The founder of the Saskatchewan Roughriders Cheerleading Team has become an honourary member of Canada’s cheerleading alumni organization. Carol Gay Bell, 91, has been inducted in the Canadian Football Cheerleaders Alumni Organization (CFCAO). Gay Bell created the Saskatchewan Roughriders Cheerleading Team back in 1961, and was a cheerleader herself up until 1978. Her recognition comes around the same time the team celebrates its 65th anniversary. “We just realized this is our opportunity to induct her in at a national level right now during the exhibit and during the 65th anniversary,” said Linda Allen Hardisty, co-director of CFCAO. “Once we learned about her being a founder, everything she’s done, we just knew that she was deserving. And all these other generations of cheerleaders in town this weekend, it gives everybody a chance to learn about her because I don’t think everybody did.” An exhibit dedicated to the history of the cheerleading team is currently being shown at the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in Regina until Nov. 6. In light of being recognized for her contribution to generations of cheerleaders in the province, Gay Bell said she was overwhelmingly happy. “This weekend has been such an amazing time in my life. I’m so, so thankful and proud of all these girls who have carried on the legacy,” she said. “I never thought back when we started, but look around you and see all these wonderful young women who carried on the Saskatchewan Roughriders cheerleaders name. “I’m very, very proud of it and I hope it goes on another 65 years plus.” Story behind the Roughriders cheerleading team Gay Bell explained how the team was first created, referring to Steve Owen — Saskatchewan’s head coach from 1961-62 — who played a role in the process. “I was asked to put together a group of cheerleaders because Steve Owen, who was quite famous, was coming to coach the Saskatchewan Roughriders. They were having a great big welcome party for him at the armory,” Gay Bell explained. “The Riders phoned me and said ‘Could you put together some cheerleaders for this event? We want to make them lively.’ So I said, absolutely, I’d love to.” She added the team started with eight girls who did the “Steve Owen pep rally.” From there, the cheerleading team started performing at games in the fall and have continued ever since. The Canadian Football Cheerleaders Alumni Organization said Gay Bell has been a role model to hundreds of Saskatchewan women in the last 65 years. “She set the bar once her first team of cheerleaders was out there on the field at Taylor Field. There would be some young girls in the stands watching, inspiring them. Then she said she grew the squad to 16 and then to 24 and the rest is history,” said Allen-Hardisty. “It was her vision, her creativity, and I think a lot of courage to bring in something new to the football stadium and the community.”
