Fans rally in Winnipeg as Blue Bombers take on Roughriders in Western Final
The countdown to the CFL Western Final is on – and fans of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Saskatchewan Roughriders were gearing up for the big game Saturday afternoon.
Thousands gathered outside Princess Auto Stadium for a tailgate party before kickoff. The stadium is sold out for Saturday’s game, but there’s no word yet on a runaway favourite.
Bomber fans outnumbered fans of the 'Riders outside of Princess Auto Stadium on Nov. 9, 2024. (Zachary Kitchen/CTV News Winnipeg)
“What it means to be a Bomber fan is you take the good and the bad,” one fan said at the tailgate. “When they win, we celebrate. When they lose, we hope for the better.
“But we’re still True Blue.”
The Bomber-‘Rider rivalry was on full display, with fans travelling from near and far to cheer on their favourite team.
Saskatchewan Roughrider fans gathered on enemy territory ahead of the CFL West Final game on Nov. 9, 2024. (Zachary Kitchen/CTV News Winnipeg)
“It’s always a great atmosphere,” said one Saskatchewan fan. “Either them coming to Saskatchewan or us coming to Winnipeg. We all get along at the end of the day, but when it’s game time, it comes down to what happens on the field.”
“We’re going to kick your butts,” a Bombers fan said, in a message to the Roughriders.
Thousands took part in a tailgate party ahead of the CFL West Final at Princess Auto Stadium on Nov. 9, 2024. (Zachary Kitchen/CTV News Winnipeg)
Others said they enjoy the community atmosphere.
“It's really nice because you get to see all the Bomber fans cheer and the food here is just amazing,” another Bomber fan said. “And I just love being here.”
Whoever wins Saturday's game will advance to the Grey Cup, where they will face the Toronto Argonauts after their 30-28 win against the Montreal Alouettes.
The CFL Western Final kicks off at 5:30 p.m. CT at Princess Auto Stadium.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING
DEVELOPING New clues emerge in hunt for gunman who killed health insurance CEO
As the hunt for a masked gunman who stalked and killed the head of the largest U.S. health insurer moved into its third day Friday, surveillance footage provided more clues about the suspect's travels and the places he visited before the shooting.
Purolator, UPS pause shipments from couriers amid Canada Post strike
Purolator and UPS have paused shipments from some courier companies as they try to work through a deluge of deliveries brought on by the Canada Post strike.
NDP's Singh forces debate on $250 cheques for more Canadians; Conservatives cut it short
With the fate of the federal government's promised $250 cheques for 18.7 million workers hanging in the balance, the NDP forced a debate Friday on a motion pushing for the prime minister to expand eligibility. The conversation was cut short, though, by Conservative MPs' interventions.
Canadian unemployment rate jumps near 8-year high
Canada had 1.5 million unemployed people in November, propelling its jobless rate to a near-eight-year high outside of the pandemic era and boosting chances of a large interest rate cut on Dec. 11.
Canada's list of banned guns is expanding. Here's what you need to know
Canada is expanding its federal ban on firearms, adding 324 makes and models of guns to the prohibited weapons list, effective immediately.
What is still being delivered? What to know about the Canada Post strike
With Canada Post workers on strike, many individuals and businesses are facing the challenge of sending and receiving mail. Here are the answers to some of Canadians’ most-asked questions.
Biking advocate says video of Toronto ambulance using bike lane proves importance of keeping cycling infrastructure
Video has emerged of a Toronto ambulance being forced to use a bike lane to avoid downtown traffic, an incident one biking advocate says highlights the utility of the separated roadways at a time when their existence and expansion face uncertainty.
Sask. father who kept daughter from mom to prevent COVID-19 vaccine free from additional prison time
Michael Gordon Jackson, the Saskatchewan father who withheld his then seven-year-old daughter from her mom for nearly 100 days to prevent the girl from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, was handed a 12-month prison sentence and 200 days probation on Friday, but credited with time served.
80-year-old driver with expired licence accused of going nearly double the speed limit in eastern Ontario
Ontario Provincial Police say a man caught stunt driving on Highway 37 near Tweed, Ont. Thursday was 80 years old, and his licence was expired.
Regina
-
Sask. father who kept daughter from mom to prevent COVID-19 vaccine free from additional prison time
Michael Gordon Jackson, the Saskatchewan father who withheld his then seven-year-old daughter from her mom for nearly 100 days to prevent the girl from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, was handed a 12-month prison sentence and 200 days probation on Friday, but credited with time served.
