WINNIPEG — Their teams may not be in contention for the Gray Cup this year, but that didn't stop some die-hard Canadian soccer fans from traveling to the heartland to witness the championship game.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders will take on the Montreal Alouettes at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg on Sunday in the 112th Gray Cup.
Longtime Hamilton Tiger-Cats fan and season ticket holder Sheri Baszak donned a head-to-toe ensemble she made herself, which included a large tinfoil hat with handles representing the coveted trophy, and her husband Steve wore an inflatable football suit as they took part in Friday's street festival.
Bašak has been traveling to Gray Cup games since 2014, and this is her sixth year competing in a Cup costume. This year's costume required a new hat after her old papier-mâché hat was badly damaged on five previous trips.
“It's community, fun and love, and we need more of that in the world,” the Brampton, Ont., resident said when asked what keeps her coming back every year.
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Basak accessorized her outfit with a pair of personalized earrings. Hanging from one ear over her shoulder is a football player in a green uniform, symbolizing the Rider Nation. The other ear features a player in a blue uniform with a white “M” on the jersey paying homage to the Alouettes.
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But when asked who she was rooting for on Sunday, she had to answer Prairie.
“I think I'll go to Saskatchewan because I'm still crying about our loss to the Ticats against Montreal last week. So I don't know if my heart can make me root for them.”
Other events include concerts and cooking competitions.
Attending the annual championship became a family affair for father and son.
Barry Ryan of Toronto has been going to games with his son Kevin for the past 25 years. Ryan's grandson James Salverda, who now lives in Winnipeg, began joining them about 12 years ago.
This Gray Cup game is special because Kevin Ryan's daughter joins the trio for the first time.
The three men not only gave the games their own personal touch, but also created outfits to showcase the tradition.
They each wear a mechanic's overalls with patches that indicate the year they attended the Gray Cup and where it was held, as well as various football-related badges.
Kevin Ryan said the championship gives fans an opportunity to come together in a way that doesn't happen in other sports.
“You see everyone wearing their team colors, but there's no fighting,” he said. “I have a button that says 'Argos suck' but it doesn't cause a fight or anything. In any other sport I would wear a button like that and there would be a fight.”
For Surrey, British Columbia resident Kyle Dunn, attending the championship has been a 23-year ritual. The BC Lions superfan brought his partner Heather Smith into the fandom and she attended her second Gray Cup this year.
“It’s just a great atmosphere,” Dunn said. “It's a place where you can go and we all have the same interests. We're all here for football. We're all here to have a good time and that's unique to Canada.”
When reflecting on his favorite moment, Dunn said he had to remember the 2011 game when the Lions defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at BC Place Stadium.
With his team eliminated from contention for the trophy this year, Dunn is just cheering for the game to last until the last second.
“I’m rooting for both teams to lose,” he said with a laugh.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 15, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
