The Canadian Football League and Veterans Affairs Canada present the 2017 Jake Gaudaur Veterans' Award to Luc Brodeur-Jourdain

Montreal Alouettes Centre recognized for possessing and demonstrating commendable attributes of Canada's Veterans.

OTTAWA, Nov. 23, 2017 /CNW/ - Canadians take pride in the nation's rich history and military heritage, and a large measure of that is owed to the selfless service and contributions of Canada's Veterans, still-serving members, and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Veterans Affairs Canada is committed to honouring and remembering each of them.

Sherry Romanado, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, the Canadian Football League (CFL) Commissioner, Randy Ambrosie, and Jackie Gaudaur, daughter of the late Jack Gaudaur, presented the Jake Gaudaur Veterans' Award to Luc Brodeur-Jourdain, centre for the Montreal Alouettes.

Mr. Brodeur-Jourdain, this year's recipient, has made 97 consecutive starts at the centre position, one that not only requires strength and endurance because of the physical contact on every play, but a great knowledge of the game as well. In order to be on top of his game, he is always one of the first players to show up at the team's facility, well before sunrise. Off the field, he has been a pillar of the Together at School with the Alouettes Program, during which Alouettes players visit thousands of Quebec students in hundreds of schools in the off-season in order to help them make better decisions and to stay in school.

Veterans Affairs Canada and the Canadian Football League are proud to recognize Luc Brodeur-Jourdain as this year's recipient of the Jake Gaudaur Veterans' Award.

Quotes

"Congratulations to Luc Brodeur-Jourdain. His strength, courage, comradery and perseverance demonstrated is emblematic of the same qualities found in Veteran Jake Gaudaur, as well as other Veterans and still-serving members. The partnership between Veterans Affairs Canada and the Canadian Football League affords a great opportunity to highlight the strong and enduring relationship between sport and military."
The Honourable Seamus O'Regan, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

"It is an honour to be part of the Jake Gaudaur Veterans' Award presentation today to Montreal Alouettes centre Luc Brodeur-Jourdain. Mr. Brodeur-Jourdain is clearly worthy of this prestigious award and is an extraordinary role model not only on the football field, but in his community as well. Jake Gaudaur, a hero on the football field and the battlefield, continues to be an inspiration for others and this award is one way that his legacy lives on."
Sherry Romanado, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

"We are proud to celebrate Luc, his passion for our game and his commitment to those around him. Our league couldn't ask for a better ambassador or a more dedicated athlete and I cannot think of a higher honour than being mentioned in the same sentence as the veterans who have served this country with such selfless devotion and courage. With this award, we recognize Luc and join him in saluting our veterans."
Randy Ambrosie, Commissioner, Canadian Football League

Quick Facts

• Named after Jake Gaudaur, the CFL's longest serving commissioner and distinguished Second World War Veteran, the award is presented annually to a Canadian CFL player who best demonstrates the attributes of Canadian Veterans in times of war, military conflict, and peace.
• Jake Gaudaur is recognized as a Canadian hero. A Canadian fighter pilot instructor during the Second World War, he won Grey Cups as both a player and an executive, before serving as commissioner of the CFL from 1968 to 1984. His story embodies the historic bond between the league and Veterans, one that is celebrated with the presentation of the Jake Gaudaur Veterans' Award.
• The presentation of the prestigious award is part of the annual Veterans Remembrance Tribute, organized by the Canadian Football League, in partnership with Veterans Affairs Canada. Earlier this month, the tribute featured a ceremony before the CFL eastern and western division semi-final games, as well as the placement of the Canada Remembers logo, with permission of The Royal Canadian Legion, around the football field and on each player's helmet.

Associated Links

• Canadian Football League
• Commemorative Partnership Program at Veterans Affairs Canada
• Veterans Affairs Canada – Remembrance

SOURCE Veterans Affairs Canada

For further information: Media Relations, Veterans Affairs Canada, 613-992-7468, [email protected]; Alex Wellstead, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs, 613-996-4649; Lucas Barrett, Coordinator, Communications, Canadian Football League, Phone: [phone], Mobile: [phone], [email protected]

Related Links

www.veterans.gc.ca