The Saskatchewan Roughriders may have won the big football game on Labour Day weekend, but that's the only good thing that happened over the course of the Labour Day weekend for local Rider fans.Avonlea, Saskatchewan has earned the right to be called "Riderville".
The community of about 400 people, located approximately 60 km southwest of Regina was announced as the winner after receiving the most online votes as part of the Rider Centennial "Where is Riderville" contest. Barry Sharpe, who helped to organize the Yorkton bid to win the contest said Monday night that it "was a David vs. Goliath thing" and there's no point in worrying about it now.
Sharpe said he was at the Riders/Bombers game when it was announced there that the village of Avonlea would be declared the winner.
Sharpe was at the game with his son Roby and friend Jason Farrell, who were also in on the Yorkton bid.Avonlea received 30.4% of the online votes cast to edge out the other four finalists in the contest - Nipawin, Unity, Weyburn and Yorkton - to claim the $25,000 grand prize. Avonlea plans on using the prize money to help initiate their own minor football team for the town.
A total of 37 entries were originally received as part of the contest. After narrowing the entries down to five finalists, Rider fans cast 269,093 online votes from August 13-31.
"This contest and the community spirit we witnessed exceeded our expectations," stated Riders president/CEO Jim Hopson. This contest embodies the passion that the entire province has for their communities and for the Roughriders."
Along with the prize money and a highway sign giving them the distinction of 小蓝视频 called "Riderville", Avonlea will receive a one day football camp hosted by Rider players, coaches and alumni.
Sharpe said that had the contest gone in Yorkton's favour, the group would be looking into a new facility to be built at Kinsmen Century Field in behind the Yorkton Regional High School.
"There's no bathroom facility there," advised Sharpe, who added that there are sometimes hundreds of kids there taking part in track and field and soccer.
He added that the plans are still in place to build the facility.
