GREY CUP BOUND FOR ENGLAND
Burris thrilled to have role in Canada Day festivities
Henry Burris is not Canadian WINNIPEG — at least not yet — but he couldn’t be more proud to represent his adopted homeland across the pond on a milestone birthday.
As part of Canada’s 150th-birthday celebrations, Burris will travel with the Grey Cup to London to be part of the Canada Day festivities at Trafalgar Square.
The Canadian Football League, which employed Burris as a star quarterback for 18 years before he retired in 2016 as a champion, was invited to participate in the celebrations by the Canadian High Commission.
“It means everything to me,” Burris says. “Taking one of our most prized possessions — the Grey Cup — to Trafalgar Square on Saturday is going to be a great experience. Just being around Canadians and being able to represent the country and just reminding people how great of a country this is that we call home … for us it’s going to be mind-boggling.”
What makes this more interesting is the fact Burris is American. He came to Canada in 1997 to play for the Calgary Stampeders, and suited up for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Hamilton TigerCats and Ottawa Redblacks over his long career.
He and his wife, Nicole, who will accompany him on the trip, began living in Canada full-time in 2005 and were granted permanent resident status last April.
The next step is Canadian citizenship.
“It’s something we’ve been looking forward to making happen,” Burris says. “Our kids are Canadians, they were born in Calgary. This is all they know and we both love it here, my wife and I.
“In our minds, why not? Why leave Canada? It’s a great place, with great people. When a place feels like it’s home, it’s time to make it just that.”
The Canada Day festivities in Trafalgar Square, where Canada House is located, are expected to attract 60,000 to 80,000 people this year. Many Canadian organizations will take part, with the CFL offering up a Grey Cup photo booth and an obstacle course for revellers to take on.
Burris seemed like a good choice to carry the Cup, since he won the trophy with the Redblacks in an epic overtime game against the Calgary Stampeders last November. He then retired, at 41, going out on top.
“It’s an honour for me to be able to carry the Grey Cup into this huge celebration that’s going to be taking place,” Burris says. “(The Cup) has truly changed our lives. For us to have won it in the fashion that we did and for me to walk away from the game at that time after winning, has meant so much in our lives and now here’s another opportunity of being able to carry it on the 150th.
“It’s going to be a memory I’ll never forget.”
After the main festivities conclude on Saturday, the CFL will host a “watch party” for 200 people at the Carlsberg Sports Bar at the Empire Casino, where fans can view the Canada Day game between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Saskatchewan Roughriders at Regina’s new Mosaic Stadium. The game won’t start until 2 a.m., London time, but the league expects people to stick around for the game and TSN will cut away to the party on occasion during breaks in the on-field action.
Burris is most looking forward to interacting with Canadians.
“One of the reasons we moved from the U.S. and ultimately made this home is because of the people,” Burris says. “I’m really looking forward to it. This is going to be a treat for us.”
Taking one of our most prized possessions — the Grey Cup — to Trafalgar Square on Saturday is going to be a great experience.