WINNIPEG \u2014\u00a0Four is the magic number once more for Logan Ferland.<\/p>\n
One year after seeing duty at four different positions and being named the CFL West Division\u2019s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman, Ferland has received the coveted Jake Gaudaur Veterans\u2019 Award.<\/p>\n
On Thursday night, the 28-year-old Melfort product became the fourth consecutive Roughrider to earn the latter distinction, following Dan Clark (2022), Brayden Lenius (2023) and Jorgen Hus (2024).<\/p>\n
Mike McCullough, the inaugural winner in 2010, and Graeme Bell (2012) were Saskatchewan\u2019s first two honourees.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis means a lot,\u201d Ferland said while holding the gleaming trophy. \u201cFootball isn\u2019t just for what\u2019s going on on the field, but off the field.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Gaudaur award, presented by the league in conjunction with Veterans Affairs Canada, recognizes a CFL player who best demonstrates the many attributes of Canada\u2019s veterans \u2014 strength, perseverance, courage, comradeship and contribution to Canadian communities.<\/p>\n
Gaudaur, a former Canadian football player and executive, was the league\u2019s commissioner from 1968 to 1984.<\/p>\n
After attending last year\u2019s CFL Awards ceremonies as a finalist, Ferland has returned to the Grey Cup Festival with all his teammates. The Roughriders are to face the Montreal Alouettes in Sunday\u2019s Grey Cup Game at Princess Auto Stadium.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is all I wanted after being at the awards in Vancouver last year,\u201d Ferland said. \u201cIt just fuelled that fire even more to be here with the full team and celebrate this with the guys.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to being a back-to-back All-CFL offensive lineman, Ferland has excelled as an ambassador for the Jim Pattison Children\u2019s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House.<\/p>\n
Ferland was born prematurely on April 14, 1997 at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Saskatoon.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a journey I don\u2019t remember,\u201d he recalled with a chuckle, \u201cbut we were able to see the impact and really re-live all those moments as a family when we were back there and we toured the hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing able to see the Jim Pattison Children\u2019s Hospital now, compared to the NICU that was there before, it has really come a long way. It really adds to how close that is to my heart.\u201d<\/p>\n
In heartfelt fashion, he also travels throughout the province on behalf of the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation, visiting with students while discussing mental health (via the Win with Wellness program) and literacy (Rider Reading).<\/p>\n
Additionally, Ferland makes himself available for heart-to-heart discussions with youngsters while relating his family\u2019s story of perseverance.<\/p>\n
Marcel Ferland, Logan\u2019s father, was only 56 when he died of cancer in 2012. Marcel is fondly remembered and dearly missed by his wife, Cathy, and three sons (Logan, Ryan and Beau).<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of what I do is for the kids and the next generation to strengthen them, so it means everything,\u201d Ferland said.<\/p>\n
The past four successful nominations for the Gaudaur award have been prepared and submitted by Roughriders Director of Communications Arielle Zerr, who was among the many people an appreciative Ferland thanked on Thursday night at Winnipeg\u2019s Club Regent Casino.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a very close-knit group in the province,\u201d the former Regina Thunder standout said. \u201cWith our Foundation, we exhibit the very same qualities.<\/p>\n
\u201c(Executive Director) Cindy Fuchs does an amazing job of representing us and getting us those opportunities to speak to those kids and change lives.<\/p>\n
\u201cAZ also represents us very well. She\u2019s able to really put her best foot forward in nominating us.\u201d<\/p>\n
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