When Bo Levi Mitchell takes to the field, the first thing you notice is the obvious swagger of the reigning CFL Most Outstanding Player.

The second thing you’ll likelynotice is the exceptional detail of his inked left arm sleeve.

Tattoos, as for most anyone, are a personal thing for Mitchell, a story line of moments and events that have occurred over his past 29 years.

“I think tattoos are a way to represent something you’ve gone through in life. Something that means a lot to you,” says Mitchell.

“Like my first one, I got a gunslinger tattoo on my right bicep for my uncle who has passed, he used to call me ‘gunslinger’. Then, I’ve got the scripture John 15:13 (“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”) on my right shoulder because my brother’s best friend died protecting him so my brother wouldn’t be here today without that.”

As for the sleeve on his left arm, it tells a more recent tale of Mitchell’s experiences north of the border.

“My left arm sleeve starts out as an elephant for my daughter, Ele, it’s kind of her spirit animal. I wanted to get something that represented her and that while I’m playing football I can look down and know who I’m playing for.”

“Then all around it I’ve got the Three Sisters Mountains out in Canmore. Basically, the birth of my daughter, the birth of my career, my home, where we live and where we plan to live for a long time, and I thought it was just something all encompassing and very meaningful to me.”

With the birth of his second daughter, Lakelyn, in early May, Mitchell is now in the process of designing more artwork.

“Some kind of lake. I’m thinking Lake Chelan because of where Madi and I got married. And then just trying to decide where to get it, if I go the pec or the other right arm but I haven’t decided yet.”

Photo Credit: Candice Ward