TORONTO – Toronto Argonauts Director of Education and Community Programs, Jason Colero, has been honoured as the Canadian Football League’s 2016 Commissioner’s Award recipient.

The Commissioner’s Award is given each year to an individual or group that has made an outstanding contribution to the development of football in Canada.

Colero has been a devoted member of the Toronto Argonauts organization since 1985. Beginning his career with the club as a mascot, ball boy, and locker room attendant as a teen, Colero has established himself as a catalyst for the club’s community programming and initiatives since 1999.

WATCH: Colero accepts 2016 Commissioner’s Award

“It’s a tremendous honour to be acknowledged with such a prestigious award,” said Colero. “I am thankful for all the people that helped me get to this point throughout my 32 years with the Toronto Argonauts and in the CFL. The CFL embodies community involvement and I am glad to have contributed to that reputation.”

Under his direction, he founded and facilitated the Argonauts renowned Huddle Up Bullying Prevention program, which entered its 16th year of existence in 2016 and has received notable recognition across the country since its origin in 2000. The program works closely with the Canadian Safe School Network and has worked with nearly 600,000 students across different school boards in the Greater Toronto Area in an effort to ensure that bullying is prevented within schools and the greater community.

Along with Huddle Up, Colero has been at the forefront of a number of other community initiatives, including the Argo-cise program, an effort to encourage a healthy lifestyle that promotes proper nutrition and daily exercise for kids.

He recently took a stand against violence against women by building and developing a relationship with The White Ribbon Campaign to launch the successful Make the Call Program.

Additionally, Colero has worked extensively to assist in improving football at the grassroots level, displayed most notably in his efforts developing The Argonauts Level the Playing Field program, which successfully started football programs at 12 different high schools in the City of Toronto. A true testament to the success of the Level the Playing Field program is Argos 2016 CFL Draft pick Jamal Campbell, who got his first taste of the gridiron in Grade 11 at C.W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute in North York.

“The time and commitment that Jason has devoted to not only this organization, but to our community, has made a real difference with our youth and is truly inspirational,” said Argonauts President & CEO Michael Copeland. “We are so proud to call him a teammate, grateful for everything he has done for the Argos and our community, and humbled by his tireless effort and dedication to the team.”

Colero becomes the fourth affiliate of the Toronto Argonaut Football Club to be honoured with the award since its inception in 1990, joining John Tory (1996), Jeff Gillies (2000) and Keith Pelley (2007).