Football players, fans and cheerleaders gathered in downtown Toronto early Wednesday morning to get an early jump on the kickoff to this year’s 100th Grey Cup Festival.
With just 100 days left before the Canadian Football League crowns its 100th Grey Cup champion, league fans and supporters gathered in downtown Toronto to start celebrating early.
Football players from York University joined Toronto Argonaut cheerleaders and members of the public for a round of morning yoga at David Pecaut Square.
Others were drawn to the downtown park for a pancake breakfast.
The official kickoff for the 100 Day Countdown to the Grey Cup will begin at 12 p.m.
Toronto’s Rogers Centre will host the 100th Grey Cup Championship on Nov. 25, 2012.
Tickets to the game are already sold out, but the centennial celebration will include 10 days of events, including pancake cookouts, traditional team parties and a football film festival.
Chris Rudge, chairman and CEO of the 100th Grey Cup Festival, called the Grey Cup “the greatest cultural celebration” held in Canada.
“It is certainly one of these things that brings Canadians together, whether you are a football fan or not. I think every Canadian has memories of sitting in a basement somewhere, having beer and chili and watching the Grey Cup game.
“The Grey Cup, and now the festival, has become a catalyst for bringing Canadians together. That is what we want to do in the streets of Toronto this November.”
