Point of pride
Dion Pellerin knows CFL dream is alive thanks to his late dad’s involvement
David Pellerin wasn’t able to share the moment when his son, Dion, was drafted by the Argos late last month.
But he was there in spirit. Dion, a running back selected out of the Waterloo Warriors program, lost his dad when he was 16.
David Pellerin was born in Regina and became a fan of the hometown Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The family eventually settled in Abbotsford, but David’s sporting allegiance never changed.
From what he understood, Dion said his dad was a pretty decent football player at the high school level.
“I’m pretty sure he was given an offer to attend the University of Regina,’’ said Dion. “But he decided to attend training school instead. It was a better path for him.”
As a kid, Dion remembers the times when he and his dad would attend sporting events in Vancouver, be it watching CFL or NHL games.
“I can remember every CFL game with my dad,’’ said Dion.
One of his most vivid memories involved a hockey game played the same night as the 2009 Grey Cup pitting Saskatchewan and Montreal, a game forever known as the 13th Man.
“I was 10 or 11 at the time and my dad left me in the arena by myself so he could watch the Grey Cup on TV in the lobby,’’ added Dion. “I just remember how completely pissed off he was when he came back to his seat.”
When his dad passed away, Dion’s world changed.
“I’ve been a pretty optimistic guy since then,’’ he said. “I’ve learned to move forward in a positive way and remember him the best I can.”
There was no better testament to the influence David had when Dion went 42nd overall to the Argos
“I know growing up, my dad would have been so proud of me,’’ said Dion. “It would have been a dream come true for him as well as for myself.
“My mom (Karen Brown) was ecstatic. I think the first five times I called after the draft, and I wasn’t with her because I was in Waterloo, she was crying.”
Mom wasn’t much of a sports fan.
“But she was a big fan of mine,’’ said Dion. “She’d be at every game throughout high school, she’d be there for all my track meets, she would come for everything.
“She definitely was a big rock in my life.’’
Before he enrolled at Waterloo, Pellerin carved quite a niche for himself at W.J. Mouat high school in Abbotsford.
He endeared himself to teammates and showed his selfless side when he filled in on the offensive line for his Grade 11 season following an injury to a player.
He loved rugby and often played sevens once the school year was over at Waterloo and he could return home.
Rugby allowed Pellerin to refine the art of tackling, a skill coupled with his versatility playing in the backfield on the gridiron that automatically makes him a strong candidate to make the Argos as a special teams player.
I’ve learned to move forward in a positive way and remember him the best I can.
Dion Pellerin