"Congratulations to the 2008 Grey Cup champions, the Calgary Stampeders."

Mayor Dave Bronconnier was echoing the feelings of an estimated 12,000 Stampeders fans who showed up at Olympic Plaza for a rally honouring the team and its Grey Cup victory over the Montreal Alouettes.  

It was exactly 60 years ago, in 1948, when Stampeders fans invaded Toronto, and started what’s now become the annual Grey Cup party.  

One of the players on that 1948 team was Lt. Governor Norman Kwong, who back then was known as the China Clipper.

"There’s one thing about the 2008 final," said the Lt. Governor, "that’s exactly the same as Calgary’s first Grey Cup back in 1948. And that’s you, the fans."

In spite of the festive atmosphere at the rally, Stamps quarterback Henry Burris was apparently annoyed, still, at the failure of Canadian sportswriters to name him the oustanding CFL player of the year.  

"I’m not talking about the Calgary media," said Burris, "’cause we know the Calgary media best. It’s all those other people out there who doubted us, who didn’t think we could do it, who never gave us any respect."

Burris did win the nod as the most valuable player in the Grey Cup game itself. Kicker Sandro DeAngelis was named the outstanding Canadian.