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On Monday, the CFL announced that the Grey Cup is coming back to Regina in 2027.
But those watching the announcement might be wondering why the cup was flanked by a pair of RCMP officers on the stage. According to the Saskatchewan RCMP, the Mounties have a long history with both the CFL and the Roughriders, and the police officers were invited by the league to participate in the event.
Read more:
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“The history between the RCMP and the CFL dates back more than 100 years ago when Cpl. Brian Mercer Timmis joined the RCMP in 1920 and played for three CFL teams from 1920-1938,” an RCMP spokesperson explained in an emailed statement.
On Monday, CFL commissioner Stewart Johnson, flanked by two Saskatchewan RCMP officers, announced that the 2027 Grey Cup will be played in Regina. (Saskatchewan Roughriders)
“The RCMP has continued a longstanding relationship with the Canadian Football League and RCMP officers have been involved in many league events including the traditional carrying of the Grey Cup, regardless of where it is being held.”
The police spokesperson said Regina’s first rugby football team consisted of members of the Northwest Mounted Police.
“The Regina Rugby Club changed its name to the Roughriders in 1924, with one theory being that the name came from the NWMP who were called Rough Riders because they were responsible for the horses and equitation instruction,” the RCMP spokesperson noted.
The two officers on stage in Regina were corporals Gossen and Neufeld, who both hold administrative roles with the national police force. While both were on duty during the event, no payment was received from the CFL for their appearance, the RCMP added.
“Cpl. Gossen, a former instructor at the RCMP Training Academy and now a Saskatchewan RCMP recruiter, is a long-time fan of the CFL and has had the opportunity to carry the Grey Cup through the stands in 2022,” the Mounties said.
“With a partnership between the CFL and the RCMP, Cpl. Gossen is able to attend a variety of events, including home games and Grey Cup events, and appreciates the platform to reach a variety of people and encourage the possibility of a career with the RCMP.”
While the plans aren’t official yet, the Saskatchewan RCMP said it hopes officers will get a chance to participate in the Grey Cup events in 2027, when the biggest game in Canadian football returns to Saskatchewan, “both for the traditional protocol purposes and as an other opportunity to connect with the communities we serve.”
