REGINA - Plans have been announced for later this week to remember the life of legendary Saskatchewan Roughriders running back George Reed.
It has been confirmed that a major memorial service will be held in Regina to bid farewell to Reed, who died on Sunday just one day before his 84th birthday.
The Roughriders announced Wednesday the public memorial service will take place Friday, Oct. 6 at the Viterra International Trade Centre. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. with the Celebration of Life starting at 1 p.m. and running to 3 p.m. Those attending are asked to wear Riders green.
Space will be limited. There are also plans to livestream Friday’s service and more details about that will be announced in the coming days.
On Saturday, the Roughriders are taking on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Legends Game. While the game has long been circled on the calendar as including a tribute to the 2013 Grey Cup team, including appearances by team members such as Darian Durant and head coach Corey Chamblin, there will be ceremonies at the game to honour Reed as well, with the Reed family present.
In a statement, the Roughriders said Reed will be honoured prior to kickoff, with fans encouraged to be there by 4:50 p.m. for those ceremonies.
The stadium will see acknowledgements of Reed painted in both end zones and as well as his initials on the 34-yard line. Section 34 where Reed regularly sat for home games will be lit green in his honour.
Players will wear George Reed decals on their helmets and jerseys, and players, coaches and staff will be seen wearing ‘Remembering 34’ shirts and bunnyhugs during pregame.
At the game the Roughriders will host guests from Special Olympics Saskatchewan and Mother Teresa Middle School, two causes that were very close to Reed.
The Roughriders have also announced that the George Reed Foundation and the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation are going to come together to create the George Reed Legacy Fund. The club says the Fund will take on the work of the George Reed Foundation to continue Reed’s legacy in the province, in support of Special Olympics Saskatchewan and Mother Teresa Middle School.
Already, there are tributes up for Reed on the scoreboard and around Mosaic Stadium throughout this week.
Tributes to Reed from Premier Moe, Mayor Masters
The tributes continue to pour in about the life and legacy of George Reed in Regina and in Saskatchewan, with political leaders weighing in.
At Regina City Hall on Wednesday, Mayor Sandra Masters paid tribute to what Reed meant to the community.
“You think about somebody with the stature of George Reed, and where he came from and his adoption of this city and this province and this country as his own, and the way in which he used his gifts and his celebrity to elevate and raise up members in our community and throughout this province. It’s a bit bittersweet, death is one of those things that we all have in common. It is about honouring and being incredibly grateful for a life unbelievably well lived. An honour to have had him in our city as part of the fabric of our province. It’s sad, but how incredible it is that we got to have them in the first place for as many years as we did.”
Premier Scott Moe was asked to give his thoughts at a media availability Wednesday in Regina.
“What a legacy it is. I would just first say all of this province, most certainly offers their condolences to the Reed family, to Angie and the children and to all of those who were close and personal friends of George, which is a long list. If you met George once, you would count yourselves among those close and personal friends.
“Most everybody that has been to a football game or has been involved in following our beloved ‘Riders would have a story of what George did, or a story of when they met George or how George reacted. I have one that I will share later this week. Not only was he one of the greatest players to play the game certainly in his time, I would also extend that to all time, he was one of the finest individuals that you can meet. Although he didn’t grow up in this province, most certainly I think it’s fair to say that George considered Saskatchewan home, and I would say it’s equally as fair to say that all Saskatchewan residents were so very proud to have George consider this his home. He was certainly, certainly a legend on the field and off.”
As for the expected size of the memorial service planned for Friday, Moe said, “I can’t think of a time when that’s occurred and it certainly does speak to who George Reed was on the field and off the field."
Moe added:
“I would think given George’s legacy, and how he lived this life that the only thing that will rival the online attendance of this might be a Kansas City Chiefs game where Taylor Swift is in the crowd.”
