From skies to football fields, Chris Shapka navigates two careers with military precision: as the wing commander for 19 Wing Comox and as a Canadian Football League official.
Shapka recently took over the top job at CFB Comox in late July (he was joined by four other CFL officials in Comox at his change of command ceremony). He is also in his 10th year as a CFL official, and most recently, his career came full circle as he was part of the officiating crew during Touchdown Pacific, the inaugural BC Lions versus Ottawa Redblacks CFL game that took place in Victoria over the Labour Day long weekend.
A few days before the game, Shapka also officiated the Commodore's Cup, an annual navy versus air force flag football game that began in 2022. CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie attended the game along with the Grey Cup and presented the Royal Canadian Air Force 19 Wing team with a trophy following a 27-26 win.
Shapka describes being a part of both games as "outstanding," and said the entire weekend of the CFL coming to Vancouver Island felt like a large celebration.
"(Being at Royal Athletic Park) was similar to the way it used to be in Hamilton before their new stadium. It used to be that the fans were very close to the field - it had a very intimate feeling like that. You could really hear the fans and the players were close to us. It was a great atmosphere and the CFL and the BC Lions did a great job in putting it together."
At the start of the game, a Cormorant helicopter performed a flyby over the stadium after the national anthem - an extra poignant moment for Shapka.
"We were definitely on the field for that; it was a special moment. I had told my officiating partners, 'it's going to be a Cormorant today, that's a helicopter that comes from 442 Squadron which is part of 19 Wing, which is the wing I'm a part of.' It was the two worlds of the RCAF and the CFL combining for me. The crowd reaction was great; everyone seemed to cheer and seemed so appreciative."
Shapka grew up in Alberta and played football in high school as his passion for the game grew. When he joined the military, he attended the Royal Military College in Kingston, and graduated with a mechanical engineering degree. He received his first posting with 407 Long Range Patrol Squadron in Comox in 2002. The RMC didn't have a football program and upon arriving in Comox for the posting, he said he wanted to be involved in football in some capacity.
He reached out to a local official and started officiating youth football, and worked his way up through all levels, eventually making his way to the CFL. He credits balancing a career commanding an RCAF base with officiating professional football to his family and the RCAF.
"My family knows that football is important to me and they know the air force is important to me, and they support me in both things."
Using his leave time to officiate games, Shapka says the CFL does have a system where he can put in his availability for games in advance to help balance his two roles. He reflects on some of his most memorable games including his first one at Mosaic Stadium in Regina and being part of the officiating crew for the 2017 Grey Cup game where he was an alternate.
With the Grey Cup set for Vancouver in late November, he says it's every official's goal to participate in the game.
"I definitely would like to be officiating in the playoffs again this season, but we'll see how it goes right now. I'm still settling into my role as the wing commander in Comox and learning everything with that."
