Ayla Johnson, who wore a Redblacks jersey in the CFL Rules song music video, was one of the recipients of the "showmanship" award. Supplied/Rob Lennard

By Eli J. Ridder

SMILE SUNDAYS

CFL rules song leads to new awards at Medicine Hat’s St. Mary’s School

Oct 27, 2024 | 1:38 PM

Alberta historian Rob Lennard says the gifting of two new annual awards for performing arts students at Medicine Hat’s St. Mary’s School is a great way to show appreciation to the school that helped with a special project earlier this year.

St. Mary’s students were behind the writing, production and performance of the CFL Rules song earlier this year, an idea by Lennard, who has created several history videos and books.

“It’s really wonderful to give something back, and they absolutely did a phenomenal job,” Lennard said of the first awards ceremony held last week.

Student Justin Beamish was the first recipient of the 2024 Retired Honorary Colonels Mitchell and Lennard Appreciation Cup, awarded to the finest Colt rookie football player of the year.

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Justin Beamish was a recipient of the Retired Honorary Colonels Mitchell and Lennard Cup, named after, in part, Rob Lennard’s father. Supplied/Rob Lennard

The second award is the Honourable Lois E. Mitchell Showmanship Cup, awarded to the St. Mary’s Academy of Arts male and female students who display the finest “showmanship quality” each year. The femal recipient was Ayla Johnson and the male recipient was Josh Hansford.

Josh Hansford was a recipient of the Honourable Lois E. Mitchell Showmanship Cup. Supplied/Rob Lennard

Both awards will run each year for the next five years. Winners receive a collectors coin from the Royal Canadian Mint.

Lennard, of Bow Valley Ranche Productions, had come up with the idea when speaking with a CFL owner he knows, former Alberta lieutenant governor Lois Mitchell, who is also part-owner of the Calgary Stampeders.

Lennard, who has a strong connection with Medicine Hat College, got in touch with alumni Parker Thomas, a St. Mary’s teacher.

Parker was asked to write a song and him and his students put one together on the 25 most important rules of the Canadian Football League.

While this year the winners were all participants in the CFL rules song production, there will be other recipients that meet the desired qualities.

“For the two recipients, knowing how much work and effort they put into it will mean a lot to them,” Lennard said.

“It’s just a very positive experience all around.”