Jacob Bond's CFL Experience continues with the BC Lions

Image Credit: BC Lions

Jacob Bond’s journey from high school football at Hillside Stadium to the professional stage reached a new milestone earlier this summer, as the Kamloops native officially made his CFL debut with the BC Lions in Edmonton.

Bond spoke with Gameday Kamloops following his first professional appearance and reflected on what the moment meant to him.

“Growing up I always wanted to be a professional athlete,” he said. “To go from playing high school football in Kamloops to attending my first pro camp on the same field was surreal.”

Bond’s debut came after earning his way off the practice roster and battling through an ankle injury that delayed his opportunity. Staying motivated during that setback wasn’t easy — but his desire to return to a CFL environment and represent the people who supported him never faded.

“Injuries are just part of football,” Bond said. “You’ve got to stay disciplined through rehab and stay on top of it. What kept me going was how badly I wanted to be back in that atmosphere.”

With his first game now behind him, Bond’s focus turns to staying healthy and continuing to prove he belongs. His mindset is all about controlling what he can control.

“My priority is to stay healthy,” he added. “I like to control what I can control, and if I stick to that, things should work out.”

Bond becomes one of the few Kamloops athletes to reach the CFL. His path — from South Kam to junior football to the pro level — is a reminder that with the right discipline and mentality, it’s possible to rise from local roots to the national stage.