Trustee
Jamie Pitblado joined the BC Lions in July 2013 to take on the role as General Manager of the 102nd Grey Cup Festival. He was responsible for the strategy, planning and execution of Canada’s largest annual sporting event. Through his efforts and that of his team, Vancouver and the province of BC played host to the “best ever” Grey Cup Festival. With an economic impact of over $125 million dollars, the Grey Cup continued to be a large driver of business for the province.
Jamie has since transitioned into a senior management role with the BC Lions where he will be overseeing fan engagement strategies, game day presentation, promotional partnerships, merchandise, broadcast partnerships and alumni relations.
In 2005 Jamie, along with three other local businessmen, received the CFL Commissioner’s Award given to an individual or group who has made significant contributions to the CFL and football in general for his work establishing the BC Lions Waterboys. In September, 2008 he received the Spirit of Vancouver Bob Ackles Award which recognizes an individual or group that contributes to making Vancouver “the best that it can be”.
Previous to joining the Lions, Jamie spent 19 years with Pacific Newspaper Group Inc., publisher of The Vancouver Sun and The Province, where he served as Vice President, Promotions & Community Investment, for more than 10 years. In this role, he was responsible for the overall strategy and direction of the Promotions Department and its role in promoting and marketing the sale of the newspapers. He also drove the companies community investment strategy ensuring that both papers played leadership roles in enhancing community growth through such programs as The Vancouver Sun Run, The Vancouver Sun’s Children’s Fund, Raise a Reader, The Province’s Empty Stocking Fund and many more initiatives.
Jamie was also the lead for the newspapers sponsorship of the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic games. He also served as the Company’s spokesperson on all media related issues.
Jamie is past Chair of the Board of Directors of Arts Umbrella, former Campaign Co-chair of the United Way of the Lower Mainland and is currently a member of The Canucks for Kids Fund board, and sits on the marketing committee for Canuck Place. He has also served on a variety of other charitable and community projects including the Canadian Cancer Society, BC & Yukon Division, the bid committee for the recently announced Canada Sevens, organizing committees for the 1999, 2005 and 2011 Grey Cup and for the 2007 Memorial Cup.
Jamie, originally from Toronto, moved to Vancouver in 1991. He is a graduate of Queen’s University with a BA in Economics.
Jamie was inducted into the BC Lions Wall of Fame in 2023 as a Founder of the Waterboys, a dynamic group of British Columbia business leaders engaged in building the BC Lions Football Club’s brand and relationships in the corporate community.
