MontrealAlouettes.com
BAGOTVILLE – The Montreal Alouettes are proud to announce that their CFL Signature Uniform – the team’s new official third jersey – was unveiled today at the Canadian Forces Base in Bagotville, QC. The ceremony paid tribute to the team’s naming origins which are directly inspired by the 425 Squadron, the first French Canadian unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force. To mark this special moment in Alouettes and Quebec football history, the team’s President and CEO, Mark Weightman, was joined by Lt. General Yvan Blondin and 300 soldiers.
This unique unveiling of a uniform so rooted in culture was certainly memorable. “We set out to make this day unforgettably special for our team. We’re extremely satisfied with the look of this new uniform and we firmly believe that it will delight all of our fans,” declared Mark Weightman. “Reebok has done an outstanding job crafting a stunning, eye-catching and original design. The uniform packs a lot of punch while throwing a nod back to the origins of our team. The Alouettes are very excited to finally be able to share with everyone the end-result from several months of hard work,” added Weightman.
The new CFL Signature Uniforms, designed by Reebok, are a Canadian Football League initiative that was launched in 2013. A concept that extends from the helmet to the pants, this new uniform is intended to be both traditional and innovative. The logo of the 425 Squadron can be found on the helmet, calling back to the bird. The letters “MTL” underscore a feeling of affilitation and belonging to the city and its community all while adding a modern touch to a key visual element of the uniform’s design. In order to better differentiate this uniform from their current home and away threads, the Alouettes opted to utilize the gray of the squadron’s military aircraft and the red and blue from the squad’s logo to achieve a markedly different feel. “While we designed a new ultra-modern uniform, we still managed to bring out a historical side of the team,” said Stewart Clark, marketing director at Reebok Canada. “We are proud to have worked in collaboration with the Alouettes and the National Defence on this project and are confident that the team’s supporters will proudly wear their new Reebok CFL Signature uniforms.”
Founded in 1942, the 425 Squadron – the original birds of prey – was quickly nicknamed ’’Alouettes” to honor the Gallic native bird known for its toughness and its high-altitude flights. The unit won over 190 decorations for defending its country during World War II. In 1946, shortly after the 425 squadron’s return from war, the Montreal Alouettes Football Club was founded as the successor to the teams of years past, thanks to the combined efforts of football coach Lew Hayman and businessman Léo Dandurand. This new CFL Signature uniform is a tribute to the rich heritage of the 425 squadron and the principles of courage and dedication that have driven the Alouettes in their quest for excellence and success over the years.
Alouettes fans eager to see the new uniforms up close and personal will have the chance on September 7th when the Alouetttes play the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at McGill Stadium. On this night, the team will honor the 100th anniversary of the 22nd Regiment of the Canadian Forces Base Valcartier, the culmination of a day’s worth of celebrations for this special milestone. The Alouettes will also wear their new uniforms on Fan Appreciation Day taking place on November 2nd, the second and final planned appearance of the uniforms for the 2014. Dates for 2015 will be announced when available.
