Pacific Central Station, Vancouver

After 70 days, over 150 stops, and thousands of kilometres the Grey Cup 100 Tour train arrived in Toronto after touching thousands of lives across our great country.

How do you describe the journey that’s taken place over the past 10 weeks?

How do you describe the encounters our Cup has had with people from coast to coast- at train stations, at schools, on farms, in hospitals and in restaurants?

You don’t.... at least not adequately anyway. Attempting to summarize the pilgrimage this Cup has made would be futile. It would be unfair and unjust, quite frankly, to reduce these 70 days to soundbites, slogans, cliches.

They’ve just been too meaningful, too jammed with emotion and passion and stories and people.

People like Tracey in Okotoks, whose late husband played in the league and whose young son finally gained an understanding and appreciation for his father’s career after seeing the train.

Like Gary in Sarnia, who was reduced to tears after finding a photo of his grandfather, a ’36 Grey Cup champ, on the train’s interior.

Like Lela in Medicine Hat, a restaurant owner who couldn’t have been more thrilled when the Cup visited her tiny breakfast joint. “Thank you for including us little people,” she said, her voice wavering.

Like Ron in Barrie, an armed forces veteran who knocked an item off his bucket list when he got a photo next to the Grey Cup, his colourful military medals proudly displayed on his chest.

Like Emily in Iqaluit, a middle schooler overjoyed that the Grey Cup would make its way to her hometown. “We don’t have that much,” she said.

That list could go on and on and on.

Every day we met people who live and breathe Canadian football, whose weeks are merely bridges between game days, whose jerseys are staple wardrobe pieces.

Every day we met people who were astounded that the train and the Cup were traveling such an extensive route. “This is my history, this is my country on rails,” was how one fan put it.

And more often than not we met people who have a personal connection with the Cup- their grandfather won it, their uncle hoisted it, they posed next to it as a child. Their stories were so meaningful because they reinforced the fact that this iconic Cup has made its way into hearts and homes all across the country.

What became clear during our travels was that this Cup means something to people because it represents them. Although it bears the names of heroes, they are the people’s heroes, heroes from down the street or the next town over. They are our heroes, just as it is our Cup.

We’ve created memories with this tour. This voyage, though over, has left a legacy.

People often remember exactly where they were during a particular Grey Cup game- on the sidelines, at home, at a military base, at a hospital.

I suspect, judging from the reaction we got when we rolled into a new stop each day, that people will now remember where they were when the Grey Cup arrived, when the train pulled into town.

-Kate

The story of Moe Segal, one of a group of Canadian Navy sailors who won the Grey Cup in 1944, the last amateur team to do so.

Kate McKenna looks at how fans are pressing pennies and contributing to the making of the TELUS Fan Cup.

Months after Winnipeg native Dan Huclak is robbed of his Grey Cup ring in broad daylight, the stolen ring mysteriously turns up on his doorstep.

Recently Travis Lulay, Paul McCallum and Geroy Simon of the BC Lions had a chance to check out their very own lockers on the Grey Cup 100 Tour train.

CFL legend George Reed checked out the Grey Cup 100 Tour train. Here's more of what he had to say.

Sonny is one of the amazing staff members on board the train, helping make sure our Grey Cup 100 tour team is well rested, comfortable and most of all, well fed.

Kate McKenna looks at RONA's Home Field Advantage field refurbishment program.

Kate McKenna says hello from Vancouver and tells you where the Cup is headed next!

Those who are diehard fans of the Canadian Football League will likely know a fair bit about the history of the league. For those new to the game, or the casual fan, the Grey Cup 100 Tour Train serves as a travelling history lesson of the game and the league so many of us love.

Starting its 40 plus stop journey across the country in Vancouver, the train celebrates the past while also focusing on the current stars of the game, effectively captivating fans of all ages. It is beautifully wrapped with the 100th Grey Cup logo and stars of the league such as Travis Lulay, Anthony Calvillo and Fred Stamps. The 100TH Grey Cup stamp collection is also prominently featured in the design.

There are two sections to the train, one focusing on the Grey Cup itself, while the others celebrate the rich and storied history of the league in a museum type setting.

