The REDBLACKS Mentorship Program presented by TD continues to create meaningful community impact, with players reflecting on leadership and representation during Black History Month.
Ottawa REDBLACKS players Aidan John, Geno Lewis, James Peter and Kalil Pimpleton are embracing their roles as mentors through the REDBLACKS Mentorship Program presented by TD. Through the program, the players have built connections that empower, uplift and help shape the next generation of leaders, something the players say carries even greater meaning during Black History Month.
Designed to support at-risk youth in the Ottawa community, the REDBLACKS Mentorship Program presented by TD pairs young participants with REDBLACKS players in a structured, relationship-driven environment. The program consists of monthly group sessions, skill-building workshops and consistent check-ins with the goal of building confidence, reinforcing identity and encouraging academic success, all while giving participants the opportunity to connect with their football heroes.
“Personally I try and be a role model for everybody but when it comes to Black youth It’s all about being a good role model and being someone who understands what they’re going through,” said defensive lineman Aidan John when asked what it means to be a role model for Black youth in the Ottawa community. “Hopefully they can identify with me and look at me as someone who’s made it to a certain level in life, who once faced similar challenges to what they’re facing now.”
"being a Black person is more than a month, but a month that we get to celebrate for us"
Hear from DL #93 Aidan John on what Black History Month means to him, and how he shares his life experiences as a mentor in the REDBLACKS Mentorship Program.@FoundationOSEG pic.twitter.com/XfylfqMF3w
— Ottawa REDBLACKS (@REDBLACKS) February 5, 2026
Since launching in the summer of 2021, the program has supported 94 young participants and provided more than 1,000 hours of mentorship with all of the mentees saying that their mentor has helped them think about the future. For the youth, these moments can be life-changing.
“It’s amazing. I wish I would have had something like this when I was in high school and middle school,” said receiver Geno Lewis. “I hope they look at me and see someone who is very consistent, somebody who is dedicated and somebody who is motivated to help the next person. I think those three things are huge for people to move up in life and you know, once you have the motivation to help somebody else, the sky is the limit.”
Ottawa native and REDBLACKS linebacker James Peter is no stranger to giving back to his local community, and is truly embracing this opportunity with the mentorship program.
“For me, it’s always been about being someone who is community oriented. I feel like community is something that’s really big, especially in our day-to-day. It brings a togetherness, a cohesiveness for people to feel comfortable and welcome in their environment,” said Peter.
For the REDBLACKS, the Mentorship Program isn’t just a one-month initiative, it’s a year-round commitment. The same should be said for Black History Month, which offers an opportunity to reflect, learn, and listen, while recognizing that its impact extends well beyond a single month. That message resonates deeply with the players involved in the program.
“It’s a part of history and obviously there’s a lot of trauma that has rested in a lot of communities but it’s also a celebration of everything that we’ve overcome as a people ” said John. “Being a black person is more than a month but this is a month that we get to celebrate for us and enjoy for us.”
Lewis echoed that sentiment, while reflecting on the significance of Black History Month.
“There’s so much history. There’s so much stuff that has been buried in the past and I think everybody needs to understand and appreciate the things that happened in the past that got us here today. When it comes down to it, we have to find ways to make things better. It’s going to be one step at a time but every day that we help, it’s the right thing to do.”
Through the REDBLACKS Mentorship Program presented by TD, players like John, Lewis, Peter and Pimpleton are helping create opportunities that extend well beyond the football field. Especially during Black History Month, the program serves as a reminder of the power of representation, leadership and community connection along with the impact that can be made when athletes invest in the next generation.
