Roughriders, SGI team up to tackle impaired driving

06/13/2024 05:17 PM

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are proponents of successful drives on and off the field.

Hence the announcement on Thursday of a new collaboration between the community-owned CFL team and a long-time partner, SGI.

Beginning on June 23, when the Hamilton Tiger-Cats visit Mosaic Stadium for the Roughriders' home opener, a Safe Ride Champion will be declared.

Following each home game, a prize-winner will be selected from a pool of season-ticket members who are based outside of Regina.

To reinforce the importance of not operating a vehicle while impaired, additional signage will be posted in and around the stadium.

"SGI has always been the Safe Ride champion," Roughriders President-CEO Craig Reynolds said. "It has been very important to us over the years to communicate that same message to our fans: Get a safe ride home.

"Most importantly, we want all our fans to get home safely after enjoying a big win at Mosaic."

The objective is for the new initiative to be a big winner as well.

"There are lots of ways to get home safely after a Rider game, including Rider transit, which we have offered for years," Reynolds noted. "We want to ensure that there are free, safe options, rather than getting behind the wheel of a car after drinking."

The breadth of the messaging is such that it will appear on wristbands and parking passes. Various decals will be visible on the stadium's concourse. Safe-ride ambassadors will also be conspicuous at Coors Light Party in the Park before each home game.

"You'll often hear the word 'options' when talking football," SGI President-CEO Penny McCune said, "and when it comes to finding a safe ride on game day, you do have plenty of options.

"You can pass the keys to a sober designated driver. You can run to one of the transit pick-up spots and take the bus. You can kick back in an Uber and you can catch a cab.

"The one play you should never call is getting behind the wheel if you've been drinking or impaired by anything else.

"At SGI, we care about our customers, and we know the Riders care about their fans. So we encourage people to make good choices and we want to celebrate when they make those good choices, just as much as we celebrate when the Riders win."

Dustin Duncan, the Minister Responsible for SGI, understands the dynamics of travelling to and from Roughriders games. A seasoned MLA and Roughriders fan, he hails from the Weyburn area.

"Over the past decade, Saskatchewan has significantly reduced the number of collisions, injuries and fatalities caused by impaired driving, but we can't declare victory yet — not as long as people continue to lose their lives to impaired driving, which is completely preventable," Duncan said.

"When it comes to defeating impaired driving, it really takes a team effort, and all of us have a role to play. That's why partnerships like this one are so important.

"The Saskatchewan Roughriders are woven into the fabric of our province's culture and we're proud to have them support our province's traffic-safety efforts as part of the game-day experience at Mosaic Stadium.

"It will be an important reminder to everyone who shows up at Mosaic Stadium to support the Green and White."

The team will, in turn, reward one out-of-town season-ticket member with a prize package that includes a Roughriders jersey.

As well, each Safe Rider Champion will be recognized on the SaskTel MaxTron during a Roughriders home game.

"(Combatting impaired driving) has been a big point of emphasis for a long time," Reynolds said. "This is just about amplification.

"Partnering with SGI allows us to amplify the message even more and, in that vein, we're going to have 50,000 items, and signage, throughout Mosaic Stadium and including Party in the Park.

"With every piece of signage we can, we're going to have the 'plan a safe ride home' message to amplify the good work that we've already been doing."

Fans can chip in by performing some good work of their own.

"We want people to come to Mosaic Stadium and have a good time," Reynolds said. "For some people, that will involve drinking, but the most important decision they need to make is to plan a safe ride home if they're going to come to Mosaic Stadium and have something to drink.

"We want to encourage people to enjoy the game, enjoy our beautiful Saskatchewan weather, and enjoy our beautiful stadium. Most importantly, we want them to think about how they get home safely. There are so many options nowadays to do that.

"That's what this program is about — making sure that we get that message across."