The famed Grey Cup arrives in Yellowknife on Tuesday, Sept. 8, when the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canadian Football League stage a community stop at Somba K’e Park. The trophy will be on public display from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., coinciding with the second-to-last Yellowknife Farmers Market of the season.
What to expect at the Somba K’e Park stop
Members of several Northwest Territories RCMP units will be present for the event, alongside the CFL’s Official Keeper of the Grey Cup, Jeff McWhinney. The public is invited to come and see the trophy up close and to hear some of the stories that accompany the Cup’s long history.
“where he is eager to meet residents and tell stories about the Cup,”
The brief appearance in Yellowknife is part of a short tour that includes two other stops this year: The Pas in Manitoba and Whitehorse. Organisers say Yellowknife is one of three communities on the RCMP Grey Cup Community Tour schedule.
History of the trophy on tour
The Grey Cup — named for Albert Grey, Governor General of Canada from 1904 to 1911 — was first presented in 1909 to recognise the top amateur rugby football team in Canada. Over the decades the trophy has changed in appearance; the current version, often called the 4th Base version, was introduced in 2019 after a two-year process by the Canadian Football Hall of Fame to research and correct the names engraved on the cup.
Although the Cup has been contested in more than 100 championship games since its first awarding in 1909, there were gaps during wartime and the pandemic: no Grey Cup game was held from 1916 to 1919, and the game did not go ahead in 2020.
Recent champion and context
Most recently, Trevor Harris led the Saskatchewan Roughriders to a 25-17 victory over the Montreal Alouettes in the 112th Grey Cup on Nov. 16, 2025, recording his first Grey Cup championship as a starting quarterback. The Cup’s presence in Yellowknife offers residents an opportunity to see the championship trophy that symbolises Canada’s professional football title.
- Date and time: Tuesday, Sept. 8, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Location: Somba K’e Park — during the Yellowknife Farmers Market (second-to-last market of the season)
- Attending: Northwest Territories RCMP units and Jeff McWhinney, Official Keeper of the Grey Cup
For many northern communities, visits by national symbols like the Grey Cup carry more than sporting significance. They are moments to connect with national traditions, draw visitors to local public spaces and provide opportunities for family photographs and community engagement. The RCMP’s community tour model pairs the trophy’s visibility with law enforcement outreach, reflecting a focus on public interaction as well as celebration of the game.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Event | RCMP Grey Cup Community Tour stop |
| Date & time | Sept. 8, 5–7 p.m. |
| Venue | Somba K’e Park (Yellowknife Farmers Market) |
| Other tour stops | The Pas (Manitoba), Whitehorse (Yukon) |
Residents planning to attend should expect typical market crowds and the brief nature of the stop; the Cup tour’s public appearance is scheduled for two hours. The presence of RCMP personnel and the Cup’s official custodian aims to ensure the viewing is both orderly and informative.
As with other touring appearances, the Yellowknife stop is an opportunity for local residents to take photos, meet travelling custodians of a national sporting icon and mark a moment where northern communities are included on the national route of the Grey Cup’s public celebrations.
