Submitted by Winnipeg Blue Bombers
WINNIPEG, MB., September 2, 2021 – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers, together with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, Exchange Income Corporation (EIC), and the Edmonton Elks, today announce a partnership to honour Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. At the October 8th home game against the Elks, 1,000 members of the Indigenous community will be flown in and hosted for the game.
“The AMC recognizes the work EIC and the Winnipeg Football Club continue to do in collaboration with First Nations in Manitoba,” said AMC Grand Chief Arlen Dumas. “We are happy to see Manitobans and the football community coming together to go above and beyond to not only mark Orange Shirt Day on September 30th, but to go further in having a special day where 1,000 First Nation citizens from our Nations will attend the Blue Bombers game on October 8th. We look forward to more positive partnerships like this going forward.”
“The Blue Bombers and Elks will also wear special orange New Era jerseys for pre-game warmup to recognize Orange Shirt Day,” said Wade Miller, President & CEO of the Winnipeg Football Club. “The jerseys will be made available for an online auction after the game, with funds raised donated to each team’s charity of choice. This marks the first time this has been done in the CFL.”
The Bombers have chosen Winnipeg Aboriginal Sport Achievement Centre (WASAC), a foundation that helps to remove barriers for thousands of children annually and is Canada’s largest employer for Indigenous children and youth. The Elks will be donating proceeds to Spirit North, a national charitable organization dedicated to improving the health and wellness of Indigenous children and youth through the transformative power of sport and play.
“The entire EIC family is thrilled to team with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and AMC in recognizing the ‘Every Child Matters’ movement and honouring Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation,” said Mike Pyle, CEO of EIC. “Our company has the privilege of playing a vital role across Canada as a provider of essential services into many Indigenous communities. Our ability to partner with the Blue Bombers to provide transportation for families coming to Winnipeg to enjoy this game is a direct result of our longstanding commitment to those communities.”
A special pre-game ceremony will take place to welcome our special guests, and ‘Every Child Matters’ will be painted onto the field for the October 8th game. Tickets to the game can be purchase here.
