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<\/p>\nNathan Rourke returns home as B.C. Lions visit Greater Victoria schools<\/p>\n
Published 9:30 am Wednesday, February 11, 2026<\/p>\n
The message was blunt, personal, and hard to dodge.<\/p>\n
Standing in front of the entire student body at Lambrick Park Secondary on Feb. 10, Nathan Rourke wasn\u2019t there to talk about touchdowns or trophies.<\/p>\n
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\u2019t right.<\/p>\n
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Nathan Rourke chats with students during the Be More Than a Bystander presentation at Lambrick Park Secondary School. (Tony Trozzo\/Saanich News)<\/p>\n
Lambrick Park was the first of five Greater Victoria high schools to receive a visit from the Lions, launching a series of Be More Than a Bystander presentations aimed at increasing the understanding regarding the impact of gender-based violence.<\/p>\n
Rourke and Poissant delivered a 45-minute presentation to the full school before moving into a smaller classroom discussion with students.<\/p>\n
For Rourke, leading those conversations is part of the responsibility that comes with the platform he carries.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs professional athletes, we have a tremendous platform,\u201d Rourke told Saanich News. \u201cBut it\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe play a tough sport,\u201d said the reigning CFL MVP. \u201cThere\u2019s a mentality of being stronger than other people. I think it\u2019s important to talk about what healthy masculinity looks like, especially with all the garbage that\u2019s going on online right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
The presentation focuses on gender-based violence prevention and the role students can play in initiating change, emphasizing that leadership doesn\u2019t always look loud or dramatic.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe talk about leadership being the courage to speak up when it\u2019s hard, even when it\u2019s uncomfortable,\u201d Rourke said. \u201cIt 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Lions remained in the region through the week, visiting Royal Bay and Mount Douglas on Feb. 11, followed by Belmont and Esquimalt on Feb. 12.<\/p>\n
The Victoria stops are part of a much larger provincial initiative.<\/p>\n
In 2026, the Lions plan to visit 125 schools across British Columbia, reinforcing the idea that the team represents more than just one city.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re truly B.C.\u2019s team,\u201d Rourke said. \u201cNot just Vancouver or Surrey. We\u2019re in Langford, we\u2019re here in Saanich, we\u2019re in Kamloops, the North, and the Interior. I love that we get to represent the whole province the way we should.\u201d<\/p>\n
That connection to the Island extends beyond the classroom.<\/p>\n
The Lions will return to Starlight Stadium on May 23 for a preseason game \u2013 kicking off at 2 p.m. \u2013 marking the club\u2019s third straight year playing in the Greater Victoria area.<\/p>\n
Rourke and Poissant will also attend the Bard & Banker on Feb. 11, starting at 7 p.m. for a \u2018Pint with the players.\u2019<\/p>\n
For Rourke, being back home and delivering a message that reaches beyond football remains one of the most meaningful parts of the job.<\/p>\n
\u201cMen need to do more,\u201d he said. \u201cIf we can rally together and keep each other safe, that\u2019s worth the trip every time.\u201d<\/p>\n
READ MORE: B.C. Lions set to visit 5 Greater Victoria high schools in February<\/a><\/p>\n