Only two weeks after being crowned Grey Cup champion Nov. 29 as a member of the Canadian Football League’s Edmonton Eskimos, Westlock’s Simeon Rottier came home.
On Monday, Dec. 14, it was Rottier’s day with Lord Grey’s Cup and with it came an opportunity to share the championship with his hometown.
“[It’s important] to remember where you came from and all the people who helped you along the way,” he said.
“The best part of having the cup is sharing it with friends and family who have supported you.”
Right from the moment he won, Rottier knew he was going to bring the cup to Westlock; it was only a question of when.
“We just had to figure out when we were going to get it,” he said.
“And I think someone out here requested the cup … it ended up working out because so many people were asking for it and once the team got the request, they just sent me out with it.
“I don’t know how many more times I’m going to have it, personally, so this has been pretty cool to be able to come out and do this.”
The top pick in the CFL’s 2009 draft stopped off at his former schools — Dapp School, now Pembina North Community School, and R.F. Staples — and then greeted fans at Boston Pizza.
“It was so much fun going back to both the schools I went to. I remember being a kid when an Eskimo would come by the school and being so pumped … I know what it’s like being on that end of it, too,” Rottier said.
“Just to be able to bring that cup with me was pretty special. Everyone was pretty excited.”
The normally reserved Rottier said he didn’t mind all the attention, especially given the situation.
“I’m not always a big crowd guy, I don’t always like lots of pictures and that kind of thing, but this is definitely an exception,” he said.
“I’m just having a blast and soaking it all in.”
Rottier’s mom Sharon said it was a big deal for Simeon to share the day with local fans.
“He was so jacked when he first heard that people wanted him to bring the Grey Cup to Westlock,” she said.
“He’s a very community-minded kid and he knows that it takes a community to build an athlete and so he’s always been a Westlock boy … to go to both his schools he was over the top.”
Rottier’s day started when he picked up the cup at the home of the Eskimos, Commonwealth Stadium. His first stop was Pembina North Community School in Dapp.
“It’s been a whirlwind. We barely got through traffic going to pick it up at the stadium. There were rollovers and bad roads, so we threw it in the back of the van and headed out to Westlock,” Rottier said. “It’s kind of fitting for Alberta, I guess.”
In Dapp Rottier spoke with students, took class pictures with the cup and signed some autographs.
From there it was a stop off at his old high school R.F. Staples where he was greeted by the Westlock Thunderbirds football team.
Rottier took photos with students who had lined up patiently to get a glimpse at the cup and to meet the hometown hero.
Among the most memorable moments of his journey was catching up with former teachers.
“It was fun to see a few teachers that taught me before and we were just talking about back in the day playing basketball and volleyball in junior high, elementary and high school,” he said.
“That was such an early part of the journey, but it was just fun to talk about way back when and all of a sudden here we are today with the cup.”
R.F. Staples principal Courtney Lawrance said Rottier’s visit was well received by students and served as a reminder that they can be successful, too.
“I think it’s huge, and you can judge by the line-up in the gym, how many people were excited to have it come. Westlock, being a small rural community, it’s exciting when a national treasure comes to the school,” Lawrance said.
“I think it’s motivation because someone else did it, so there’s the possibility and the hope that you could do it, too. Just because you are from a small town, doesn’t mean great things aren’t out of your reach.”
Grade 7 student Shawn St. Arnaud was thankful Rottier brought the cup home and was elated at the chance to see it in person.
“It’s pretty awesome and then to come back and share it with us, is pretty cool,” St. Arnaud said. “It was a lot bigger than what it looks like on TV.”
For Rottier it’s a dream come true to be able to inspire the next generation, just as his heroes inspired him.
“You hope to be able to influence people. I came from a small town, too. It’s possible to do what you’re dreaming of,” he said.
“I didn’t even know if I was going to get a chance to keep playing football. I started after Grade 12 and sat on the bench for a few years. Even then I had no idea I would be coming back with this thing.”
A final stop at Boston Pizza where more football fans came out to see the cup in person and to congratulate Rottier on his victory.
Heading into the offseason, the 31-year-old will look to get healthy in preparation to hit the field in 2016.
“That’s the goal, just doing more rehab stuff right now for my knee,” he said. “I’ll really start training hard in January.”
