Even though his Toronto Argonauts did not qualify for the CFL playoffs the last few weeks have been great for Brampton’s James Yurichuk.

He recently signed an extension that will keep him with the Argos through the 2016 season. And during Grey Cup week the Argos linebacker was presented with the trophy as the 2014 winner of the Jake Gaudaur Veterans' Award.

Yurichuk, who received the award at a ceremony in Vancouver on Nov. 27, was selected by a voting committee made up of representatives from the CFL, Veterans Affairs Canada, TSN and the Canadian Football Players Association. The award is given annually to a CFL player who best demonstrates the attributes that have always defined Canada’s veterans, strength, perseverance courage, comradeship and contribution to Canadian communities.

“To have my name on a trophy associated with our veterans is a great honour,” said the St. Thomas Aquinas graduate. “The character, strength and courage our veterans demonstrated is the benchmark for excellence and makes Canada the proud country that it is. This award is a reflection of family, friends, teammates, teachers and coaches who have affected my life in a positive way, and to them I say thank you. Thank you, as well to the Toronto Argonauts organization which has been passionate about caring for and improving our community.”

Yurichuk is an advocate for youth and female football development and youth wellness. He was recently named the first director for the new Central Canadian Women’s Football League, which will begin play in 2015.

He has also spoken out about concussion awareness and safe play after one of his teammates at Bishop’s University was hospitalized for two years following a serious in-game head injury.

Yurichuk has been a volunteer coach for the York Lions football program and is a staunch supporter and spokesperson for TrueSport, an agency created by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport in help ensure inclusion and fair play amongst athletes. A video message he recorded last year has since become a mandatory part of drug training for al CFL players.

A two-time CFL Canadian Player of the Week and 2011 Grey Cup champion, Yurichuk has never missed playing in a game through his high school, college or pro career. He played the entire 2010 season with the B.C. Lions with a torn patella tendon. He has been a team captain and a locker-room leader.

He is the wedge-buster on special teams and made his first start at WILL linebacker this season for the Argos. In that game he made an interception and sealed the win with a game-ending sack. He is known as a dedicated father and partner and a consummate teammate. He organizes team social events, involving teammate families.

Yurichuk is the Argos’ player ambassador for the Huddle Up Bullying Prevention program and the club’s Huddle Up and Make the Call: A Gender-Based Violence Prevention project. He also supports the Argos’ Level The Playing Field program, working to build football throughout the GTA.