VANCOUVER — The first airplane ride of Courtney Ehman’s 28 years took her to Vancouver for a game featuring the B.C. Lions and her beloved Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Her feet rarely left the ground, in a figurative sense, after she landed.
“Incredible,” Courtney said on Saturday outside BC Place, where a large-scale pre-game tailgate party was held for supporters of both teams.
One of those fans was Regina’s Dave Ehman, who was proud to accompany Courtney on a father-daughter football excursion.
“We’ve never done anything like this before, so doing it for the first time here is great,” Dave, 64, said amid the fandemonium at Terry Fox Plaza.
Dave and Courtney planned the trip in April, whereupon they began counting down the days/hours/minutes until departure.
Upon arriving in Vancouver, they enjoyed some touristy activities — such as a visit to Granville Island — before immersing themselves in all things CFL.
At the Backyard Bash, as the pre-game event was dubbed, Courtney proudly wore a Roughriders jersey bearing the surname, signature and number (89) of receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker.
Dave went old-school, opting for No. 53 in honour of Canadian Football Hall of Fame guard/kicker Jack Abendschan.
The Ehman family first purchased Roughriders season tickets in 1965, the same year in which Abendschan debuted with the team.
Dave, who grew up in Vibank, soon began attending games with his father (Dick) and grandfather (Ralph). Abendschan and another future Hall of Famer — defensive lineman Ed McQuarters — quickly ascended to the top of the list of favourite players.
“I was very impressed with Jack, not only as an offensive lineman but as a kicker,” Dave recalled. “I still remember him tying up his kicking shoe on the field.”
The Ehmans still adhere to family tradition by owning four season tickets. Dave and his wife, Catherine, attend home games with Courtney and her sister, Cheryl.
“I really wasn’t into it when I was younger,” Courtney said, “but once I started going to games with my parents, I really felt the energy.”
Courtney contributed to the energy at the Backyard Bash by helping Roughriders President-CEO Craig Reynolds recruit participants for fun-focused games that were part of the pre-game festivities.
“I know her from Regina, so I said, ‘Courtney, I need your help. We need to sign up some people,’ ” said Reynolds, whose decision to add a part-time, pre-game scout for a few hours quickly proved to be inspired.
Courtney was delighted to help.
“Everyone here is so nice,” she said with a smile.
Courtney’s own cheerful nature serves her exceptionally well in her career as an Early Childhood Educator.
Dave, who drives a truck for Manitoulin Transport, also enjoys a labour of love. He especially enjoys the regular journeys from Regina to Estevan and back.
At most stops along the way, conversations inevitably pertain to football.
This past weekend, though, he took a break to let someone else — the pilot — pay attention to the fundamentals of getting from Point A to Point B.
“It is surreal to be here,” Dave said with a smile shortly before the Roughriders and Lions squared off.
“This is probably the epitome of being a parent.”
