Nissan's "Back in the Game" program awards Sir John A. MacDonald

Ticats.ca Staff 

• Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Edmonton Eskimos provide special behind-the-scenes experience for next generation of Canadian football
• Hamilton’s Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School and Edmonton’s Eastglen High School football teams to take part in 102^nd Grey Cup festival
• With CFL’s support, Nissan’s Back in the Game program has helped 21 high school teams and nearly 1,000 students across the country

MISSISSAUGA, ON. (October 28, 2014) – Today,Nissan Canada and the Canadian Football League (CFL) announced that this year’s inaugural “Back in the Game” program will culminate with its two feature teams taking part in the country’s biggest football event – Grey Cup weekend. For students from Hamilton’s Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School and Edmonton’s Eastglen High School, the ‘professional’ experience will include a special CFL charter flight to Vancouver, behind-the-scenes access, tickets to the Grey Cup final and an exclusive skills clinic at B.C. Place with some of the league’s biggest stars.

“The excitement and feedback that our new ‘Back in the Game’ program has provided to Canadian students and communities, as well as our dealers and staff, has been incredible,” said Christian Meunier, President, Nissan Canada. “Nissan is extremely proud of our partnership with the CFL so this program is a great way for us to give back to the communities that have supported us for so long.”

Building on seven years of partnership with the CFL, the Nissan “Back in the Game” program identified and supported 21 high schools across the country where a lack of funding, equipment, training materials or other obstacles have been keeping young Canadians out of football. From Vancouver to Montreal, these teams are found in each CFL market and have been receiving funding, equipment, player appearances, training materials and other support from Nissan Canada, Nissan dealerships across the country and the CFL at both a league and team level.

“The CFL is committed to helping grow the game of football in Canada and with the support of partners like Nissan and programs like Back in the Game, we can support more communities and get more kids working and playing as a team in a sport they love,” said Mark Cohon, Commissioner, Canadian Football League.

To enable all Canadians to follow the journey, two teams were selected and have been featured in webisodes leading up to a full 30-minute documentary at the end of the program. This content is telling the stories of Sir John A Macdonald and Eastglen – their trials, tribulations and triumphs – over the course of their 2014 football season, with the students as the stars of the show. These webisodes can be followed at BackInTheGame.ca.

In Edmonton, the Edmonton Eskimos treated the Eastglen Blue Devils to a behind-the-scenes tour of their facilities, including a chance to meet some of their local role models.

“We are heavily committed to supporting amateur football across Northern Alberta and we are dedicated to growing the game at a grass roots level,” said Len Rhodes, President & CEO, Edmonton Eskimos. “Programs like Back in the Game will ensure that even more students get the opportunity to play and dream of becoming the next big stars.”

“This season has been an incredible journey for our school, community, staff and players, and this news is the icing on the cake,” said Kent Anderson, coach, Eastglen High School. “I’ve seen more wins on the faces of our players than we could ever ask for on any scoreboard. I can’t thank Nissan and the CFL enough for how much they’ve helped put us back in the game.”

The players of Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School in Hamilton, Ontario also received the VIP treatment with a chance to meet some of their local role models and got a behind-the-scenes tour of Tim Hortons Field, home of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

“The Tiger-Cats are incredibly proud of this program and thrilled that the team from Sir John A. Macdonald will be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Glenn Gibson, President and COO, Hamilton Tiger-Cats. “We jump at every opportunity to work with partners to help strengthen the game and our community because we know it helps our team, our league, and our country.”

“Having Nissan, the CFL and the Tiger-Cats step in and help us get back in the game has meant the world to our team,” said Jeff Kott, coach, Sir John A. Macdonald. “This season hasn’t produced many wins on the field, but the memories and friendships that this program has helped forge with our students will last them a lifetime.

21 schools, 18 cities, 5 provinces, 1 goal – Put Canadian youth “Back in the Game”