Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/590580
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2015 HOME GAME PLAYBOOK 15 //,, " /$ " (&+$ ,&$/(,&( &+$( (&($($'/, ()( ,(!0,'$(0%(! ALUMNI AT LARGE NORTHERN LIGHTS Winnipeg Blue Bombers Hall of Fame defensive tackle Doug Brown accompanied the Grey Cup on a tour of 11 northern communities, travelling aboard VIA Rail to Hudson Bay. The tour, presented by the 103rd Grey Cup Festival, departed from Winnipeg on Oct. 18, and returns Oct. 26. The 1,700-kilometre route took Brown and fellow travellers to The Pas, Flin Flon, Snow Lake and Thompson — where another Bomber alumni, Brett MacNeil joined the fun — en route to Churchill for a three-day stay. The return trip makes whistle stops in Gillam, Ilford, Pikwitonei, Thicket Portage, Wabowden and Dauphin. Fans have been encouraged to come out to meet the football greats and take part in special events at each stop. Bomber season-ticket holders Marge and Ted Avent also joined the tour. The Avents were the winners of the VIA Rail Tour to Northern Manitoba contest — presented by the Winnipeg Free Press, Travel Manitoba and VIA Rail — in which contestants were asked to explain why they wanted to travel with the Grey Cup to see polar bears. As well, Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities spread a little joy at each stop. Jumpstart is a national charity that helps kids participate in sport by helping out with financial costs associated with team sports. PET CHARITY CFL players and alumni will be on hand at a Cvet's Pets fundraiser and Grey Cup Launch Party at Whiskey Dix, Thursday Nov. 26, with proceeds going to the charitable organization. Founded in 2012 by former Bomber long snapper Chris Cvetkovic, Cvet's Pets helps animal shelters such as Winnipeg Pet Rescue Shelter, D'Arcy's A.R.C. and Manitoba Mutts Dog Rescue by providing food, litter, kennels and other supplies. As well, the Cvet's Pets Helping Vets program connects military veterans and first responders who've been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder to organizations that provide medical service dogs. The program also provides service-animal starter kits — kennel, bed, collars, leashes and dog dishes. CFL Cvet's Pets reps include at least one player from each team in the league, including Blue Bombers and Bomber alumni Jason Vega, Rory Kolhert, Cory Watson, Michel-Pierre Pontbriand, Carl Volny, Brandon Stewart and Kito Poblah. Tickets to the party cost $10. Get yours by emailing cvets.pets@gmail.com, or call 204-299-5198. BOTTOMS UP Hoist a jug for former Bomber Chris Walby this fall. A limited-edition Lake of Bays Pigskin Pilsner celebrates Walby's CFL career. Described as a light-bodied growler with the crispness of a German pilsner, 1.89-litre jugs are available at Liquor Marts for a short time. A portion of proceeds goes to the CFL Alumni Association Player Support Fund. CHRIS CVETKOVIC DOUG BROWN CHRIS WALBY Chris Cvetkovic and Doug Brown photos by Ken Gigliotti. Chris Walby photo courtesy of The Canadian Press.