EDMONTON – Edmonton Eskimos fullback Graeme Bell, who has been injured all season and remains on the nine-game injury list, has been named the Esks’ nominee for the CFL’s Tom Pate award, as well as winner of the team’s Davie Boone Memorial Award.
The Boone award was created in 2005 and is given to a player who displays “exceptional work in the community and represents the club in an upstanding, professional manner.”
The Pate award is given to a CFL player who “displays admirable qualities off the field while brandishing great sportsmanship amongst his team.”
The five-year CFL veteran moved to Edmonton in the off-season and has been a staple in the Edmonton community since joining the Eskimos in February of 2009. The Saskatchewan native has represented the Eskimos in organizations such as Kids Up Front, Six-A-Side Football, Inner City Agencies Roast Beef Dinner and the Boys and Girls Club.
Constable Pam Gates, who quarterbacked the D.A.R.E program for the Edmonton City Police at several inner city schools, said “it is very apparent that Graeme has a love for today’s youth and is willing to do what he can to help give even one child a better experience in life.”
Stephen Kufske, manager of public relations for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Edmonton, said Bell has become “a hero to our organization (and kids) by visiting our nine clubs across the city mentoring children, youth and teens; all of which come from high-risk and low-income areas affected by crime, poverty and addiction. Graeme’s generosity and willingness to engage and spend time with our kids has done wonders for their self-confidence and development.”
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