On the Grey Cup car, fans can hear the motivational speeches of Grey Cup coaches as they prepare their teams for battle. Interactive touch screen displays allow fans to pull up the name plates of every championship team in the history of the trophy, or browse a fan photo montage. The rings of past champions are prominently displayed. The Grey Cup itself awaits visitors at the end of this car. Fans can have their picture taken with the trophy and have it receiver it by e-mail.

The history cars take fans from the beginning in 1909 and its eastern roots, to the inclusion of the west and right through to the present day. You can learn about the league during war time, the depression and about classic clashes like the Mud Bowl, the Fog Bowl and the Snow Bowl. (Why don’t they call them cups?). Did you know the price of a Grey Cup ticket in 1971 was $15.00?

There is another car (which I apparently wasn’t supposed to be in) that will cater to VIP’s and sponsors along the journey, complete with a bar. I did envision myself travelling to Toronto in November on the train. Oh what a party that would be as we picked up fans on our journey east!

Even as a major CFL fan there were several stories I wasn’t aware of before touring the train, so there is definitely something for everyone on board.

In addition to the train itself, there is a festival type atmosphere at the event. There was a strong presence by the Lions who had current and former players signing autographs. There were interactive football type activities for the kids and live music as well.

One of the coolest ideas to come from this tour is the Fan Cup presented by Telus. Fans can sign up and have their name included on new trophy to be called the Fan Cup that will eventually reside in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in Hamilton. Telus has come up with a penny press that turns your penny into a keepsake, while ensuring a piece of your penny will be used to create the new cup. The whole process takes a while, so be prepared to stand in line for a bit.

The train is a great way to celebrate the 100th Grey Cup Championship and the history behind it. In addition to the scheduled train stops the Grey Cup will also make several other appearances in communities all over the country, leading up to the big game in November. Get out and see it when it comes to your community and celebrate the storied 100 year history of the Canadian Football League!

Contributed by: Brian Wawryshyn

Kate McKenna goes 1-on-1 with Max Kerman of Arkells at the Vancouver Fan Celebration.

Fans get their first look at the Grey Cup 100 Tour train.

A few minutes before the gates opened at today’s Vancouver Fan Celebration, I ducked out and chatted with CFL fans who were in line, anxiously waiting for the clock to strike 10 so they could finally see what they’d been waiting for: the Grey Cup 100 Tour train.

I was reminded today- just as I was yesterday at the BC Lions game- that one of the things that makes our league’s fans so great is their contagious passion and unwavering commitment.

In line there were fans who’d driven an hour. Two hours. There were kids under 7 and kids over 70, showing equal parts energy and excitement.

There were Lions fans, plenty of them. There were Riders fans, of course. There were Als fans, Bombers fans and Esks fans- all of whom were pumped to see the train they’d heard about.

As the event progressed it was so satisfying to see the looks on their faces as they walked through the train cars, checking out the Grey Cup rings and the touch screens, reminiscing with their friends about CFL moments gone by, documented in photos and stories on the train’s interior walls.

The activity outside the train was wonderful too as youngsters darted through obstacle courses- their parents proudly snapping photos, fans got their pennies pressed at the TELUS The Fan Cup Station and others gushed at players past and present, who were happily posing for photos- time after time after time.

Despite the grey sky overhead, enthusiasm reigned. It likely didn’t hurt that the Juno award winning Arkells, among others, provided the musical backdrop.

It’s pretty unbelievable to think that this is the first of 100 stops.

What a start.

-Kate

Check out highlights from the first Fan Celebration of the Grey Cup 100 Tour!

Kate McKenna gives you a sneak preview of the Grey Cup 100 Tour train.

The Grey Cup is a Canadian icon, a symbol of who we are, and how we come together. The mission of the Grey Cup 100 Tour presented by RONA is to share the Cup with Canadians from coast to coast on a specially retrofitted VIA train.

Leading up to the 100th Grey Cup Game in November 2012, the trophy which has inspired so many pilgrimages will embark on its own journey. It will visit 100 communities, inspire the telling of thousands of stories, and touch millions of Canadians.

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