A ceremony last week to unveil a logo and uniforms for D.W. Poppy Secondary's new rugby academy included Kwantlen First Nation drummers, speakers and even a few tears, as students and staff alike spoke about what the program - and the event itself - meant to them and the school.
The event, held Thursday, Sept. 21, also included an Indigenous blanketing ceremony to honour both D.W. Poppy rugby academy coach and teacher Stuart Crowley and Indigenous artist Ryan Hughes, who designed the new Redhawk logo. The blanketing protocol is the highest of honours in the Indigenous community
"The ceremony was incredible. It was very touching, and it was a lot more emotional than I expected it to be," said Crowley, whose family also in attendance. "And I suppose that's a product of just the fact that it's been a lot of people putting in a lot of work to make the academy come to fruition."
Crowley noted that including the Indigenous community in any new endeavour is a significant part of the school's Truth and Reconciliation journey.
"It's massively important. I wanted to make sure we are acknowledging that we get to do the things that we do, we get to play rugby on these grounds, to celebrate and to work, because of the grace of the First Nations, who are the first peoples of this place. So we are really grateful to them, and with this artwork, it's a way we can honour them," he said.
The rugby academy, which is one of just a handful in B.C. and the first in the Fraser Valley, launched last spring, and this fall began with a full group of more than two dozen students.
Members of the academy were present at the ceremony and received their new rugby kits and practice gear at the end of the event.
"It was pretty awesome to see the excitement that the kids had for the jersey design and for the artwork," Crowley said.
The new logo was designed by Ryan Hughes, who was asked to design the new Redhawk logo after connecting with Crowley through a mutual acquaintance.
"I thought I touched a lot of people with what I've created," Hughes said, noting that while it wasn't the first logo he's been commissioned to create, it was the favourite one he's done.
Non-rugby academy students were also in attendance at the event, and some, when asked, spoke to the audience about how the ceremony made them feel inspired and proud to be part of D.W. Poppy Secondary community despite not having a specific connection to the rugby program or athletics in general.
"It meant a lot to see so many faces of people who have had a hand in making this happen, to be there today and just kind of both celebrate the artwork and the jerseys and the kit that we presented to the players, but more so to just kind of celebrate the beginning of something that I hope is going to be really special for the kids," Crowley said.
To learn more about the rugby academy, click here.
