RCMP-CFL partnership brings Canadian communities together through Grey Cup tour
By Alexandra Cotroneo
Human interest
Corporal Devonna Coleman shares her pride in Canadian football during the Grey Cup community tour stop at the Musical Ride Stables in Ottawa.
Image by Martine Chenier
November 21, 2024
Content
Two iconic Canadian institutions—the RCMP and the Canadian Football League (CFL) have forged a remarkable partnership, built on a long-standing relationship that has existed for decades. This partnership is helping write a meaningful chapter in Canadian heritage, creating lasting memories through countless games and community events. The culmination of this collaboration has been the cross-Canada Grey Cup community tour.
Over the years, the RCMP has enjoyed a close relationship with the CFL. The image of RCMP officers in Red Serge proudly carrying the Grey Cup before the championship game symbolizes this bond. Corporal Billy Gossen from Saskatchewan RCMP says carrying the Grey Cup onto the field is one of the highlights of his life. His deep admiration for both the CFL and the RCMP has only strengthened this year.
"When you're in Red Serge and that salute goes up, it's an unbelievable feeling," says Gossen. "This connection transcends football; it represents a spirit of unity."
Coast to coast to coast
This year, the Grey Cup visited seven RCMP detachments across Canada. The journey began in Manitoba, where the cup made its first stop at the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Stadium during a game featuring the University of Manitoba Bisons. The event was a resounding success, made obvious by the thousands of students who attended. It also set the stage for more unforgettable moments, like the one in northern Manitoba, an area known as the "hub of the North".
In Thompson, Manitoba, a local community centre opened its doors to RCMP Staff Sergeant Glenn Stuckless and Corporal Matt Valcourt, who brought along two players from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to meet with community members. The CFL players made the lengthy trip to travel seven hours north to create a memorable day for visitors, where celebrity sightings are not experienced every day.
"It was an experience to remember," Valcourt remarked. "Being able to bring the Grey Cup to a northern community, where there is limited access to professional sports and interact with the community in a positive way was very special."
The tour continued at the local hospital in Thompson, providing a unique opportunity for health care workers and patients to see the trophy, and connect with players and RCMP officers. The officers benefited from the exchange to get to know the diverse communities they serve.
One of the last stops on the tour was in the nation's capital. The event was hosted at the RCMP Musical Ride Stables in Ottawa, where the public was invited to visit various information booths to learn more about a plethora of RCMP units including National Youth Services, the Emergency Response Team, Indigenous Policing Services, and Air Services. The Ottawa REDBLACKS brought along their cheerleaders and mascot, Big Joe. People from all over the city filled the stables to take pictures with mounted officers, and of course the Grey Cup.
A Front Row Seat
Jeff McWhinney has witnessed the deepening bond between the RCMP and CFL firsthand this past year. As the Keeper of the Grey Cup, McWhinney accompanies the Cup everywhere it goes, including the cross-Canada tour. For him, whose father is Glenn McWhinney – a former Grey Cup champion and Hall-of-Famer in Manitoba and Alberta, sports hall of fame, the relationship between the CFL and RCMP is a dream come true.
"Canada – it's the greatest locker room in the world," he says. "To have locker stalls from both the RCMP and CFL showcases what this great country represents."
McWhinney says he thinks the relationships formed over the past year—whether through a handshake, hug, or smile—emphasize the depth of the partnership.
"This partnership has been transformative, filled with opportunity, hope, and camaraderie," says McWhinney, adding that none would have been possible without teamwork.
