Volunteers getting ready to bring Grey Cup Festival to fruition

More than 1,100 volunteers are getting ready to help celebrate Canadian football in Regina.

The Grey Cup Festival will start in just under two weeks and will lead into the 2022 CFL championship game, which is to take place at Mosaic Stadium on Nov. 20.

“We’re in great shape. We’re right around 1,100 volunteers that are volunteering in Regina and another 40 to 50 that are volunteering in Saskatoon, so we are right on track,” said Bernadette McIntyre, the co-chair of volunteers for the Grey Cup Festival. “We estimated anywhere from 1,100 to 1,500 would be needed and we are filling up the shifts as we speak.

“I think from the volunteer perspective, we are starting to feel the buzz. We are starting on Saturday morning and we’ve got over 500 people coming to pick up their volunteer uniforms, to get their accreditation, and learn all the fun things.”

Even though the Saskatchewan Roughriders failed to qualify for the CFL playoffs with a 6-12-0 record, McIntyre still expects it to be a party in the Queen City.

“It really is a true Canadian celebration, no matter who is in it. This is the fourth Grey Cup we have hosted and we’ve only had the Riders in one of them, but every one of those Grey Cup Festivals was wonderful fun,” McIntyre said.

“Saskatchewan and Canada come to party at the Grey Cup and enjoy the hospitality of the province they are in.”

It’s the fourth time Regina has hosted the CFL title game, after 1995, 2003 and 2013. This will be the first Grey Cup game played at new Mosaic Stadium.

With the Grey Cup game just over two weeks away, McIntyre said people will start to see a bunch of things being put up around the city.

“Things are starting right now,” McIntyre said. “There has been pageantry starting to be installed in some of the hotels. I think you’re going to see things really kick up after Remembrance Day. Remembrance Day is very important and we don’t want Grey Cup Festival to drown that out or show any disrespect and so you’ll see things gear up after Remembrance Day.

“(There are) lots of great, fun things to do. We have a wonderful street festival so there are people that are helping with the firepits and the great big tube slide. There are volunteers driving around the CFL officials and VIPs, there are volunteers at the information kiosks at the airport and at REAL District, and at the hotels. There are volunteers helping with the gala.

“We want everyone to come to the wonderful free events at the kickoff party on Wednesday night at the (International Trade Centre). We will have volunteers there welcoming you and it’s free and Colin James is going to be playing. Volunteers are everywhere smiling and making people feel welcome and enjoy the Grey Cup festival.”