The Edmonton Elks are all antlered up and ready to gore the COVID-19 pandemic.
The club announced Thursday that they will be partnering with the Industry for Vaccination (IFV) Alberta Coalition to provide fans of the green and gold with the opportunity to be vaccinated at the team’s home opener versus the Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday, August 7 at 8:00 p.m. local time.
They join the Saskatchewan Roughriders as the second team to offer ‘tailgate’ vaccination clinics during Week 1 of the CFL season.
The IFV is a coalition of over 40 businesses across Canada dedicated to partnering with governments to help facilitate vaccination of Canadians, saving lives and accelerating the recovery of our country. Founded in Quebec, the coalition has assisted with vaccination efforts across Canada including in Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta. The Alberta Coalition is co-chaired by Suncor and the Business Council of Alberta.
The IFV Alberta Coalition and Alberta Health launched the province’s first mobile vaccination clinic (MVC) in late July. The MVC has since delivered over 500 vaccinations at worksites, plants, and rural communities throughout the province in just over a week of operation.
Now, Elks fans still looking to get their first or second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be able to get their own this Saturday from 5:30-8:30 PM outside the Main Gate (Gate 9) at Commonwealth Stadium.
“We’re all excited for the return of football and the opportunity to welcome fans back to The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium this weekend,” said Elks President and CEO Chris Presson.
“By partnering to bring the MVC to our home opener, we’re happy to provide fans an opportunity to be vaccinated, as we collectively look to move past COVID-19.”
The MVC has been made possible thanks to over 40 industry partners who are committed to the health, safety, and wellbeing of all Albertans.
“We are honoured to be bringing the mobile vaccination clinic to so many Albertans across the province while working with the government and industry partners,” notes Matthew Cox, President & CEO of TRAXX Holdings Inc., an IFV partner and the provider of the MVC motor coach.
“It is our mandate to help vaccinate as many Albertans as possible, and we are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Elks to do so.”
The Elks are pulling out all the stops for their first game under the new name, handing out 35,000 free t-shirts to the first fans through the gate. There will be plenty of other pre-game festivities as well, but none will have a bigger long term impact than the potential to get free immunization with the price of admission.
