Club founders James Lay and Stuart Grills had played Australian Football for the Seattle Cats throughout 2000.

Grills had talked to Duncan McFarlane (an ex-pat Australian) about starting a team in Vancouver and was given a great deal of encouragement and many contacts in Australia who may be able to help.

The very first training session witnessed four players in attendance: James Lay, Stuart Grills, Peter Campion and Greg Everett.

The VAFC played an exhibition game of Gaelic Football against the Vancouver Irish Sporting Social Club – men and women.

It was a huge success and, even though the Irish won convincingly, it developed a great relationship with their organisation and is now scheduled as the first event of every season, becoming a Cougars tradition.