Manitoba Grey Cup social brings out camaraderie, costumes for Bombers fans in Regina

Although it's Sunday's CFL final that brought them to Regina, many Winnipeg BlueBombers fanssay the Grey Cup weekend is also anopportunity to connect with each other throughcamaraderie, costumes and an old-fashioned Manitoba social.

Hundreds of people were at Touchdown Manitoba, the socialhosted as part ofGrey Cup weekend events, on Friday afternoon.Ina sea of blue and gold jerseys,many fans got creative with their attire.

John Couture, who has been to 49 Grey Cups, said over the years, people have given him hundreds of pins. He wears a selection of them on his Bombers jersey at every Grey Cup game.

"The guyswould have to carry me if I put them all on. A little bit too much weight for me to handle," said the fan from Winnipeg's Transcona neighbourhood.

Couture's favourite pin is one that he had made this year, which reads "In O'Shea we trust," and featuresa photo of Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea in the middle.

On Thursday night, O'Sheawas named CFL'scoach of the year for the second consecutive year.

"I consider him the coach of the century," said Couture, who also sayswhilethe games areimportant to him, it'sthe connection he has with other football fans that means muchmore these days.

Ramona Tkachukwas among the many other fans at Friday's Touchdown social with an original Bomber outfit adress made of Bombers flags, created by Thompson, Man., artist Gaylene Lindquist Weselowski.

"I went to a Labour Day classic in Regina, saw a woman wearing a dress that had Rider logos all over it,and I went, 'Oh my gosh!'" said Tkachuk.

"I called [Lindquist Weselowski] when I got home because she's amazing, and I said ... 'I need a Blue Bomber dress.'"

Tkachuk said said no matter what's happened to her during the week, the hours she gets to spend with other fans at games makeher feel better.

Part of the reason she said enjoys the events is because of the relationship fans have with the Bombers.

"The love is mutual," she said.

"[Fans are]here because we love the league.We love the game.We love everything that goes with it. That's why we're all here this weekend."

Many of the fans at Friday's socials predicted the Bombers, who are defending back-to-back Grey Cup wins, will bring the cup backto Winnipeg again after Sunday's game, though some felt it mighthinge onquarterbackZach Collaros.

Collaros, who rolledhis right ankle during last Sunday'sCFLWest Division final,practised on Friday for the first time since the Bomberslanded in Regina.

Collaroshas said he will play in Sunday's game.

But Couture said while he's certainCollaroswill be on the field Sunday, he doesn't think a win rests entirely on the quarterback'sshoulders.

"I have total confidence in the backup quarterbacks. They are very good," Couture said.

The Bombers face off against the Toronto Argonauts in Sunday's Grey Cup game at Mosaic Stadium. Kickoff is at 5 p.m. CT.