Honourable senators, there is jubilation throughout “Rider Nation” today. As a proud member of “Rider Nation,” I am thrilled to rise to celebrate the 2025 Grey Cup champions, the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The Riders led the Canadian Football League this season. Our “Green Machine” clinched first place in the West and a home playoff game for the CFL Western Final, with weeks left in the season. Head coach Corey Mace led the Roughriders’ culture of excellence, which permeated the entire organization all year. Our beloved Riders were inspired to do whatever it took to win.

I was ecstatic to attend the Western Final at a jam-packed Mosaic Stadium in Regina, frigid temperatures notwithstanding. This game featured a heart-stopping miracle at Mosaic, ending when Rider receiver Tommy Nield caught the game-winning touchdown pass with only 11 seconds left. So, despite the ‑15 degrees Celsius conditions, the crowd of Roughrider faithfuls dispersed with very warm hearts after that huge victory.

Yet the Saskatchewan team’s attitude was remarkable in its discipline. They didn’t even touch the West Division trophy that night, saying, “The job’s not done. We must finish the job.” The Roughriders’ goal was not to participate in the Grey Cup; their sole goal all year was to win that beautiful Grey Cup trophy. With that wonderful dream firmly in mind, last week, huge numbers of “Rider Nation” members made the several-hour drive east on Highway 1 to Winnipeg for the one hundred and twelfth Grey Cup.

For the Saskatchewan Roughriders to potentially win the Grey Cup in Winnipeg — the home of the CFL Blue Bombers, the Riders’ archrivals — is glorious on another level. What a game we saw on Sunday. The Riders’ very tough opponent was the Montreal Alouettes, led by the formidable quarterback Davis Alexander. The Alouettes really gave it their all until the very end, so the Grey Cup match was yet another heart-stopping game from the Roughriders. Couldn’t they occasionally make it a little easier on us fans this year?

Luckily, the ferocious “Big Rider D” came through in the clutch. Marcus Sayles, with his game-saving goal line play, will never have to buy himself a drink in Saskatchewan again. As the last few seconds ticked down, “Rider Nation” and all of Saskatchewan erupted in celebration. Just as Coach Mace had promised, green and white confetti rained down as the Saskatchewan Roughriders were crowned Grey Cup champions.

Trevor Harris, our wily 39-year-old veteran quarterback, was named Grey Cup MVP. His stellar 85% completion rate that game was a CFL record. Rider receiver Sam Emilus won the Most Outstanding Canadian Award. What a celebration — there were fireworks on the street and people climbing lamp poles, and it is still going.

Gainer the Gopher will lead the Grey Cup parade down Regina’s “Green Mile” this afternoon. Saskatchewanians’ inherent love of the Riders binds our province together: We believe, and we bleed green. Our wonderful Roughrider team understood this right from the beginning. Similar to the Blue Jays, the whole team loves one another. This spirit led the Riders to accomplished heights as a team that they could not reach individually.

From a grateful “Rider Nation” — thank you to the entire Roughrider organization. They are Grey Cup champions. Go, Riders, go!