August 12th will be proclaimed “Don Narcisse Day” by SaskEnergy, the Province of Saskatchewan and City of Regina in honour of one of Saskatchewan’s finest Roughriders. 

In order to properly celebrate this occasion, SaskEnergy has organized an event at 2 p.m. at Regina City Hall in celebration of Don’s achievements and is calling on Rider fans from across the Province to join in and show their appreciation. 

Come out to meet Don Narcisse, other Rider alumni, and even Gainer the Gopher. Don and Rider alumni will all be available for autograph signing.  SaskEnergy will also be providing cake and ice cream for guests to enjoy.  A banner of Don will be available for fans to sign at the event. Prior to the August 12th event, the banner will be available for the community to sign at Regina City Hall during work hours. 

Don Narcisse has generously donated his memorabilia for auction in support of KidSport. The auction began July 27th, but new items will be available weekly and can be viewed at www.donnarcisse.com, which will directly link you to the auction on eBay. 

The auction presents a great opportunity to own a piece of Roughrider history and give back to the community.  So come on out and show Don Narcisse that Roughrider fans are still the best in all the land!

Regina, July 31, 2010 - On Saturday July 31st, the Saskatchewan Roughriders took part in the Queen City Ex Parade.  Their horse & carriage featured the likes of Rider great George Reed, Chairman of the Board Roger Brandvold, members of the Roughrider Cheer Team and even Gainer the Gopher.

The display ended up taking the Best in Show award for the entire parade.

Gainer poses in front of the horses with a few Rider Cheer Team members.

Regina, July 29, 2010 – Canadian Blood Services CEO Dr. Graham Sher and Saskatchewan Roughrider President/CEO, Jim Hopson exchanged their team jerseys today to remind Rider fans to Bleed Green and donate blood throughout the 2010 Roughrider football season.

The Bleed Green community campaign launched on May 31, and is a first of its kind non-profit partnership focused on improving the health of hospital patients across the province. The campaign is especially important during the summer season, a time when a decline in donations is often seen due to summer holidays and a change in normal routine.

“Since we launched the Bleed Green campaign, we have seen an amazing response from the Saskatchewan Roughrider fans,” extols Dr. Graham Sher, CEO, Canadian Blood Services. “As a result of committed fans rolling up their jersey sleeves and donating blood, we have seen a 4 per cent increase in provincial donations compared to the same time period last year. However, we still need as many Rider fans as possible to continue giving blood throughout the campaign.”

The Bleed Green Campaign, a six-month blood donor campaign which spans from June 1 to November, 2010, encourages both young and seasoned Rider fans to roll up their sleeves and donate blood. In addition, all fans are encouraged to bring their game day ticket stub into any Canadian Blood Services donor clinic within Saskatchewan to win one of two autographed Roughrider jerseys. 

Fans who visit a clinic can also enter to win the opportunity to be one of 25 chosen donors, volunteers and Canadian Blood Services employees to help carry the large Canadian flag onto Mosaic field at one of this season’s Roughrider home games, in celebration of the Riders’ 100th Anniversary.
 

“The Saskatchewan Roughrider football club believes that the Bleed Green campaign is a natural fit with our corporate values of ‘walking the talk’ and becoming involved in creating and sustaining a healthier Saskatchewan community,” informs Jim Hopson, President/CEO, Saskatchewan Roughriders. “We are honoured to be an integral part of this life-saving partnership, and will continue to support this campaign and future like-minded projects, not only during our 100th Anniversary season, but in the years to come.”
 
In August, Saskatchewan hospital cancer patients, trauma victims and neo-natal babies will require up to 5,100 units of blood. 

To book an appointment to give blood, please call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283). Visit www.blood.ca/eligibility for more information on giving blood.

On behalf of the entire Saskatchewan and Canadian rugby communities thanks for making your "football cousins" part of your 100th birthday celebration.

Numerous players from both the Dog River Howlers and the Prairie Fire came up to me after their experience saying that being part of this 100th anniversary celebration and in turn playing on the hallowed grounds of Mosaic Stadium as part of an actual Rider game day will be a life long memory. The out of town players from BC and Alberta stated that especially considering this was only an exhibition game they now have a better understanding what the "green passion" is all about in our  "Rider Nation".

If the Roughriders would ever give rugby this opportunity again we of would course be there with bells on.

Congratulations to your entire organization on your 100 years as the Regina Rugby Club/Saskatchewan Roughriders and all the best in your upcoming season.

Yours in "football"
Karl Fix, Dog River Howlers Rugby Football Club - "it's more than a game,it's a way of life"