Calgary resident T.J. Fielder has been a diehard Saskatchewan Roughriders fan for 34 years, and yesterday he watched his team take part in a Canadian tradition dating back more than 100 years: the Grey Cup.
“The CFL brings the East Coast and West Coast together,” said Fielder, who took in the festivities at a Saskatchewan-themed bar in the northwest.
“Everybody in Canada, basically, will turn on their TV and watch.”
Mandy Gratton shared Fielder’s enthusiasm for the game as she cheered on the opposing Montreal Alouettes with family over appetizers and drinks.
“It’s one of those events in Canada that everybody’s watching,” Gratton said.
Calgary Stampeders fan Dawson Horning opted to still wear his team’s colours with pride, despite the team’s absence at the big game for the second straight season.
“It’s all fun,” he said. “We have such a different game than anyone else and it’s important to come out show your support for something that’s so Canadian.”
