Quebec City tour a success!

Well, I think I can speak for all of us that the Quebec City Vanier Cup Tour 2009 was an unqualified success. A great game on the field with the Queen's come from behind victory over Calgary, and great fun was had all weekend.

Dr. CD Dahle was named rookie of the year for his first showing, joining this list of luminaries:

1999: Lincoln Jefferies
2000: Steve Sharp
2001: Spencer Grabe
2002: Brent Grieve
2003: "Cuzin'" Bill Latimer
2004: Donny "Bohonos" McMullen
2005: Keith Walthers
2006: NOT AWARDED - no rookie had the guts to come to Sask with us
2007: Andre Barrette
2008: Rob Townend

Some the highlights included:

- Dirty Don and MMMMMM McMillan missed the train and had to drive to Montreal to meet us.
- VIA first class was the way to go with grub, beer, wine, etc. The discount price on the tickets was a nice touch as well. Some attendees from Southern Ontario flew in to the Q-C to meet us.
- The guy at the pub in the train station in Montreal was a bit concerned with the amount of beer we drank during our layover, so he asked "Which one of you guys is driving?"
- Friday night steaks were a nice meal to start things off - Dirty forgot his jacket there, but Kenny G was able to wear the 1992 Vanier Cup Champs coat with pride and return it to its owner.
- The Chez Maurice was an entertaining hot spot for both nights of the tour. At this establishment, we are advised that "boys and girls use the same closet".
- The Tailgate at the game was one heck of an experience. We started things up at 9:30am. The Vanier Pere Noel theme was a big hit as we gave away free candy cane shooters and fed the entire Queen's practice squad hotdogs and used a ironing board as our 'table'.
- Kenny G was accused of shoplifting at the Canadian Tire where he bought the ironing board; he had forgotten to remove his tag from his Santa hat.
- Adam got interviewed on French CBC with some assistance from IT Loney - the kids of Quebec will be wondering why Santa is slurring and can't speak French that well.
- Several other local media outlets stopped by for an interview, including Le Journal du Quebec, TV Quatre Saisons, and Le Soleil as well as the local student newspaper. We were pretty popular guys!
- Our rule was "no interview unless the interviewer has a shooter." And the Quebec media seemed to have no problem with that.
- Security was not overly tight at the game. We 'somehow' managed to smuggle in some whiskey, and used a recycling bin as a table, pouring it into cups as security walked by did not seem to be a problem.
- Safety Kev won the informal title as dirtiest Santa with his rum and Pepsi stained beard as he tried to give away candy to local kids. This will be seared in their memories for a long time.
- At the end, we were reminded to "At the end of the game, show some class and please stay off the field of play."
- Budweiser only $30 for a half dozen at the game - this deal included the six pack ring!
- Some of the guys met a Queen's player who was lining up at the fan's Port-a-Potty mid-game! He must have had to go real bad.
- Getting a cab after the game wasn't easy. However, public transit was a transportation mode as a whack of Santa took the bus back to the Delta where we were staying.
- Commander Landers and Royal Robbins had an impressive Saturday night, still enjoying a few refreshments at the Chez Maurice at 2am despite their 7am flight the next day. Dave W and JRock unfortunately made the mistake of having a wee nap after the game....and did not make it out with the rest of us Saturday night despite their attempts to contact us.
- When going for a late night poutine at Aston's, Kenny and Adam had the only celebrity sighting of the weekend, enjoying a 4:30am snack with the 2009 Russ Jackson award winner, Thomas Hall from U of Manitoba (great kid).
- All in all a great time was had by all attendees - planning has already started for 2010.