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Former BC Lions coach Brian Chiu shares a glimpse of his journey in football
(Courtesy: BC Lions/BVM Sports)

Former BC Lions coach Brian Chiu shares a glimpse of his journey in football

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — To pay tribute to Asian History Month in Canada, BCLions.com found two of their CFL figures that know about beating hindrances. Long-term BC Lions member Brian Chiu, the former offensive line coach and CFL center, accepts and acknowledges that change should start inside his own neighborhoods as it’s an optimal chance to erase the discrimination against race inside sports.

Chiu, a Vancouver local, was a 13-year veteran for the Montreal Alouettes from 1997 to 2009. As an athlete of Asian descent, Chiu recalls moments when he played at Pacific University and afterward Washington State University during the ’90s. It wasn’t easy, but he takes pride in being able to show the next generation how to face the challenges head on.

“It was hard, but at the same time I was very proud of what I represented in and being able to represent my heritage, and letting the younger kids know that they can do it too,” Chiu said in an interview with BCLions.com.

In a time where the discrimination against Asian culture is as severe as ever, Chiu’s story is one that will inspire and aid the future generations in playing the game. Later, the former CFL standout added that he thinks it really harms the younger generation when they put those labels on themselves. There were times when fans went up to the former line coach and called him out loudly, saying “Asians shouldn’t play football” or “return to where you came from.”

The former offensive coach still distinctively recalls that one secondary teacher revealed to him, he was never going to make it in football. This was no doubt a struggle for him throughout his childhood and he shared many instances of Anti-Asian racism.

As a traditional Chinese kid, his wishes to play for the country seem hard to come true. He revealed that eventually, he persuaded his mother to play at Vancouver College. After that, he spent some years at Pacific University, then moved to the Washington State University where he began playing more than 10 games for the Cougars. He was selected by the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes in 1996 but still he kept his word to his mother that he would complete his degree before playing the first season of CFL. A year later, as per his promise, he graduated with a degree in sports management while heading towards Montreal.

The former offensive lineman’s hard work paid off after so many years of playing for the country and coaching in the CFL. Upon his retirement in 2010, Chiu left the game as a six-time All-Star, two-time Grey Cup champion and was named the most outstanding offensive lineman in 2002. The coach would end up winning another Grey Cup on the sideline and, although he loves the game of football, he believes the most important thing is for youngsters to get educated and be active in the sport they love.

“There’s some merit in that football is only going to take you so far. Your degree and your education are going to be with you forever. I do believe a part of it,” Chiu told BCLions.com, “At the end of the day, I think there’s a fine line of letting out kids play any sport they want, as long as they’re active, it doesn’t matter.”

This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.