OTTAWA — The Ottawa REDBLACKS announced they will be honouring both of Ottawa’s 1968 and 1969 Grey Cup winning teams during their Saturday, August 11 game against the Montreal Alouettes.

2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the ’68 team’s victory, in which head coach Frank Clair led the then Ottawa Rough Riders to a 24-21 victory over the Calgary Stampeders at Toronto’s Exhibition Stadium.

The 1969 team will also be honoured. Russ Jackson led the Rough Riders back to the Grey Cup, which was being held in Montreal that year. The 57th Grey Cup saw Ottawa take on Ron Lancaster and the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The 29-11 victory for Ottawa would be Russ Jackson’s final game as he went on to set a Grey Cup record, passing for four touchdowns and being named the Most Valuable Player of the game.

“The idea for a reunion event started with a conversation between Russ Jackson and the REDBLACKS after the team honoured the 1976 Rough Riders in 2016,” said Jim Cain, a defensive tackle on the ’68 and ’69 Rough Riders. “We all felt that since most of the players on the ’68 team also played in ’69, we’d invite alumni from both teams to Ottawa for the weekend to make it even more special. What a weekend it’s going to be.”

Alumni players at the reunion event will include Margene Adkins, Bo Scott and Canadian Football Hall of Famers Gene Gaines, Don Sutherin, Ken Lehmann, Whit Tucker, Ronnie Stewart and Russ Jackson. In all, 23 alumni will be in attendance as well as family members representing six alumni players who have since passed away.

Also included in the event will be Robin Mason Clair, the daughter of the Rough Riders legendary coach and general manager Frank Clair, and Arthur and Ken Loeb, sons of former Rough Riders’ owner David Loeb. Mr. Loeb was one of six Ottawa investors that purchased shares in the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1966. In 1969, he bought the team outright and remained its owner until 1977. Under his watch, the Rough Riders won four Grey Cups (1968, 1969, 1973 and 1976). David Loeb passed away in 2016.

The Loeb brothers will take part in a halftime ceremony that’s been 49 years in the making. Members of the 1969 team did not receive Grey Cup rings to commemorate their victory but they will receive them at halftime on Aug. 11.

“Dad was so proud of the Ottawa Rough Riders,” said Arthur Loeb. “He was part of the golden era of the team and he always said it was a very happy time in his life. It’s a privilege for our family to honour the guys that meant so much to dad by presenting them with their 1969 Grey Cup championship rings.”

The celebration will kick-off on August 10, with alumni partaking in a private dinner, and then, on game day, will celebrate with Ottawa ticket holders at The Arena at TD Place at 5:30 p.m where there will be live music originated from the 50’s and 60’s to give that full throwback celebration vibe.

“It’s a privilege for us to be able to welcome back some of the greatest players in Ottawa’s football history and introduce them to the greatest fans in modern CFL history, RNation,” says Randy Burgess, the REDBLACKS VP of Communications and Special Projects.

Fans attending the game against Montreal on August 11th are encouraged by the REDBLACKS to arrive at the Arena at TD Place at 5:30 PM. A player introduction for the back-to-back Grey Cup champs is scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM. Admission to the pre-game event is free for all fans with tickets to the game, which starts at 8:00 PM.