The Westshore Rebels are a Canadian junior football team based in Langford, British Columbia . The Rebels play in the B.C. Football Conference, which itself is part of the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL) and competes annually for the national title known as the Canadian Bowl . The club has operated continuously since the late 1960s in Victoria, having previously been known as the Sharks, Payless, and the Hornets. The team rejoined the BCJFA in 1985 as the Victoria Payless, and changed the name to the Rebels in 1988. They were the BCFL champions in 2003.
23-620: Victoria's contribution to the BCJFA officially began in 1971 when the Victoria Dolphins were admitted to the league. Under the direction of "Mr. Football", head coach Frank Hindle, they finished a very successful first year ending in third place with 3-3-1. The next season 1972, the team grabbed second spot behind the powerful Vancouver Meralomas, but unfortunately were defeated in the first ever BCJFA semi-final game, held in Victoria, by
46-507: A new Rebels organization from the bottom floor up, and continued on as head coach until the end of the 2008 season. In 2009 John Cardilicchia once again came on board as the coach of the Rebels and continued until 2012. During the 2010 off-season the Rebels changed its name to Westshore Rebels to encompass a re-branding and relocation to newly built Westhills Stadium. In 2013 Scott Mennie took over as head coach, and then had to step down before
69-569: A restructured executive board of directors, the organization refocused and reunited with a crisp logo, updated team colours and a renewed commitment to the Westshore community. With this new family support, JC recruited and retained top coaches and players from across Canada. Ian Gordon (rugby union) Ian Christopher Gordon (born March 12, 1968) is a Canadian former international rugby union player. Born in Vancouver , Gordon
92-786: Is a 6,000-seat multi-purpose stadium in Langford, British Columbia , Canada. It is used by Pacific FC of the Canadian Premier League for soccer, by Rugby Canada for various events, and by the Westshore Rebels junior Canadian football team. In an international context, its most notable usage is as the site of the Canada Women's Sevens , an event in the World Rugby Women's Sevens Series for national rugby sevens teams. The stadium also hosted
115-471: Is the son of actor Peter Gordon, whose credits included the 1970 sports film The Great White Hope and episodes of I Dream of Jeannie . He has South African ancestry on his father's side. Gordon was originally a football player, named the CFJL's "outstanding defensive player" for 1986, while competing with Victoria Payless. He joined CFL team BC Lions in 1987 but wasn't able to establish himself in
138-627: The BC Bears of the Canadian Rugby Championship from 2009 to 2013, and the Victoria Highlanders soccer team from 2009 to 2011. The main stadium seats 6,000 and has 18 VIP suites, four change rooms, officials' rooms, concession, storage, and public washrooms. The field is built to FIFA 2-Star and World Rugby specifications, able to accommodate soccer, football, and rugby matches. Before expansion in 2019,
161-509: The COVID-19 pandemic in Canada . The women's national team hosted Australia on December 1, 2023, as part of a farewell tour for Christine Sinclair . The match had 6,102 spectators and ended in a 5–0 victory for Canada. In April 2021, the stadium was renamed to Starlight Stadium after a five-year naming rights deal. Toronto-based Starlight Investments will pay more than CA$ 500,000 for
184-469: The 1988 season coach Ferne stepped down and the head coaching role was assumed by Paul Shortt, who continued through until 1993. During Shortt's reign, Payless made the play-offs four of the six seasons. The four play-off years were from 1990-93. In 1990 Troy Francis was the CJFL top defensive player and 1992 Simon Beckow was named the CJFL top offensive player. In 1994, Payless Gas withdrew their sponsorship of
207-547: The Canadian Bowl by a 38–43 score. John Cardillichia stepped down as head coach at the end of the 2002 season, Matt Bloker who had been an assistant coach assumed the head coaching role, and coached for 2003 and 2004 season before the team was moved to Nanaimo and renamed the Vancouver Island Raiders. On November 4, 2004 the club announced that the team's board of directors voted to move operations of
230-815: The Canadian Junior Football League recognized the 2014 Rebels as having the Top Executive in Canadian Junior Football, led by team president Elise Pastro. The Rebels were also selected as the most Sportsman Like Team in the BCFC for their community outreach and professional conduct on and off the football field. In January 2015 the Rebels announced new head coach JC Boice, who has various championship titles under his belt, held various NCAA roles and works full-time with National Football Academies. With this new visionary and
253-594: The North Shore Cougars. The Dolphins participated in the BCJFA from 1971 until 1979. In addition to Frank Hindle, who coached the team in 1971, '72, and '77, other Dolphin head coaches included Roy Vollinger (1973), Ken Werrun (1974, '75 and '76), Brian Gingell (1978), and Paul Shortt (1979). In 1979 Kym Clarke was the BCFC MVP. Following 1979 season the Dolphins ceased to be a part of the BCJFA. In 1985,
