NR 07.006 - November 8, 2007
TORONTO - The
Canadian Forces will be a part of the 95th Annual Grey Cup game,
semi- and divisional finals, and related festivities in Toronto and other venues
across Canada in mid-November. As with past years, the Canadian Forces will
provide a variety of static and dynamic displays at Grey Cup venues, with representation
from the Navy, Army, and Air Force.
“The Canadian Forces are proud to participate in this year’s Grey
Cup festivities and we appreciate the support for the troops demonstrated by
the Canadian Football League,” said General Rick Hillier, Chief of the
Defence Staff. “The CFL and the Canadian Forces are both long-standing
national institutions and keepers of Canadian tradition,” he added.
“The
Grey Cup is a uniquely Canadian event and is therefore a perfect opportunity
to showcase the great work done by the members of the Canadian Forces at home
and abroad,” said Lieutenant-General Marc Dumais, Commander
of Canada Command, the military organisation responsible for routine and contingency
Canadian Forces operations in Canada.
The histories of the Canadian Football
League and the Canadian Forces overlap and share many common heroes. During
the Second World War when the CFL found itself short of players, the CF fielded
teams to help keep the league alive—CF teams won in 1942 and 1944.
Planned
activities include:
East and West Semi-Final games (location TBC) - November 11
Support Our Troops Banner display;
Escorts and Colour Party;
Coin toss representative.
East and West Championship games (location TBC)
- November 18
Support Our Troops Banner display;
Low-level fly pasts of a CF-18 Hornet Fighter;
Escorts and Flag Party;
Coin toss representative.
Grey Cup Week, Toronto - 20-25 November
Static equipment and vehicle displays that include:
CF-18 Hornet fighter jet cockpit display;
Coyote – 8-wheeled armoured reconnaissance vehicle;
G-Wagon – light utility wheeled vehicle;
Bison– 8-wheeled armoured ambulance vehicle;
artifacts from the two military Grey Cup Championship teams of 1942 and
1944;
Military escorts for the transportation of the Grey Cup – by sea,
land and air – from the CFL Hall of Fame in Hamilton to Nathan Philips
Square in Toronto; and
World’s largest “Support Our Troops” banner.
Grey Cup Game, Rogers Centre, Toronto - November
25
Low-level fly past by the Snowbirds demonstration team during
the pre-game show, about two hours prior to kick-off;
Low-level fly past of a CF-18 Hornet fighter jet at the end of
the National Anthem during the opening ceremonies;
Escorts for the national anthem singer and Grey Cup trophy;
100-man guard from Canadian Forces Base Petawawa to fire Feu de Joie (ceremonial
firing of rifles in quick succession) following the player introductions;
Canadian Forces Central Band and the Pipes and Drums of the Air Command;
Colour Party; and
Support staff on the field and throughout the stadium.
For a detailed listing of Canadian Forces’ involvement in this year’s
Grey Cup Week events visit http://www.greycup.forces.gc.ca/ or
http://www.cfl.ca/
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Note to editors: For more information, please contact: Land Force
Central Area Public Affairs Officer, Captain Mike Wiesenfeld at: (416) 633-6200
ext. 5503, on cell at (416) 455-5167 or by email at greycup@forces.gc.ca
