Bombers and Riders to mark Orange Shirt Day with special pre-game warm-up gear
Teams will later sell orange jerseys with proceeds going to Indigenous sport, events
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Saskatchewan Roughriders will honour Canada's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation before their game Friday night.
Both teams — players and sideline staff — will don orange jerseys and shirts during the pre-game warm-up at IG Field in support of truth and reconciliation in Canada.
"The Blue Bombers and Riders will once again wear special orange New Era jerseys for pre-game warm-up to recognize Orange Shirt Day," said Bombers president/CEO Wade Miller. "Our jerseys will be made available for an online auction after the game, with funds raised donated to Winnipeg Aboriginal Sport Achievement Centre."
The Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation will also feature the jerseys in a raffle that will help fund Indigenous sports programs in the province and special events in Indigenous communities.
"As we reflect on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we hope that these jerseys will serve as a small symbol of our commitment to reconciliation and the work we've done and will continue to do moving forward as allies of the Indigenous community," said Riders president/CEO Craig Reynolds.
"The Roughriders' commitment to truth and reconciliation doesn't just start and end this week," he said.
"We will continuously work to do better and use our platform to make an impact and focus on amplifying Indigenous voices."