Introduction of Guests (6 November 2025)

From Hansard (6 November 2025)

Gainer the Gopher & Roughriders CEO Craig Reynolds

Blaine McLeod: — Mr. Speaker, to you and through you, it is my pleasure to introduce a very special guest coming in right now and seated in your gallery. Joining us today from Parkbeg, Saskatchewan in the very centre of my constituency is a very famous member of the Saskatchewan Roughrider team — Gainer the Gopher.

Now normally us farmers tend to look at gophers as a bit of a pest that we need to get under control. But I think Gainer tends, and will, get a pass from farmers across the province. We actually want him to be a big pest that gets under the skin of the boys from BC [British Columbia] — please.

Mr. Speaker, Gainer has joined us today to officially sign a proclamation proclaiming tomorrow, Friday, November the 7th, as Green and White Day in Saskatchewan. We’re encouraging residents around the province to wear their best green and white tomorrow in lead-up to this weekend’s Western Final against the BC Lions. Thanks for making the journey to the legislature today, Gainer, to help us promote this exciting day.

Now, Mr. Speaker, this is probably the only time I’ll do this, but I ask all members to join me in welcoming this very special and beloved gopher to our Legislative Assembly.

And travelling today with our beloved gopher is Mr. Craig Reynolds, president and chief executive officer, celebrating his 10th year in that role right now. A good Saskatchewan boy from Foam Lake, he’s been with the Riders in the CFO [chief financial officer] position since 2009, and then took on the role as executive director and president March 1st of 2015.

And under his excellent, excellent involvement with the Riders, we’ve seen record profits and a solid financial footing. He chaired the operations committee for the 2013 home turf win. And thank you for that. I was there with two generations of McLeod brothers. It was awesome to be able to experience that. And then your involvement in bringing our new Mosaic Stadium, all that you’ve done for Saskatchewan, we thank you so, so terrible much.

And I invite all members to welcome these two fine guests to our Legislative Assembly today.