YORKTON - Excitement filled the air at St. Alphonsus School Feb.4 as two members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders visited to deliver presentations from two of their off-season programs.
Principal Mike Cristo welcomed the players, emphasizing the importance of their visit.
"They're here to do the Rider Reading program. They're working with our little guys talking about the importance of literacy and then reading some books with them," said Cristo in an interview with Â鶹ÊÓƵ.ca
The Roughriders also engaged with older students through the Win With Wellness program.
"It's about mental health," said Cristo, adding, "it's about kids learning different strategies on how to deal with things—whether they might be feeling anxious or upset about something—and also looking for places that they can go that are safe spaces or safe people to talk to."
Cristo, a devoted Riders fan, discovered the Rider Reader program through the team's website.
"It's just a program that the school really likes so we watch for it and we applied to be a part of it," said Cristo, adding, "we got lucky this year."
Peter Godber, Offensive Lineman for the Roughriders, has been participating in the Roughriders programs for the past two years, and participated in similar programs during his time as a B.C. Lion.
"They're really rewarding for me. I feel like we definitely make an impact in the community and we teach really good stuff and we work in curriculum with the school board so everything we're teaching is aligned with what the school is teaching and what they want us to teach," said Godber.
"I think it's really awesome that we get to come here and give these meaningful presentations to these kids and help share some strategies that maybe help a few kids out with mental health and encourage kids to read," said Godber.
"I know Saskatchewan has some of the lowest literacy rates in Canada so we think it's very important we get out and encourage kids to read," added Godber.
Charbel Dabire, Defensive Lineman for the Roughriders, is participating in the off-season program for the first time.
"It's been amazing," said Dabire, adding, "understanding the message that we're trying to give to kids is important and also understanding how to relay that message."
Reflecting on his own experiences, Dabire said that the presentation he gave on mental health "most definitely" applies to his life as a professional athlete.
"Especially as being the alpha kid—trying to be that jock kid—I never tried to talk about my problems or kept them shut down and didn't really talk about them to anybody," said Dabire.
"Learning about these things and the mental wellness and how to cope with them—I had to learn that the hard way growing up. But being able to see these things we're teaching kids at such a young age—I think it's so beneficial," added Dabire.
For more information about the Rider Reading program and the Win With Wellness initiative, visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders' website.
