Community Outreach Award
The Community Outreach Award is given to a Pacific FC player who demonstrated an exceptional commitment to empowering youth in our local community. This can be through community events, schools visits and charitable organizations.
In 2024, Pacific FC Captain, Josh Heard earned the Community Outreach Award for his support of recent cancer survivor Ollie Conway and Island Kids Cancer Association, local schools in the Greater Victoria area, and his youth soccer club, Lakehill Soccer Association.
Pacific FC connected with Ollie Conway while he was undergoing treatment for a cancerous brain tumour at BC Children’s Hospital in 2023. We sent Ollie a bundle of PFC merchandise and a promise he could meet the team when he recovered. In 2024, Pacific FC led by captain, Josh Heard, got to honour Ollie Conway during our Marvel Superhero Match inviting him as an honourary captain. Heard’s efforts to get to know Ollie’s story, involve him in team practices and off-field activities helped make it a memorable experience for the young Trident fan. Inspired by Ollie’s story, Pacific FC connected with Island Kids Cancer Association to raise awareness, drive fundraising and deepen its commitment to supporting local families who are facing similar challenges to Ollie’s.
School visits provide Pacific FC players with a meaningful opportunity to empower youth by sharing their professional journeys and imparting valuable lessons in leadership, teamwork, and resilience. By engaging with students directly, players inspire the next generation to pursue their passions and overcome challenges with determination. For Josh Heard, a local player from Victoria, these visits hold special significance. His deep connection to the community allows him to understand the unique experiences and aspirations of local youth. As a positive role model, Heard exemplifies how dedication and hard work can lead to success, demonstrating the impact of giving back and fostering pride within his hometown.
Josh Heard’s connection with his local grassroots club, Lakehill Soccer Association, highlights the transformative pathway Pacific FC has created from youth club soccer to the professional level—an opportunity that didn’t exist before the club’s establishment. Having grown up playing for Lakehill, Heard’s connection to his local club helps inspire young players to dream big. Through his story, he demonstrates how Pacific FC has bridged the gap between grassroots development and professional aspirations, showing that talent from local youth clubs can now thrive at the highest levels. His active engagement with Lakehill reinforces the message that with dedication, passion, and the support of clubs like Pacific FC, the possibilities for aspiring players are limitless.