BO LEVI MITCHELL: STAMPEDERS QUARTERBACK

It wasn't the end he and his teammates wanted.

After a CFL season of records and all-star performances, the Calgary Stampeders lost the Grey Cup in overtime to the Ottawa Redblacks.

But for league Most Outstanding Player Bo Levi Mitchell, there's much to take away from 2016.

“Without a doubt it takes away a bit of the sparkle, if you will,” the quarterback said of the loss. “It was a very special season for the entire organization. We're not satisfied, obviously, because we had a singular goal in mind that we didn't accomplish but, hey, it's motivation to give us something to strive for next year.”

Mitchell, who just finished his fifth campaign with the Stamps, has come to embrace this city just as fans have embraced him.

“It's definitely mutual,” he said. “I'm pretty ecstatic that the entire city has accepted me the way it has but, obviously, I'm going to try to continue to do more things in the city.”

That includes being front-andcentre with various charities. One of his favourite projects is Mitchell Miracle Day, a holiday initiative in which he and his wife, Madison, take underprivileged kids shopping.

“Christmas is my favourite time of the year,” he said. "I used to love it because of the presents. But I'll never forget the feeling of going to school after that and asking, hey, what did you get and then you talk to some friends and you see how tough some families have it. That's always hit me hard.

“I've striven to make this one the biggest deal I can, because the thought of some kids waking up to either very little or nothing is pretty heartbreaking to me.”

The new year not only means training for next season, it'll also welcome a baby girl to the Mitchell family as his wife is due in February. And though they're from Texas, there's no question where the baby will be born.

“It'll be a Canadian baby,” he said with a chuckle. “No Trump babies around here.”