What it means to be green…

For Winnipeg Blue Bombers season-ticket holder Dave Dech, supporting his beloved team isn’t just about attending games. His passion goes beyond the stadium gates, spilling into his Westwood home where he has created a shrine dedicated to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Dech’s dedication is clear – even though he’ll be wearing green during Saturday’s Banjo Bowl match against the Roughriders, he’s adorned his living space with an array of team memorabilia. A small room in his home, affectionately called the Roughriders Room, is filled with cowbells, cribbage boards, coasters and a case of Riders Championship Cola. The room used to be bright green, but Dech and his wife Patti painted it tan to make it more welcoming.

Dech’s love for the Roughriders runs deep, tracing back to his childhood in Regina. He was just nine years old in 1972 when he visited his hometown for a pre-season scrimmage, marking the first time he’d seen the Riders play since childhood. Four years later, in 1992, Dech and his wife Patti made their first trip to Regina to watch the annual Labour Day showdown between the Roughriders and Blue Bombers.

Over the years, Dech has transformed the family room into a photo album documenting 34 consecutive trips to Regina, along with an impressive collection of Roughriders souvenirs. These include jerseys, plush toys of mascot Gainer the Gopher, bobbleheads of legends George Reed and Roger Aldag, and various sports cards from different eras. The Dechs even possess a 1951 loaf of bread from the Grey Cup championship game, one of the unique items in Lance Hackewich’s extensive collection.

Hackewich, a 59-year-old Roughriders season-ticket holder from Regina, boasts what is described as the largest collection of Riders memorabilia on the planet. One of his most unique pieces is a mini-loaf of bread from 1951, which he claims is the only one to survive 75 years. Hackewich’s collection began in his childhood but he got serious about it in 1993. Both Dech and Hackewich are proud Roughriders fans who go above and beyond in their support for the team.