Former CFLers Geroy Simon and JR LaRose with MBC on-air personality Riley Novakoski during a visit to La Ronge. Photo supplied by Riley Novakoski.
The La Ronge and Stanley Mission areas are playing host to two former Grey Cup champions.
Former CFLers Geroy Simon and JR LaRose were in Stanley Mission Tuesday morning to give motivational talks to high school students there.
Similar events are planned for Wednesday at La Ronge-area high schools.
LaRose says he can relate to youth who have a tough upbringing, but says there’s hope.
“My message to youth and to everybody is to not allow your situation to become your excuse in life,” says LaRose. “If you want something bad enough you will find a way to get to it.”
Simon says there were people he encountered as a young person who didn’t believe in him, but he says his attitude was also an obstacle.
“I was also holding myself back with having a bad attitude and being a selfish person and player,” says Simon. “For me, my story is talking about having the right attitude, having the right mindset going into anything that you’re doing.”
Simon holds several CFL receiving records and was part of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ 2013 Grey Cup championship team.
LaRose is a member of the One Arrow First Nation who played for Edmonton and BC over a nine-year CFL career. He is one of the select few First Nations players to ever play in the CFL, and is a league advocate for the prevention of violence against women.
An autograph session with the two players was scheduled to take place early Tuesday evening at the Lac La Ronge Indian Band’s Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre.