The Nanaimo NightOwls, aka the Nanaimo Bars for certain games, are looking for billet families ahead of the upcoming season. (Nanaimo NightOwls)

By Alex Rawnsley

home away from home

‘It’s such a positive experience:’ billet homes needed for Nanaimo NightOwls

May 28, 2024 | 1:33 PM

NANAIMO — Back for a third season, the Nanaimo NightOwls are still looking for some homes away from home for their players.

Those set to represent the team in West Coast League baseball action this summer are beginning to arrive in town, however the team is still needing billet homes for some.

General manager Jim Swanson said billeting creates a life-long bond between families and a player, with the host family acting as a key link between the player and the wider community.

“In so many ways, it’s such a positive experience. I’ve done it myself with players and I still stay in touch with them and I know so many host families will stay in touch with their players they’ve had for essentially the rest of their lives.”

Players are kept busy while in Nanaimo, with regular gym sessions in addition to playing almost every day through June, July and into August. (Nanaimo NightOwls)

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As of this week, the team is short roughly 10 beds and needs to find them by early June.

Swanson said post-COVID has been a challenge as more people are working from home and have since transformed a spare bedroom into a more functional office space.

The team is looking for a safe place for players to call their own, with a bed and access to washroom and laundry facilities.

He added players are keen to integrate into their host family routines and are extremely self-sufficient.

“The basics is to just have a place where you can welcome somebody into the home, get a good night’s rest and clean up a little bit then get ready for the next day. We basically play every single day for the duration of the West Coast League schedule.”

It’s a maximum 70-day commitment which flies by, according to Swanson.

Around half the time, the players are on the road and even when they’re in Nanaimo, time is spent at the gym or the ballpark.

Swanson, who also heads up the WCL team in Victoria, said former billets say the experience almost goes by too fast.

“They feel like they’ve been here and they’re gone pretty quickly. I think that’s also an advantage over some of the longer sports is that it gets to be a long season by the time a hockey season has gone seven to eight months.”

Billet families are given season tickets and some help with the grocery bill from the team, in exchange for a safe, comfortable place for a player to stay. (Nanaimo NightOwls)

Billet families receive some money for groceries to help offset the cost of another mouth to feed, along with season tickets to games in Nanaimo.

The team handles any transportation needs the player might have.

He added players brought in are all driven to achieve their academic and sporting goals.

“They’re collegiate athletes, they’re going and getting their education, they’re working on their schooling, they have to have strong citizenship to just be able to make their college teams, then to be able to represent their colleges…in the West Coast League.”

The team has recruited a wide array of players, including several from the central Island.

Others are from the Lower Mainland, eastern Canada, the United States, Venezuela, Taiwan and Japan.

Anyone interested in learning more about being a host family is asked to contact the team office at (250) 739-6113, or email tina@nanaimonightowls.com.

— with files from Ian Holmes

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