Barrhead group celebrates CFL fandom with first appreciation day

BARRHEAD - Anyone who has attended a Barrhead U18 Steelers game over the past three decades knows that Steve Bala is a superfan.

However, not as many people know that Bala is also a big fan of the Canadian Football League's (CFL) Edmonton Elks.

The Elks also have a Barrhead connection, with its owner, Larry Thompson, being from the community.

That was the seed behind Blue Heron Support Services Association's (BHSSA) first annual CFL Fan Appreciation Day on Aug. 22.

The BHSSA is a not-for-profit organization that helps individuals with developmental, physical, sensory and brain injuries. The BHSSA also provides adult continuing education opportunities and programs to support caregivers of those who suffer from the above conditions, mostly by providing respite.

About a month prior, Bala, a BHSSA client, suggested to Blue Heron program manager Tim Griffin host this type of event, celebrating the CFL.

Griffin, a Saskatchewan Roughrider fan, first step was to reach out to the Elks, the Roughriders and the CFL, telling them about his love for the uniquely Canadian brand of football, and more specifically, the Edmonton Elks.

The Elks sent Bala a jersey, while the CFL did not respond. The Roughriders responded, stating they could not send anything in such a short time, as such requests needed to be at least six weeks in advance.

While Griffin had committed to host the CFL appreciation event, he did not have a concept of what it would look like until Bala, who had recently received his jersey, made a friendly wager.

Not too long after Bala got his jersey, if the Edmonton Elks defeated Saskatchewan when they face off against each other in Week 8, Griffin would have to wear Bala's Edmonton jersey for the day.

At that point in the schedule, Edmonton had only won one game.

"But if the Roughriders won, Steve would have to wear a 'watermelon head' [for the start of Blue Heron's CFL Fan Appreciation Day]," Griffin said.

The Roughriders won the game 21-18.

Griffin said Bala was a good sport about it and put on the hallowed fruit helmet.

Having not received any swag from the teams or the league, Griffin set out to design a series of 10 games, one for every CFL team and one for the league itself. Blue Heron's back lawn was also drawn out to resemble that of the Elks' home field.

For Saskatchewan, it was "whack-o-mole or Gainer", with Griffin being Gainer. Other games included a ping-pong ball gun target for the B.C. Lions, a saddle toss for the Calgary Stampeders and an inflatable field goal game for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

"I wanted to do an axe toss/target game for the Ottawa RedBlacks, but I couldn't find one in time," he said.

Instead, Griffin fashioned a reimagined cornhole game.

Next year, Griffin hopes to expand and improve this year's event with activities that more accurately reflect the character of the CFL cities.

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com