"The Grey Cup is special. It's ours. And it's time to celebrate it - and Canada." - Mark Cohon, Commissioner of the Canadian Football League.
The Grey Cup 100 Tour, presented by RONA will be making a stop in downtown Yorkton, Tuesday, October 2, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.
"The Grey Cup really belongs to every Canadian, so our goal for this special year of the 100 Grey Cup game is to bring it to as many cities, towns and Canadians as we can," said Mark Cohon, Commissioner of the Canadian Football League.
"And thanks to our presenting partner RONA, we are doing it in a way that will make Canadians proud, and in the most Canadian way possible: by train."
"We will take the Cup to places it has called home, and places it has never been before, and each time it arrives, we will host a celebration worthy of its stature and full of fun," Cohon said.
The Grey Cup will arrive aboard a specially retrofitted train that includes a car showcasing the Grey Cup, a special museum car that captures its long and storied history, and a team car that celebrates the special place today's CFL teams have in their communities and the hearts of their fans across the country.
The Grey Cup 100 Tour will make over 100 stops across Canada. In Yorkton, the train will stop on the CPR line along Livingstone Street, behind Liquidation World. A special tent for the Grey Cup plus various sponsor tents will off Livingstone Street.
Fans can have their photo taken with the Grey Cup and immediately share their pride via social media with family, friends and fellow fans.
A community barbecue, sponsored by Harvest Mebbats and the Yorkton Coop will be held in Western Financial Group City Centre Park , from 11:30 to 2 pm.
Proceeds from the barbecue will go to Yorkton Minor Football teams. There will also be entertainment provided by the Yorkton Regional High School Marching Band and other local organizations during the event.
Cohon thanked the Government of Canada for its support -- announced in last year's federal budget -- for the 100th Grey Cup celebrations including the train tour.
"It revolves around a great Canadian sport, but the Grey Cup has evolved into so much more," said the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.
"It's a source of pride and unity, part of our history and heritage, and something that plays an important role each year in the cultural life of Canadians. Sharing the celebration of the 100th Grey Cup by bringing the trophy and its lore to Canadians is a worthy and exciting endeavour."
RONA, a proud partner of the CFL, will mark this Canadian milestone with a special 100th Grey Cup legacy project by using its RONA Home-Field Advantage Program.
"2012 marks a special year of celebrations for us, we are thrilled to partner with the CFL to present the 100th Grey Cup Tour'', said Karim Salabi, Executive Vice President, Marketing, at RONA.
''Bringing our expertise to the communities where we live and investing $240,000 through the RONA Home-Field Advantage Program makes us extremely proud'' he added. Mr. Salabi mentioned that RONA will unveil the football fields to be refurbished with donated materials and volunteers' time during the Tour.
Premier partners TELUS, TSN, RDS and Cisco have also been intimately involved in the support and planning of the tour which launches from Vancouver September 7th, spans 72 days, and will conclude in November when the Grey Cup arrives in Toronto for the 100th Grey Cup Festival followed, of course, by the 100th Grey Cup game on Sunday, November 25th.
GMR, a global full-service and award-winning engagement marketing company with Canadian offices in Toronto and Vancouver, is the lead agency and producer of the Grey Cup 100 Tour.
"Our entire agency is rallying around the CFL and GMR's team of experts to help create this historic Canadian celebration. We are proud to be the lead agency producing one of Canada's largest, most complex tours ever," says Sean Cunningham, GMR's Director of Partnerships and project lead.
Donated by then Governor General Earl Grey in 1909, the Grey Cup has, like Canada, emerged from two World Wars, a Depression, and countless challenges and triumphs, to be stronger than ever.
"We are proud that the Grey Cup has for decades been the trophy awarded to the champions of our league," Cohon said.
"We are prouder still that it has become something even bigger than our game. It is a symbol of Canadian unity, of our ability to compete and come together at the same time. The Grey Cup is special. It's ours. And it's time to celebrate it -- and Canada."
Dates and times, and a full list of stops can be found at www.greycuptour.ca.
The celebration will span the country and culminate in a tremendous festival and game in Toronto this November. We invite all Canadians to be a part of it.
