Mike Edem appears in a 2022 contest vs. the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Words by Daniella Ponticelli
For the first time in three years, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are back at Mosaic Stadium and kicking off on the Canada Day weekend.
The Riders (2-1) close out their home-and-home series against the Montreal Alouettes (1-2) in Regina on Saturday, July 2. Kickoff is at 5 p.m.
Riders offensive lineman Logan Ferland said playing professionally in his home province has extra meaning on the Canada Day weekend.
“It’s about the opportunity for young players looking up to see there are Canadians playing, there are local Saskatchewan guys playing on the Riders,” said Ferland, who signed with the team in December 2019.
The 25-year-old grew up on an acreage in Melfort, Sask., where he learned about prairie land and wildlife from his father Marcel, a conservation officer.
“I definitely have a lot of memories of hunting and fishing. Not as many as I’d like to, obviously,” he said.
Ferland was 15 years old when he lost his father to melanoma skin cancer. It wasn’t long after that the teenager discovered football and began his journey to the CFL.
“My dad continued to inspire me to keep pushing on and just keep working hard,” he said. “During the Canadian anthem, that’s my time to think about him.”
Logan Ferland, appearing in a November 13, 2021 game vs. the Edmonton Elks
This will be the first July long weekend game for Ferland, as the Riders hosted three consecutive Canada Day games at new Mosaic Stadium prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Veteran Canadian defensive back Mike Edem remembers the lead up to the most recent July 1 game in 2019. He said all week long he learned about past Canadian players who helped make the league what it is today.
“Hearing and seeing the history around the Canadian Football League makes you proud to be Canadian,” he said.
Edem was 12 years old when he arrived in Toronto, Ont. with his parents and two sisters from Lagos, Nigeria, on a snowy and cold February day.
“I had frostbite the first 30 minutes outside the car,” he laughed.
Canada Day at Mosaic Stadium, 2019
The 32-year-old said his parents made the move to ensure his older sister, Idara, could successfully complete her post-secondary medical studies. At the time, and still today, Nigerian universities faced lengthy disruptions caused by labour strikes.
“Canada has been a blessing for us,” he said. “My sisters maximized their opportunities for education and I maximized my opportunities for football.”
Dr. Idara Edem would go on to become the first black female neurosurgeon in Canada, while Edem’s younger sister now writes federal policy for the country’s industrial sector.
Edem didn’t find his football feet until Grade 11, when he left soccer to try out the gridiron.
“I didn’t even know what I was doing playing football. I was so bad. Like I don’t even think it was safe for me to be out there,” he laughed.
Mike Edem appears in a 2022 contest versus the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Still, Edem never quit. He went on to play at the University of Calgary and then at McGill University. In 2013, he was drafted third overall by the Montreal Alouettes. Two years later, the defensive back was traded to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats before signing a contract with the BC Lions in 2016.
Edem joined the Riders in 2017, having a breakout year in 2018 with a career-high 61 defensive tackles, ten special teams tackles and two interceptions.
Four years later and Edem is ready to add to the fireworks on the July long weekend.
“The whole country is watching, so you’ve got to put on a show,” he said.
“I’m going to be excited to be out there with not just my Canadian teammates, but also my American teammates because they’re also celebrating this day with us.”
Rider fans can enjoy Canada Day with the whole family with the team’s new Family Ticket Packages. For $99.00, a family of four can take in all the events in and around the stadium. Special family-friendly food bundles can be found for as low $34.00.
Saturday’s Rider game will feature a 100-yard-long Canadian flag, a special flyover from the Canadian Armed Forces and pre-game recognition of Saskatchewan Olympians and Paralympians.
Canadian classic rock band Harlequin will perform at halftime for the Pepsi Summer Concert Series.
The fully licensed Coors Light Party in the Park opens at 2 p.m. The fun-for-all-ages event will have inflatables, face painting, a balloon artist, performances from the 620 CKRM Cheer Team, the Coors Light Stage with DJ Tolley T and so much more.
