Nathan Rourke returns home as B.C. Lions visit Greater Victoria schools
Published 5:30 pm Tuesday, February 10, 2026
The message was blunt, personal, and hard to dodge.
Standing in front of the entire student body at Lambrick Park Secondary on Feb. 10, Nathan Rourke wasn’t there to talk about touchdowns or trophies.
Instead, the Victoria-born B.C. Lions quarterback, joined by teammate and former Westshore Rebels wide receiver Kieran Poissant, asked students to think about what it actually means to step in, speak up, and take responsibility when something isn’t right.
Nathan Rourke chats with students during the Be More Than a Bystander presentation at Lambrick Park Secondary School. (Tony Trozzo/Saanich News)
Lambrick Park was the first of five Greater Victoria high schools to receive a visit from the Lions this week, launching a series of Be More Than a Bystander presentations aimed at increasing the understanding regarding the impact of gender-based violence.
Rourke and Poissant delivered a 45-minute presentation to the full school before moving into a smaller classroom discussion with students.
For Rourke, leading those conversations is part of the responsibility that comes with the platform he carries.
“As professional athletes, we have a tremendous platform,” Rourke told Saanich News. “But it’s not enough just to care about something, even deeply care about it. We need people to actually take action and back up those thoughts and feelings.”
He said the program is especially important within the culture of football, where strength and dominance are often celebrated, but conversations around accountability and healthy masculinity can be overlooked.
“We play a tough sport,” said the reigning CFL MVP. “There’s a mentality of being stronger than other people. I think it’s important to talk about what healthy masculinity looks like, especially with all the garbage that’s going on online right now.”
The presentation focuses on gender-based violence prevention and the role students can play in initiating change, emphasizing that leadership doesn’t always look loud or dramatic.
“We talk about leadership being the courage to speak up when it’s hard, even when it’s uncomfortable,” Rourke said. “It would be a lot easier for me to just stay home and train, but this matters. I want to use this platform to be a voice for good.”
The Lions will remain in the region through the week, visiting Royal Bay and Mount Douglas on Feb. 11, followed by Belmont and Esquimalt on Feb. 12.
The Victoria stops are part of a much larger provincial initiative.
In 2026, the Lions plan to visit 125 schools across British Columbia, reinforcing the idea that the team represents more than just one city.
“We’re truly B.C.’s team,” Rourke said. “Not just Vancouver or Surrey. We’re in Langford, we’re here in Saanich, we’re in Kamloops, the North, and the Interior. I love that we get to represent the whole province the way we should.”
That connection to the Island extends beyond the classroom.
The Lions will return to Starlight Stadium on May 23 for a preseason game – kicking off at 2 p.m. – marking the club’s third straight year playing in the Greater Victoria area.
Rourke and Poissant will also attend the Bard & Banker on Feb. 11, starting at 7 p.m. for a ‘Pint with the players.’
For Rourke, being back home and delivering a message that reaches beyond football remains one of the most meaningful parts of the job.
“Men need to do more,” he said. “If we can rally together and keep each other safe, that’s worth the trip every time.”
READ MORE: B.C. Lions set to visit 5 Greater Victoria high schools in February
B.C. Lions set Langford clash with Edmonton this spring at Starlight Stadium