Those who attended the Saskatchewan Roughriders\u2019 annual Volunteer Appreciation Event welcomed a special guest on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese events are better when you have the Grey Cup here,\u201d President-CEO Craig Reynolds told members of the Rider Squad \u2014\u00a0nearly 200 strong \u2014\u00a0at Mosaic Stadium\u2019s AGT Lounge.<\/p>\n
The grail had magnetic powers as a steady stream of volunteers posed for pictures, many of which were taken with Roughriders players Brett Lauther, Dhel Duncan-Busby, Kian Schaffer-Baker and Mitch Picton.<\/p>\n
Early in the proceedings, Caroline Sorensen spent some quality time with the Grey Cup \u2014\u00a0again.<\/p>\n
She was previously photographed with the trophy alongside her mother, Alvina, a few days after the Roughriders defeated the Montreal Alouettes 25-17 in the CFL\u2019s 2025 championship game.<\/p>\n
One common denominator was Schaffer-Baker, who was joined by teammates Trevor Harris and A.J. Ouellette for a meet-and-greet back in November.<\/p>\n
\u201cI took my mother with me to see the players,\u201d Sorensen recalled. \u201cWe didn\u2019t know the Cup was going to be there.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of a sudden, it was, \u2018Ohhh, there\u2019s the Cup!\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n
The Roughriders\u2019 previous Grey Cup win was a catalyst for Sorensen joining the Rider Squad.<\/p>\n
Back in 2013, she volunteered for a Saskatchewan-based Grey Cup Festival and ended up being part of the stage crew.<\/p>\n
She helped to pull out the stage for the halftime show and, better yet, the trophy presentation at historic Mosaic Stadium.<\/p>\n
Shortly thereafter, a friend suggested that Sorensen become a Roughriders volunteer. She embraced the notion and joined the Rider Squad in 2014. More than a decade later, she is the ticket scanning lead outside Gate 2 of the new stadium.<\/p>\n
Her efforts \u2014\u00a0and those of her colleagues on the Rider Squad \u2014\u00a0are essential.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe literally could not put on a game day without everyone in this room,\u201d Reynolds said.<\/p>\n
Volunteers\u2019 duties range from ticket scanning to showing fans to their seats to fielding questions to conducting stadium tours to, well, you name it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe day after the Grey Cup, we were selling one \u2018Official Champions\u2019 hat every 12 seconds,\u201d Reynolds noted.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was so wild and crazy at the Store that volunteers jumped in and helped the staff,\u201d added Rob Harrison, the Roughriders\u2019 Volunteer and Guest Experience Manager.<\/p>\n
The spirit of volunteerism has long been embraced by SaskEnergy and Bernadette McIntyre.<\/p>\n
In 2025, SaskEnergy celebrated its 25th anniversary as the Champion of Volunteers. The Crown Corporation is the Rider Squad\u2019s presenting sponsor.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou helped set the tone for a championship season,\u201d SaskEnergy President-CEO Mark Guillet told the gathering. \u201cThat dedication did not go unnoticed.<\/p>\n
\u201cSaskEnergy is proud to stand behind such an outstanding and passionate group of people.\u201d<\/p>\n
McIntyre, the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, has long been synonymous with volunteerism. To cite just one of her many selfless contributions, she co-chaired the Volunteer Services Committee for the 2022 Grey Cup Festival.<\/p>\n
She lauded members of the Roughriders\u2019 Fan Ambassadors Team for fielding fans\u2019 questions \u201cwith the greatest of grace and a warm smile.\u201d<\/p>\n
A warm thought concluded McIntyre\u2019s address to the Rider Squad: \u201cVolunteers are not paid \u2014\u00a0not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Len Davidovich was recognized for reaching the 40-year milestone as a volunteer. Marlene Hoffman and Rick Wychreschuk were honoured for 30 years with the Rider Squad. Hoffman\u2019s son, John, played for the Roughriders\u2019 1989 championship team.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Respects were paid to long-time volunteer Mel Douglas, who passed away on Dec. 5 at age 81.<\/p>\n