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When most think of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, they think of the prairies; however, on Saturday, the green and white had many thinking of the ocean.
Members of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Regina, with the help of Regina Fire and Protective Services, hoisted the world’s largest Riders flag in the Victoria Square Shopping Centre parking lot.
Commander Colin Matthews said it’s been flown all around the globe — the most recently while the ship sailed the Mediterranean Sea.
Because the flag is 40 feet long, 20 feet wide and weighs around 70 pounds, Matthews said it’s a feat to soar.
“We have to go pretty quick to get it to fly properly, but we can and so it’s great,” he said.
Being from the Queen City, Tracy Tkachuk, HMCS Regina lieutenant combat systems engineering officer, said there’s nothing like a little Rider pride out at sea.
“We’re representing Regina, the city, and the province when we’re around the world like that, so really the ship is a part of Saskatchewan and (the flag) belongs there,” explained Tkachuk.
Tkachuk said he still remembers receiving the flag while on his trip home to Regina during his deployment in 2014.
“I packed it back into my suitcase and flew back to Turkey,” he reminisced, smiling. “We sailed out of Istanbul and into the (Mediterranean Sea), and we were quite excited and eager to get it out there.”
The gigantic Riders flag was on display at the Chris Knox foundation’s Strength Through Support charity event, which raised funds and support for kids and young adults undergoing cancer treatment.