Music: {allcanada} ARGOS' DURIE HONOURED WITH JAKE GAUDAUR VETERANS' AWARD

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

{allcanada} ARGOS' DURIE HONOURED WITH JAKE GAUDAUR VETERANS' AWARD

VANCOUVER - Toronto Argonaut Andre Durie is the 2011 winner of the Jake Gaudaur Veterans' Award which recognizes a CFL player who best demonstrates the attributes of Canada's Veterans.

"It's a tremendous honour to receive an award that pays tribute to Canada's veterans, who have done so much for me and all Canadians," said the 30-year-old running back, slotback and kick returner.

"I've lived in Canada in peace and freedom and democracy - as do my two children - and I'm very grateful to our veterans for defending those privileges."

The award was presented today as the Grey Cup, CFL players and several dignitaries visited the George Derby Centre in Burnaby, outside Vancouver, site of the 99th Grey Cup game this Sunday.

The CFL and Veterans Affairs Canada created the Jake Gaudaur Veterans' Award to:

Honour the sacrifices and contributions made by Canadian Veterans in a respectful and significant way.

Recognize the legacy of the late Jake Gaudaur, a Canadian World War Two Veteran whose 45-year career in Canadian football included a Grey Cup as a player with a service team, the 1942 RCAF Flying Hurricanes, success as a team executive, and 16 years as CFL Commissioner.

Celebrate the historical bond between Canada's Veterans and military and the Canadian Football League.

"Andre is more than a great player, tremendous teammate and a leader when it comes to community service," said Mark Cohon, Commissioner of the Canadian Football League.

"He is a testament to perseverance and courage, an inspiration to those around him, and worthy of being honoured in the company of true Canadian heroes, our Veterans."

When he was still a star player at York University, Durie suffered a devastating injury on what appeared to be a routine play, tearing all four muscles that surrounded his left knee.

Tearing one can be enough to end a career. Tearing all four led some doctors to tell him he would never walk again without a limp, there was no telling when he might regain feeling in his leg - and playing football again was absolutely out of the question.

But he endured multiple surgeries, and 19 months of rehab. At first his goals were modest: he hoped to move his toes, then his foot, and then his leg. But he had another objective - a dream -that he never let go: to be a player in the CFL.

While his injuries discouraged teams from drafting him, his hometown team, the Toronto Argonauts, took a chance on him. The first time he ran with the ball from scrimmage, he scored a touchdown for them. Today, he's one of the top players in the league, and was recently voted its most underrated player, in a TSN poll of his fellow players.

The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, said the panel of judges were deeply impressed by the support Durie provides to his teammates, family and all those around him.

"Andre Durie has demonstrated perseverance, strength, courage, a commitment to his teammates, and dedication to the community - all attributes we associate with our veterans," Blaney said. "He's a worthy recipient of this award."

Durie works full time for Community Living Mississauga, is a spokesman for Autism Ontario, is a dedicated minor football volunteer, is a support worker at the Knee Injury Clinic at York University in Toronto, and takes part in the Argos many community programs, crusading against bullying and encouraging kids to stay healthy and fit.

"When things looked dire and I wasn't sure if I'd walk again, it seemed I had the support of the entire community behind me, and that's what got me through it," Durie said.

"Now is the time to give something back."