-
Regina police investigate homicide after woman dies in hospital from gunshot wounds
Regina police are investigating the city’s fifth homicide of the year after a woman died from apparent gunshot wounds.
-
Here are the winners of the Hospitals of Regina Foundation's grand prize draws
The Hospitals of Regina Foundation (HRF) announced their grand prize lottery winners on Thursday night.
Saskatoon
-
Saskatoon-based dog rescue operator ordered to pay $27K for defamatory Facebook posts
A Saskatoon-based dog rescue operator has been ordered to pay over $27,000 in damages to five women after a judge ruled she defamed them in several Facebook posts.
-
Are other cities better at clearing snow than Saskatoon?
One of the noticeable changes during Saskatoon’s 2025 budget deliberations at city hall this past week was an increase to the snow and ice budget.
-
Sask. school bus driver arrested for impaired driving after transporting 50 kids
A Saskatchewan school bus driver, who was transporting 50 children shortly before his arrest, is facing impaired driving related charges.
Edmonton
-
Video posted to social media shows fireball, black smoke from manufacturing plant incident
An issue at a chemical manufacturing plant in Edmonton caused what appeared to be an explosion on Friday morning.
-
Security guard killed at Edmonton apartment building
Homicide detectives are investigating the death of a security guard in central Edmonton on Friday morning.
-
Edmonton rec centre locked down after object shatters window: city
The Clareview Recreation Centre was briefly closed to the public on Thursday night.
Calgary
-
Unemployment in Alberta remains steady, Edmonton's jobless rate still high
Edmonton's unemployment rate is among the highest in the country, according to new data from Statistics Canada.
-
Gas leak prompts emergency response in Sundance
A street in Sundance has been shut down Friday morning as first responders are investigating a natural gas leak.
-
Flames prospect Zayne Parekh added to Canada's world junior selection camp roster
Calgary Flames prospect Zayne Parekh has been added to Team Canada’s National Junior Team selection camp after missing the initial cut.
Toronto
-
Hamilton police shut down ‘open air drug market’ they say was 'run like a business'
Hamilton Police say that they have shut down an "open air drug market" in the vicinity of a downtown laneway that appeared to be "run like a business."
-
1 dead, 2 in hospital after collision in Etobicoke
One person is dead after a two-vehicle collision in Etobicoke Friday morning.
-
Six crashes reported north of Toronto due to slippery conditions
Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to six crashes north of Toronto overnight due to slippery conditions brought on by a blast of winter weather.
Ottawa
-
CHEO, Shriners Hospitals launch first-of-its-kind fellowship
A first-of-its-kind collaboration between Children Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and Shriners Hospitals for Children Canada (SHC) will allow children living with rare bone diseases to see a single expert instead of travelling to clinics at multiple hospitals.
-
BREAKING
BREAKING OC Transpo to open Trillium Line in three stages starting Jan. 6
OC Transpo general manager Renee Amilcar announced the Lines 2 and 4 will open in three phases, starting with five-day service Monday to Friday beginning Jan. 6.
-
Ottawa police concerned for well-being of missing 73-year-old man
The Ottawa Police Service is asking the public for help in finding a missing 73-year-old man, who was last seen Thursday afternoon. Police say there is concern for his well-being.
Montreal
-
Man arrested in Quebec for alleged plot to kill Jews in NYC being held in Rimouski
A Pakistani man arrested in Quebec for an alleged plot to kill Jews in New York City is being held in a detention centre hundreds of kilometres from Montreal, where he says the French-speaking guards don't understand him.
-
'Duty to learn': Vigils mark 35th anniversary of Polytechnique anti-feminist killings
Braving a biting winter wind, dignitaries gathered in front of Polytechnique Montréal's main campus on Friday to pay tribute to the 14 women killed at the Montreal institution in an anti-feminist attack 35 years ago.
-
Montreal blacksmith says he has a 'place in paradise' as Notre-Dame reopens its doors
Five years ago, Notre-Dame Cathedral erupted in flames. A column of smoke rose above the Paris skyline as the historic cathedral, which took 182 years to build between the 12th and 14th centuries, was reduced to a smouldering shell.
Atlantic
-
Maritime weekend weather: Cold start and snowy finish
Colder temperatures lie ahead for the weekend in the Maritimes with another swipe of snow and rain expected Sunday.
-
West Hants RCMP in Nova Scotia charge man following traffic stop
West Hants RCMP in Nova Scotia charged a man with impaired operation of a motor vehicle and seized drug paraphernalia after a traffic stop.
-
P.E.I. ferry cancels crossings Friday for weather, two weeks before closing for the season
Ferry service between Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island has been cancelled Friday due to inclement weather.