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#1732797902287276-602: The Victoria Hornets, who had been dominating the BCJFA Tier II league (players 18–20 years of age) under coach Frank Hindle, and were provincial champions in 1983 and '84, moved up and again became full members of the BCJFA at the Tier I level (players aged 22 and under). In 1985 the team then became known as Victoria Payless (Payless Gas stepped in and sponsored the team, which helped cover the costs of playing at
299-571: The future. 1999 brought more success with a second-place finish due to a 6–3-1 record and a CJFL defensive player MVP in Scott Gilbert (Mennie). After a promising win, the Rebels were out played by the Okanagan Sun in their first ever BCFC final. The 2000 season resulted in a 7–3 record and another CJFL defensive player MVP, thanks to the play of Mike Kissinger. The Rebels played the Okanagan Sun and lost in over-time and missed advancing to
322-580: The name was changed to Westhills Stadium after a land development company. On July 20, 2018, It was first announced that Westhills would host Pacific FC of the Canadian Premier League beginning in 2019. The stadium underwent renovations to increase capacity to 6,000 and provide additional amenities. On March 27 and 31, 2020, the Canadian men's national soccer team was scheduled to play two friendly matches against Trinidad and Tobago at Westhills. On March 13, 2020, these matches were cancelled due to
345-474: The new level). This first year back in junior was also the final year of coaching for Frank Hindle. The team managed a respectable fourth-place finish and grabbed the last playoff spot. However, were defeated in the semi-final game by the Richmond Raiders. Darryl Brassard, Bill Grant, Ted Leonard, Dan McLean and Murray Smith were named BCJFL All-Stars. A new head coach, Doug Ferne, took over in 1985 and
368-682: The rights with about 85% going to Pacific FC and the rest to the City of Langford. In February 2024, Starlight Stadium hosted 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup matches despite Pacific FC 's failure to qualify. Due to a scheduling conflict in BC Place and weather concerns at ATCO Field , the Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Cavalry FC arranged to play their first-round home matches in Langford. The front offices said that Starlight Stadium
391-767: The side due to injuries. A loose forward, Gordon competed on the Canada national rugby union team during the 1990s. His career included a match against England at Wembley Stadium in 1992 and a 1995 Rugby World Cup fixture against the Springboks in Port Elizabeth. He played his Canadian rugby with James Bay and he also had a stint in England at Nottingham . Bear Mountain Stadium Starlight Stadium (formerly Westhills Stadium )
414-544: The stadium had 1,600 permanent seats. There is a second artificial turf field about 100 metres (330 ft) to the west named Goudy Field that has seating for 1,500. This second full-sized field is also FIFA 2-Star rated and can accommodate the Canadian Rugby Association football codes. Starlight Stadium at City Centre Park was opened in 2009 as Bear Mountain Stadium . On September 29, 2012,
437-489: The start of the season. Tim Kearse stepped in as the interim head coach for the season and in 2014 Andrew Axhorn took over the helm as head coach for the season. On March 4, 2011, the team was re-branded as the Westshore Rebels, as the team had played in the township of Langford for the previous two seasons. The team announced that they would continue playing their home games out of Bear Mountain Stadium . In 2014
460-512: The team failed to make the playoffs in '86, but with hard work by Doug and his staff in the off season, the 1987 team had a great year and finished in second place behind BC champs Okanagan Sun. This 1987 Payless club, for the first time in 15 years, hosted a BCJFA semi-final game against the Richmond Raiders, but were upset in a heart-breaker. In 1987 Ian Gordon was named the CJFL Outstanding Defensive player. Midway through
483-451: The team for 6 years. During the off-season John Cardillicha was appointed head coach, and the team again changed its name and colours to reflect the new direction John wanted to take them. The 1998 Rebels improved steadily throughout the season, and finished in third place with a 6–4 record. While they lost in the first round of the playoffs, the season had to be considered a success, and the Rebels were looking forward to even better things in
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#1732797902287506-572: The team to the city of Nanaimo for the 2005 season and beyond. However, at a special general meeting of the Vancouver Island Junior Football Society on December 21, the society reversed the vote to relocate to Nanaimo. The society then replaced the executive and board of directors with a new board of volunteers, and vowed to stay in Victoria . Paul Orizatti assumed the head coach role and in 2005 helped start
529-626: The team, and the team name was changed to the Vancouver Island Sharks. The new head coach was Rod Outhwaite, and although they finished in last place, the foundation was laid for a new era of football. 1995 saw new coach, Gerry Hornett, take over, and for the two years in which Gerry was the boss, the team registered identical records and fourth-place finishes. In 1997, the Sharks fielded a team half made up of rookies, and under new head coach John Hugi, who had been an assistant coach with
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