REGINA — Hundreds of people were at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina to remember a larger than life character.
Former Saskatchewan Roughrider President Jim Hopson was remembered at a celebration of life attended by family, friends and fans.
The sky was gloomy and grey, but the atmosphere inside wasn’t dampened as people shared their stories of Hopson, many of which ended with tears of joy, not tears of sadness.
Many, if not most of the people at the service were adorned in some form of “Rider Green”, from jerseys to jackets, bunnyhugs to sweatshirts.
One of Hopson’s best friends was Steve Mazurak, and he was the first one asked to speak at the service.
Gord Currie was the coach of the Regina Rams when Hopson played with the club, and took to heart the lessons they learned from the legendary football coach.
“Jim, like all Junior Ram alumni, would always credit a Gord Currie-led football staff for honing his football skills, team play, and especially grooming character among young adults,” Mazurak said.
The Grey Cup was displayed as well. The “barrel”, or the bottom of the trophy below the Cup itself, was retired a few years ago, and placed in storage at the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. That “barrel” was brought out to the service, as it was the same trophy Hopson hoisted when he led the Riders to championships in 2007, and the memorable win at home in 2013.
Two of Hopson’s children, Tyler and Carrie, told some amazing stories from their childhood, before Hopson reached the executive offices of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Hopson became a schoolteacher after he retired from professional football, a career that seems even more impressive than his football resume. It was in that role as an educator that he met his wife Brenda.
She remarked about the first time she met the man who was to be her husband at a school in Edenwold. She said it was the first week of school, and “in comes this great big bear of a guy, a little bit cocky, how is he going to inspire anyone?” Brenda went on to say “Well, inspire is exactly what Jim continued to do as I knew him over the next 40 years, and up to his last breath, he was a true inspiration.”
Hopson died from colon cancer, and when diagnosed, he was told he was at stage four. For two years Hopson endured chemotherapy, and even an experimental medication to try and beat the cancer and prolong his life. Hopson died April 2.
At the end of the celebration of life was a video he made for the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency. The video chronicles Hopson’s journey from diagnosis to death, and has an important message.
In the video, Hopson said “I just wish I had that colonoscopy done one year before, and maybe I am stage one, or stage two. If you don’t go do the check-up, you’re not going to know. And it could be way too late by the time you do”. Hopson continues on “Do it now. Do it for yourself, but also do it for your loved ones, and you won’t be sorry.”
“Enjoy every day, you never know when it’s going to end. Tell the people you love, you love them. Tell them you appreciate them, and be good to people. You’d be surprised by how it comes back to you.”
Even in death, Hopson continues to inspire people to be their better selves. For a person like Hopson, there is probably no better epitaph.
