The Toronto Argonauts, with endorsement from the Ontario Minister of Education, will be moving kickoff time for their home pre-season game on June 19th versus the Montreal Alouettes to 12:00 p.m. ET as part of an initiative with the various school boards in the Toronto area to bring students to the game and celebrate the end of a successful school year. The "field trips", organized through the schools and school boards, will bring primary and middle school students to Rogers Centre free of charge during school hours.
Commented Argonauts' Executive Chairman and CEO Chris Rudge, "We look forward to having thousands of students at our pre-season game to celebrate the end of another successful school year. The health and wellness of our youth is at the centre of our community efforts. We would like to thank the CFL, Rogers Centre and the Montreal Alouettes for agreeing to move the game, as well as our partners at the schools, the school boards and the office of the Ontario Minister of Education for making this special Argos game a part of the student experience."
The Toronto Argonauts run three in-school programs through their community relations department - the award winning Huddle Up Bullying Prevention Program presented by Tim Hortons is wrapping up its 11th successful year, Argo-cise Recess presented by Goodlife Fitness which focuses on the health and physical fitness of our kids, and Level the Playing Field presented by Tim Hortons which has returned football to ten TDSB schools. Aspects from all three programs will be a part of the game and elements appealing to the youth will be incorporated into pre-game, halftime and post-game activities.
The Hon. Laurel C. Broten, Minister of Education enthused, "This game is such an exciting and innovative way for students to learn more about bullying prevention and healthy schools. As Minister, and as a parent, congratulations and thank you to the Argos and the Huddle Up program for everything they are doing to make our schools more inclusive and accepting."
Students will be granted pre-game access to the stadium 90 minutes before kickoff so that they can watch warm-up and start the celebration. In addition to all of the football action, the game will be packed with special student and community-focused presentations. Immediately following the game, students will be invited to take their 'Field Trip' onto the actual field at Rogers Centre where they will meet their Argonauts heroes as well as the Argos Cheerleaders during our popular See You on the Field tradition.
Each Argos season ticket holder will be offered five ticket vouchers for the pre-season game to bring along up to five friends to enjoy an afternoon of hard-hitting football. As well, season ticket holders will be able to bring the students in their lives to the game free of charge.
After opening the regular season in Edmonton, Ricky Ray and the boys in Double Blue will host the Calgary Stampeders for the 2012 home opener on Saturday, July 7 at 3:00 p.m.