The 2016 CFL season hasn鈥檛 started yet, but the Saskatchewan Roughriders have already caught their first touchdown of the year with assistance from the Canadian Red Cross and SaskTel.
The Imagine No Bullying school presentations, presented by SaskTel, won the Canadian Football League鈥檚 Rouge Award in the category of Best Community Initiative.
鈥淭he Canadian Football League and its member clubs each do outstanding work in their communities,鈥� said Craig Reynolds, president and CEO of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. 鈥淭o be recognized as the best community initiative in the league is truly a testament to an outstanding partnership between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Red Cross and the amazing support and desire to give back by our players. What we do in the community is as important as anything we do as an organization. Through our partnership with the Red Cross we are making a positive impact in young people鈥檚 lives and this positive impact was recognized and rewarded by our peers at the CFL.鈥�
Teams submit entries in seven different categories and a panel of distinguished CFL staff select the top three in each category. The rest of the league votes on the winner.
鈥淭his award is proof of the strength of the partnership between the Canadian Red Cross, the Saskatchewan Roughriders and SaskTel, as well as their shared commitment to reaching every student in the province with bullying prevention education,鈥� said Cindy Fuchs, vice-president of the Canadian Red Cross in Saskatchewan.
Since the program鈥檚 inception in 2010, several Roughrider players have been trained by the Red Cross to deliver Imagine No Bullying presentations to schools across the province. The players educate students on how to create safe environments for themselves and others through information based on Red Cross bullying prevention education.
鈥淲e are extremely pleased to partner with the Red Cross and the Riders to make a difference by encouraging youth to take a stand against bullying and cyberbullying in our communities,鈥� said Ron Styles, SaskTel president and CEO. 鈥淪askTel understands that the products and services we sell, when utilized inappropriately, can perpetuate the act of bullying and in particular cyber bullying. The Imagine No Bullying program along with SaskTel鈥檚 I am Stronger program aim to provide youth with the education and resources required to put an end to bullying.鈥�
Roughrider players have spoken to more than 75,000 students through these presentations.
Current players Jorgen Hus, Dan Clark, Levi Steinhauer, Nic Demski and Spencer Moore have been trained by the Red Cross and are delivering presentations at schools. Past player presenters include: Neal Hughes, Luc Mullinder, Keith Shologan, Chris Getzlaf, Scott McHenry and Weston Dressler.
