Saskatchewan Roughriders running back A.J. Ouellette is helping fans kick off Labour Day weekend in festive fashion while also raising a few bucks for a pair of charities.
The event — A.J. Ouellette’s Labour Day Country Kickoff — will take place on Thursday night at the Regina Rail Yard Saloon, with proceeds going to the Make a Name Foundation and the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation.
Ouellette joined the SportsCage on Wednesday afternoon to promote the show and said it came together as a way to reward fans while also helping out the community.
“The fans support us so well here and in the CFL this is the best place to be,” Ouellette said. “I thought ‘what can I do to connect with the fans best?’ Football, obviously, playing my butt off on the field and country music. So get them go hand-in-hand and let this province have some fun.”
The event will feature tunes from Ouellette’s own personal collection before the band Trigger Bang takes the stage, playing selections that include “old country, new country, a little rock and roll”.
“(It’s) the energy we need… so I told them just have fun, don’t break anything,” Ouellette said with a laugh.
As for the charitable organizations the show will support, fans may not be familiar with Ouellette’s Make a Name Foundation, and he offered a bit of what it’s all about.
The original plan was to help change the way select teams are put together for young players, change how things are ran in that regard and bring back the fun of sports.. That’s evolved into a new alternative school, with tutoring programs starting soon.
“What I want to do is kind of help with the kids that don't fit into the mold,” Ouellette said. “Like me in school, when I came to reading class, they threw me to the side and just said don't get in trouble. So I want to get a little bit more hands-on and allow for these kids to learn the way that they learn. Everybody learns differently.”
You can learn more about Ouellette’s charitable efforts at his website ajouellette.com.
Ouellette has been sidelined the last five games after suffering a knee injury but was back at practice Wednesday in limited fashion. He touched on how he keeps himself occupied during games while on the sidelines.
“For me, not to run onto the field and hit random people. I have to find a way to keep my mind busy,” he said. “So I have the iPad, talking with (running backs coach) Andrew Harris on the sideline. What do I think will work? What can we add? And then just help out the rookie running back Quali (Conley). And then, of course, just talking trash to Thomas (Bertrand-Houdon). Just keep the confidence up and keep the guys motivated.”
Then, of course, there’s the Labour Day Classic itself, which Ouellette says is always an amazing experience.
“It's a different animal, I love it,” Ouellette said. “We tell the rookies, just wait until you run out of that tunnel.”
A.J. Ouellette’s Labour Day Country Kickoff gets underway at 7 p.m. at the Regina Rail Yard Saloon at 2301 Dewdney Avenue. Tickets are $25 and the event is cash only.