Vancouver
-
West Vancouver police issue renewed call for missing kayaker
The West Vancouver Police Department has released the name of a missing kayaker alongside an updated timeline of his final known movements, in a renewed call for help from the public.
-
Avalanche risk expected to rise in parts of B.C. this weekend
The British Columbia government is encouraging people to do their research on avalanche risk before heading into the backcountry, as forecasts show danger ratings are expected to increase in some areas over the weekend.
-
VPD release new photos of suspect wanted in teenage girl's assault
The Vancouver Police Department is requesting the public’s help in identifying a suspect involved in the assault of a 16-year-old girl earlier this year.
Vancouver Island
-
Environment Canada issues rainfall, snowfall warnings for parts of B.C.
Environment Canada says heavy rain and snow will hit separate regions of British Columbia on Friday, promising to make travel difficult for many this weekend.
-
Taylor Swift to play first Vancouver show tonight
It’s been a long time coming, but Taylor Swift’s first show in Vancouver has finally arrived.
-
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim admits to being 'orange pilled' in Bitcoin interview
Bitcoin is soaring to all-time highs, and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim wants the city to get in on the action.
Kelowna
-
Study of 2023 Okanagan wildfires recommends limiting development in high-risk areas
A study into the devastating wildfires that struck British Columbia's Okanagan region in 2023 has recommended that government and industry limit development in high-fire-risk areas.
-
Kelowna, B.C., to host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026
The Western Hockey League's Kelowna Rockets will host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026, the Canadian Hockey League said Wednesday.
-
545 vehicles impounded in 332 days: BC Highway Patrol pleads for drivers to slow down
Mounties with the BC Highway Patrol in Kelowna say they've impounded more than 545 vehicles for excessive speed and aggressive driving so far this year. That works out to more than 1.6 per day.
N.L.
-
'Kids are scared': Random attacks have residents of small-city N.L. shaken
Mount Pearl, near St. John's, has been the scene for three random attacks in November. Police have arrested and charged seven youth.
-
'They're sitting ducks:' More women with disabilities unhoused due to abuse, violence
New data show women with disabilities are more likely to be forced into homelessness because of violence or abuse.
-
GivingTuesday: Food banks need help, but charity won't end hunger, advocates say
It's GivingTuesday, and some directors of food banks and anti-poverty groups say the day underlines a conundrum for their organizations.
Northern Ontario
-
Purolator, UPS pause shipments from couriers amid Canada Post strike
Purolator and UPS have paused shipments from some courier companies as they try to work through a deluge of deliveries brought on by the Canada Post strike.
-
Four transport truck drivers charged in northern Ont. collisions on Hwy. 11
Bad weather and bad driving contributed to multiple collisions on Highway 11 on Wednesday, leading to charges for several commercial motor vehicle drivers.
-
Someone shot and abandoned a moose cow near Chapleau, Ont.
Conservation officers with the Ministry of Natural Resources are asking for the public's help to find the person who shot and abandoned a cow moose earlier this year near Chapleau.
Barrie
-
Winter travel advisory issued due another day of messy road conditions
Emergency crews were kept busy in the early morning hours on Friday as the wintry weather created slippery conditions on the roads, and according to weather experts, we’re not in the clear just yet.
-
Multi-vehicle crash on Highway 400 snarls traffic
A three-vehicle crash on Highway 400 snarled Friday afternoon traffic.
-
Driver faces charge and $250 fine after colliding with OPP vehicle
A motorist faces a careless driving charge and $250 fine after a collision involving an OPP vehicle in Caledon.
Kitchener
-
Threat that caused school lockdowns in Guelph came from the United States
Guelph Police Service is releasing more information about a call that caused two schools to go into lockdown and a third to implement hold-and-secure measures earlier this week.
-
Pedestrian airlifted to hospital after she was hit by driver in Guelph
A pedestrian with non-life-threatening injuries has been airlifted to a Hamilton hospital after she was hit by a driver.
-
Kitchener house fire sends plumes of thick, black smoke into the air
No injuries have been reported after a fire in Kitchener Friday morning.
London
-
Three suspects still sought, one arrested in break-and-enter, shooting investigation
The London police continue to search for three suspects in connection to a break-and-enter and shooting investigation that took place last month.
-
Community angst over surprise changes to Durham hospital
After losing all of its inpatient beds and seeing its emergency room hours cut earlier this year, the Durham hospital is finally getting some good news. New healthcare services are coming to the rural hospital.
-
Human remains found at Hanover construction site
The Hanover Police Service is investigating human remains that were dug up at a construction site.
