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Gainer the Gopher is the mascot of the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. The Gainer costume is modelled after the Richardson's ground squirrel, commonly referred to as a "gopher" in many parts of North America. He is from Parkbeg.[1]
Gainer, whose name is an anagram of Regina, made his first appearance in 1977 and has been entertaining Rider fans ever since. In 2006, Gainer was given the jersey number 13, symbolizing his contributions as the "13th man" on the field. Prior to this, he wore the jersey number 1⁄2. He also has two cousins named Leonard and Goof that usually only appear at Roughrider home games.[2]
Gainer continues to be an ambassador for the Riders both at Mosaic Stadium during the football season and at community events all over Saskatchewan throughout the year.
In 2003 the Roughriders donated an old Gainer costume to the Canadian frigate HMCS Regina. Wearing naval combat dress and peaked cap, the ship’s mascot is known as Gainer’s seagoing cousin Gunner the Gopher.[3]
Gainer was first 'played' by Don Hewitt of Regina in 1977. Don Hewitt was a reporter and on-air personality with CTV Regina from 1975 to 2021.[4]
- ^ "Gainer the Gopher". Archived from the original on 2010-02-09.
- ^ "Gainer The Gopher.... the rodent, the legend". Archived from the original on 24 March 2012.
- ^ Lookout (2017-08-15). "Roughrider mascot stars onboard HMCS Regina". Pacific Navy News. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
- ^ "And that's how Gainer was born". Archived from the original on 30 July 2012.