“You’re too small to play football,” a voice is heard while a young man looks into the camera. “Did you see what she was wearing?” says another voice as the camera zooms in on the face of a young woman. “You’re too slow, fat boy,” the abuse continues, as the camera dances from one face to another and a young audience listens enraptured. They are schoolchildren from across the GTA and they’re watching a video for the Huddle Up campaign against bullying, featuring Argo players and cheerleaders.
Suddenly the tone changes and Michael ‘Pinball’ Clemons is on the screen, speaking at a Huddle Up assembly. “I’m not great because I can run. I’m great because I’m human and to be human is to be worthy. You are worthy. One team!” the Argonauts legend cries. “One team!” the cheering crowd on the screen shouts back.
“One team!” shouts Argo’s Director of Education and Community Programs Jason Colero, when the video is over.
“One team!” shout back the schoolchildren filling up the stands in the Goldring Centre’s Kimel Family Field House.
Colero founded the program 16 years ago, in partnership with Tim Hortons. The program sees Argonauts players and cheerleaders going into schools across the GTA to share personal stories about bullying and overcoming adversity, helping children build resilience and skills to stand up for themselves and others. The children lead committees that work on anti-bullying messaging throughout the year and they all come together in May to share and celebrate their school’s efforts.
Over the last five years, the University of Toronto has been the venue of choice for the annual summit – first the Athletic Centre and, since opening its doors in 2015, the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport.
“We have such a great relationship with U of T,” says Colero, who said they first started thinking about finding a space at U of T for the Huddle Up summit some years ago when the Argos played a pre-season game on campus. “I mean, we did start here in the 1950s, so it only makes sense, right?” he says.
It made perfect sense for the Varsity Blues Head Football Coach Greg Gary, whose players have been pitching in for the program ever since U of T started hosting it.
“I just thought it was a natural thing for the Varsity Blues to welcome them here. I believe in the campaign, I believe in its positive message and it’s just great to be able to celebrate with them.”
Varsity Blues full back Matthew Freibauer says he and his teammates jumped at the opportunity to contribute to the program when they heard about it from their coaches.
“All the guys were excited to give back to the community,” says the mechanical engineering student.
The Blues are amused to take pictures and sign autographs for the children, but they take the campaign mission seriously, brainstorming with the children about how to be leaders in their school in bullying prevention.
“The kids love it,” says Colero above the excited chatter in the room.