon of hope, inspiring generations to come, leaving an indelible mark on Canadian soccer.