HAMILTON – Unlike last Saturday in Toronto, the Canadian national anthem was performed in both official languages this Sunday in Hamilton during the Gray Cup final. The president of the Montreal Alouettes, Mark Weightman, personally made sure of this.
Because the national anthem was actually only played in English before the Eastern final between the Toronto Argonauts and the Alouettes.
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“I noticed it straight away and was very disappointed,” Mr Weightman commented on Monday. Especially in a playoff game like this… I personally brought the situation up to a league executive and he was very receptive. He assured me it wouldn’t happen again.”
“It has been brought to our attention,” confirmed Olivier Poulin, senior director of communications and public affairs for the Canadian Football League. I can only confirm that the national anthem will be played in both official languages at Sunday’s Gray Cup final in Hamilton.
Ontario’s Simone Soman, a visually impaired singer who rose to fame on the show Canada’s Got Talent, has also been announced to perform O Canada for this Gray Cup final.
“Proud to be from Quebec”
Nevertheless, the situation in Toronto remains unacceptable. Especially since Alouettes head coach Jason Maas has often pointed out this season that his club proudly represents the province of Quebec and the city of Montreal.
Members of the Montreal Alouettes arrived in Hamilton on Monday. Photo provided by the Montreal Alouettes
“We are not ashamed to say that we are proud to be from Quebec,” Maas said Friday during the press conference on the eve of the Eastern final.
Regardless, Weightman, Maas and the Alouettes players have now arrived in Hamilton on Monday to represent Quebec again, just two days after their convincing 38-17 win over the Argonauts.
The “Suck Bowl” was avoided
On the other hand, by qualifying for the Gray Cup final, the Montreal club will have avoided presenting what is expected to be the latest version of the “Suck Bowl”.
At this level, it was the eminent colleague Steve Milton of the Hamilton Spectator who brought the event to the attention of the author of these lines. A member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame for over 10 years, Milton is a living encyclopedia of football in Hamilton. He heard Tiger Cats fans shouting “Argos suck” more times than anyone else. It’s part of the story here!
Of course, if the Alouettes themselves had invited the party, Hamilton would have preferred the Ti-Cats to be directly involved in this great Canadian soccer final. After the team’s loss to the Alouettes on November 4 in Montreal, locals imagined they would find happiness by booing the Argonauts in the grand final. The “Sparrows” decided differently.
“I think it’s special to go to the Gray Cup, no matter what city it’s in,” said Maas, who is making his first head coach appearance at the event. After all the work we have done, I am excited that we will all be together for another week to take part.”
Let the party begin!
You may have guessed that some Hamilton fans get as much joy from cheering on the Tiger-Cats as they do hating the Argonauts and the city of Toronto. The situation between the fans of the Montreal Canadiens and those of the Maple Leafs is not entirely different.
By defeating the Argonauts, the Alouettes canceled the “Suck Bowl” project. For Hamilton there is now a final between the Alouettes and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, which is significantly less interesting for the local fans.
“We don’t care which team wins,” agreed a Hamilton soccer fan we met on Monday.
Members of the HMCS Harry DeWolf crew transported the Gray Cup to Hamilton on Monday. Photo Thomas Skrlj / provided by Canadian Football League
Furthermore, the atmosphere in the streets of Hamilton is not yet festive, despite the trophy arriving by boat during the day on Monday and by plane a little later from the players of the two teams. We have to wait a few more days to feel the excitement as fans from all over Canada, especially Montreal and Winnipeg, converge on the Ontario city.
Memories of 2021
Montreal clearly didn’t increase its popularity rating in Hamilton by dismissing the Tiger-Cats in the first round of the playoffs. However, they equalized by beating the Argos… As for the Blue Bombers, it should be remembered that they were the ones who beat the Tiger-Cats in the club’s last appearance in the final two years ago. It just happened on December 12, 2021 at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton. Zach Collaros was already the Bombers’ quarterback and was voted Most Valuable Player.
Hamilton is taking part in the Gray Cup for the twelfth time, but only the fourth time since 1972.
The last Finals before 2021 took place in 1996 when the Argonauts, led by head coach Don Matthews and their quarterback Doug Flutie, defeated the Edmonton Eskimos 43-37 in a blizzard.
Even then, Hamilton fans at the Ivor Wynne Stadium were chanting “Argos shit”. And even without the Toronto team’s presence, there is a risk that the formula will be strangely present again at some point in Hamilton this week. It’s an instinctive hatred that Hamilton supporters have for Toronto.
A survival kit for journalists
HAMILTON – It’s a long, hectic but tiring week that awaits journalists on the sidelines of this 110e Edition of the Gray Cup in Hamilton.
When accredited, the Canadian Football League also offers members of the media a survival kit.
Photo Benoit Rioux
In addition to a large coffee mug, a lunch bag and three pairs of gray cup socks, you also get a great trapper hat to keep your ears warm. Depending on the journalist’s origin, the official logo on the cap is also available in French. A delicate touch that contrasts with the exclusively English rendition of the national anthem during the Eastern final in Toronto (see main text).
There will be numerous media events throughout the week, starting with a bang on Tuesday morning with a press conference from head coaches Jason Maas of the Alouettes and Mike O’Shea of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Canadian Football League Commissioner Randy Ambrosie will then give his assessment of the season.