VANCOUVER
WHITECAPS
BHM KIT
February 27, 2025
This Black History Month, the Vancouver Whitecaps released their limited edition BHM jersey designed in collaboration with acclaimed local artist Anthony Joseph. The special edition kit celebrates the rich history, culture, and contributions of the Black community in Vancouver and across Canada, and is the first of its kind in Major League Soccer.
What makes this release even more unique is the involvement of players and staff, who played an active role in bringing the design to life. This isn’t just a jersey, it’s a statement.
Ahead of the Whitecaps’ upcoming match against Deportivo Saprissa on February 27, we sat down with former Whitecaps player and Canadian international Tosaint Ricketts, who is now the Caps’ Liaison for Club and Player Engagement, Senior Manager, Community & Social Impact Ryan Sidhu, and Equipment Operations Manager Marty McDermott to discuss the inspiration behind the kit, the significance of Black History Month, and how the team came together to create something truly special.
They share their thoughts on the cultural importance of the jersey, the process behind its design, and what it means to see it take the field for the very first time.
What makes this release even more unique is the involvement of players and staff, who played an active role in bringing the design to life. This isn’t just a jersey, it’s a statement.
Ahead of the Whitecaps’ upcoming match against Deportivo Saprissa on February 27, we sat down with former Whitecaps player and Canadian international Tosaint Ricketts, who is now the Caps’ Liaison for Club and Player Engagement, Senior Manager, Community & Social Impact Ryan Sidhu, and Equipment Operations Manager Marty McDermott to discuss the inspiration behind the kit, the significance of Black History Month, and how the team came together to create something truly special.
They share their thoughts on the cultural importance of the jersey, the process behind its design, and what it means to see it take the field for the very first time.
DARBY: In 2020-2021 we saw a rise in BHM initiatives, but since then the momentum hasn’t remained as strong. Why is it important for clubs to continue to push projects like this?
Tos: You look across the league, you look across our team, there’s a large representative [of Black players]. When you look to the past, players like Alphonso [Davies], [Derek] Cornelius, Theo Bair, who all received jerseys. This is for them. To show that what they did and what they’re doing now matters, and it matters to the next generation. The goal is that we do the right things now, and through these types of projects we educate people. We teach them about history, teach them about the contributions [of Black players], but not only that, we inspire the next generation to do these types of things and do it better. That's what it’s all about. It’s about inspiring the next generation and just doing what’s right and to keep the conversation going.
When did you guys start the process of coming up with this kit? Sometimes people don’t realize how much time goes into a project like this.
Tos: I think we would have started June of 2024, we had the first meeting, and we got the okay from our VP of community. But you have to get approvals. So we immediately started working on a business plan, a PowerPoint touching all the main points of how we wanted to impact the community. So that spanned across eight months, like I said, getting approvals internally, from the Whitecaps executives getting approvals from MLS, looking to Concacaf, getting approvals from them. And then there’s a legal side as well. So it’s a long process, but so worth it in the end, when you see what it means to the players, when you see how well it’s received globally. It was definitely worth all the hours we put into it.
Tos: You look across the league, you look across our team, there’s a large representative [of Black players]. When you look to the past, players like Alphonso [Davies], [Derek] Cornelius, Theo Bair, who all received jerseys. This is for them. To show that what they did and what they’re doing now matters, and it matters to the next generation. The goal is that we do the right things now, and through these types of projects we educate people. We teach them about history, teach them about the contributions [of Black players], but not only that, we inspire the next generation to do these types of things and do it better. That's what it’s all about. It’s about inspiring the next generation and just doing what’s right and to keep the conversation going.
When did you guys start the process of coming up with this kit? Sometimes people don’t realize how much time goes into a project like this.
Tos: I think we would have started June of 2024, we had the first meeting, and we got the okay from our VP of community. But you have to get approvals. So we immediately started working on a business plan, a PowerPoint touching all the main points of how we wanted to impact the community. So that spanned across eight months, like I said, getting approvals internally, from the Whitecaps executives getting approvals from MLS, looking to Concacaf, getting approvals from them. And then there’s a legal side as well. So it’s a long process, but so worth it in the end, when you see what it means to the players, when you see how well it’s received globally. It was definitely worth all the hours we put into it.
What were some of the challenges or surprises that came up during the process of bringing this to life?
Ryan: I think on our end a big part of the project was if the players were gonna be wearing it, we wanted to represent the players in their past and their history and their experiences. So a really cool part of this project was having Tos put together a player committee of some of our Black players. Sam Adekgube, Ali Ahmed, Ralph Priso to be a part of it and give their feedback as well.
A pleasant surprise was how bought in the players were. And I think you can see it when they wear it. They’re excited to wear it, because it represents them, and it’s something that they had a hand in helping to create. And I think that’s the first time we’ve done that as a process. Marty, probably for anything at the club, is involving the players in the sort of design process. So that was just like a really pleasant surprise to see how bought in and appreciative they were of this project.
