The Grey Cup Festival has come to Ottawa and Gee-Gees connections are everywhere you look. Most prominently, the Toronto Argonauts and Calgary Stampeders are practicing at Gee-Gees Field throughout the week while Gee-Gees Football Hall of Famer Jeff Avery will be recognized with two prestigious awards.
First, Avery will be presented with the CFL Alumni Man of the Year Award at the CFL Alumni Association's Legends Luncheon on Friday. Then, he will enter the Canadian Football Hall of Fame as a broadcaster on Sunday morning.
Friday's alumni event will be held at the Shaw Centre and is a sold-out affair. "It's become one of the premier events in Grey Cup Festival Week," said Avery, in an interview with the Ottawa Citizen. "There are more alumni than you'd get at any other event during the week. It's quite an event."
Avery donned the Garnet and Grey from 1972-75 and was a two-time All-Canadian at receiver including his 1974 season which saw him amass 860 yards.
After winning the 1975 Vanier Cup he was a Grey Cup Champion with Ottawa in 1976 and a CFL East All-Star in 1977 and 1978. In total Avery played seven seasons with Ottawa recording 15 touchdowns and 2619 yards in 102 games.
Avery will be honoured on Friday for his contributions to the CFL community after his playing days. For 15 years he has been President of the CFL Ottawa Alumni Association and was a Founding member of the CFL Alumni Association. He has worked to develop the CFLAA Support Fund which offers financial support to fellow Alumni and families who are experiencing a financial hardship due to a medical condition or the sudden loss of income.
Avery's work as a radio colour commentator dates back to 1988 and spans Rough Riders, Renegades, and Redblacks eras across CFRA, Team 1200, and TSN 1200 stations. Throughout that time, Avery has also been called upon for numerous broadcasts of Gee-Gees football games.
His induction into the Hall of Fame was announced by the Football Reporters of Canada on November 15 and the ceremony will be held Sunday morning at the Novotel Ottawa.
