MEDIA ADVISORY - NAVAL CENTENNIAL GREY CUP WAGER WILL BENEFIT CHARITY

REGINA, Nov. 26 /CNW Telbec/ - This year's Grey Cup game will have a special significance for Canada's Navy. Like the Canadian Navy, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are celebrating their centennial. The Montreal Allouettes are from the same city as the only Navy team ever to win the Grey Cup.

To mark the occasion, HMC Ships Regina and Queen have made a wager with HMC Ships Montreal and Donnacona.  Each of the four naval units has put up $250 to be donated to a charity in the winning city.  A similar wager prior to last year's Grey Cup game resulted in a gift of $1000 to the Montreal Children's Hospital.

Donnacona's Commanding Officer, Commander Kim Kubeck, is very confident.  "In 1944, Donnacona became the only Navy team to win the Grey Cup.  It's only right that another Montreal team should repeat in the Navy's centennial year."  An Allouettes repeat would see $1000 donated to Hopital Ste Justine, another children's hospital.

Her opposite number sees things a little differently.  "The Riders and the Navy share a centennial, and the Riders have always been very good to the Navy," according to Lieutenant-Commander Corey Thiemann.  "As the CO of Queen, I want to see the Riders crown their centennial year with a Grey Cup."  A Rider victory would see $1000 presented to the Hospitals of Regina Foundation to support paediatric medicine.

In addition to the charity donation, the losing frigate will fly the Grey Cup champion team's flag for one full week, while the Commanding Officer of the losing Naval Reserve Division will wear the winning team's jersey on a subsequent training night.

HMC Ships Queen, in Regina, and Donnacona in Montreal are two of 24 Naval Reserve Divisions across Canada.  Their mission is to provide trained sailors for Canada's Navy, and to provide a naval presence in their home cities.

HMC Ships Regina and Montreal are Halifax Class Frigates stationed in Esquimalt, BC and Halifax.

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NOTE TO EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS - For further information please contact contact Lieutenant (Navy) Malcolm French, 306-550-2277 or by email at [email protected]