Tos: I would also add Anthony Joseph, too. We had to look for an artist as well to help design the logo, you know, create the neck tag, jock tag. The cloth around the Whitecaps logo, that's very unique to him and his design and the way he works. And he’s a great artist. He has a mural painted in Hogan’s Alley. He’s been living in Vancouver for a long time, knows the history, knows the community. His work on this was instrumental, and we’re happy that he was a part of it as well.
What are some of the details you included to make this special to Vancouver?
Tos: The first one for sure is the hummingbird, which is the bird of Vancouver, and also synonymous with a lot of Caribbean countries. A tropical bird, you see it, you think of warm weather. And then obviously the Pan African colours, the yellow, the blacks, the green, the reds, vibrant colours. Then, the quote on the back, ‘Black History is Canadian history.’ That is from Jean Augustine, who was the first Black woman in the parliament. So imagine her being the first one in those rooms molding change in the history of our country.
Ryan: I think on our end a big part of the project was if the players were gonna be wearing it, we wanted to represent the players in their past and their history and their experiences. So a really cool part of this project was having Tos put together a player committee of some of our Black players. Sam Adekgube, Ali Ahmed, Ralph Priso to be a part of it and give their feedback as well.
A pleasant surprise was how bought in the players were. And I think you can see it when they wear it. They’re excited to wear it, because it represents them, and it’s something that they had a hand in helping to create. And I think that’s the first time we’ve done that as a process. Marty, probably for anything at the club, is involving the players in the sort of design process. So that was just like a really pleasant surprise to see how bought in and appreciative they were of this project.
Tos: I would also add Anthony Joseph, too. We had to look for an artist as well to help design the logo, you know, create the neck tag, jock tag. The cloth around the Whitecaps logo, that's very unique to him and his design and the way he works. And he’s a great artist. He has a mural painted in Hogan’s Alley. He’s been living in Vancouver for a long time, knows the history, knows the community. His work on this was instrumental, and we’re happy that he was a part of it as well.
What are some of the details you included to make this special to Vancouver?
Tos: The first one for sure is the hummingbird, which is the bird of Vancouver, and also synonymous with a lot of Caribbean countries. A tropical bird, you see it, you think of warm weather. And then obviously the Pan African colours, the yellow, the blacks, the green, the reds, vibrant colours. Then, the quote on the back, ‘Black History is Canadian history.’ That is from Jean Augustine, who was the first Black woman in the parliament. So imagine her being the first one in those rooms molding change in the history of our country.
When will the team be wearing the kit this season?
Marty: We wore it in two preseason games, but we are going to be wearing it for our home Concacaf Champions Cup game against Saprissa here at BC Place, which we're really excited about. As of now, nothing during the MLS season. But you never know. Things do change. But right now it's going to be the only time you're going to actually see it at BC Place.
What does this kit mean to each of you personally?
Ryan: It just shows advancement as a club in terms of the community impact that we’re trying to have. I think it’s great for clubs to do it in any way, but for us, it feels like a really big way of celebrating Black History Month. And so for me, I think it’s just a representation of the club. And like Tos mentioned, a really great nod to all of the players that helped build the history of this club, the players that will continue to build that legacy into the future. And just a great representation of Black culture, and not only in Vancouver, but in Canada as a whole. So for us, I think it’s a really special project.
Marty: We wore it in two preseason games, but we are going to be wearing it for our home Concacaf Champions Cup game against Saprissa here at BC Place, which we're really excited about. As of now, nothing during the MLS season. But you never know. Things do change. But right now it's going to be the only time you're going to actually see it at BC Place.
What does this kit mean to each of you personally?
Ryan: It just shows advancement as a club in terms of the community impact that we’re trying to have. I think it’s great for clubs to do it in any way, but for us, it feels like a really big way of celebrating Black History Month. And so for me, I think it’s just a representation of the club. And like Tos mentioned, a really great nod to all of the players that helped build the history of this club, the players that will continue to build that legacy into the future. And just a great representation of Black culture, and not only in Vancouver, but in Canada as a whole. So for us, I think it’s a really special project.
Tos: Being in a lot of environments where Black people are misunderstood, treated differently, treated negatively, experiencing hate, things like that, it's nice to be a part of an organization, be a part of a club who values these types of things. You know, people who will listen to the idea, even though it may be a little risky or a little edgy at the start, but back you 100%. I’m proud to be a part of this club for this reason and for other reasons and the amount of work we do in the community, but this is truly a proud moment for me at the Whitecaps.
Marty: I’d say proud as well. It’s the first time I’ve been involved in anything like this. I’m proud of the work Anthony, Ryan and Tos put into it. I’m proud of our club, and it’s for the community.
Marty: I’d say proud as well. It’s the first time I’ve been involved in anything like this. I’m proud of the work Anthony, Ryan and Tos put into it. I’m proud of our club, and it’s for the community.