Told to change or miss pep rally.
The thought of getting in trouble for wearing a Rider jersey is unimaginable in Saskatchewan, but in Calgary that's what happened to Alesandra Behr.
Thirteen-year-old Behr wore her Rider jersey to her Calgary junior high school for a pre-Grey Cup pep rally on Friday. But, the vice-principal of her school told her to change.
"She was pulled off into another room and sort of given a detention - just told to do some homework or do some reading while everyone else got to go into the gym," said Alesandra's dad, Jason Behr.
He said that as a Rider fan and father, he was shocked his daughter couldn't wear her jersey to the pep rally.
"I'm a die-hard Rider fan. When I heard she was not allowed into a pep rally because of that, I got pretty mad," he said.
"She didn't do anything wrong by wearing her jersey and by supporting her team."
Jason said the vice-principal of the school had been under the impression this pep rally was specifically for the Calgary Stampeders, not Grey Cup themed.
"(The vice-principal) thought it was disrespectful that Alesandra decided to wear green and specifically her Rider jersey to a pep rally for the Calgary Stampeders," said Jason.
However, the principal found out about this incident and told the vice-principal it was a Grey Cup pep rally and other CFL team jerseys were allowed.
The principal let Alesandra into the pep rally wearing her green and white.
Jason said the principal and vice-principal have both apologized to him and will apologize to his daughter today.
While Jason feels the situation wasn't initially handled well, he's happy with the apologies and the way his daughter stood up for herself.
He said supporting the Riders is an important part of their family, even though they don't live in Saskatchewan.
"I'm a season ticket holder for the Calgary Stampeders and have been for 13 years. But it doesn't matter whether Winnipeg is playing or Edmonton is playing or who's playing Calgary, I wear my Rider gear to every single Calgary home game and I don't think that's disrespectful to Calgary at all. I'm just supporting my team."
Jason grew up in Grayson, Saskatchewan and has lived in Calgary for 22 years.
tburdeniuk@rawlco.com
The thought of getting in trouble for wearing a Rider jersey is unimaginable in Saskatchewan, but in Calgary that's what happened to Alesandra Behr.
Thirteen-year-old Behr wore her Rider jersey to her Calgary junior high school for a pre-Grey Cup pep rally on Friday. But, the vice-principal of her school told her to change.
"She was pulled off into another room and sort of given a detention - just told to do some homework or do some reading while everyone else got to go into the gym," said Alesandra's dad, Jason Behr.
He said that as a Rider fan and father, he was shocked his daughter couldn't wear her jersey to the pep rally.
"I'm a die-hard Rider fan. When I heard she was not allowed into a pep rally because of that, I got pretty mad," he said.
"She didn't do anything wrong by wearing her jersey and by supporting her team."
Jason said the vice-principal of the school had been under the impression this pep rally was specifically for the Calgary Stampeders, not Grey Cup themed.
"(The vice-principal) thought it was disrespectful that Alesandra decided to wear green and specifically her Rider jersey to a pep rally for the Calgary Stampeders," said Jason.
However, the principal found out about this incident and told the vice-principal it was a Grey Cup pep rally and other CFL team jerseys were allowed.
The principal let Alesandra into the pep rally wearing her green and white.
Jason said the principal and vice-principal have both apologized to him and will apologize to his daughter today.
While Jason feels the situation wasn't initially handled well, he's happy with the apologies and the way his daughter stood up for herself.
He said supporting the Riders is an important part of their family, even though they don't live in Saskatchewan.
"I'm a season ticket holder for the Calgary Stampeders and have been for 13 years. But it doesn't matter whether Winnipeg is playing or Edmonton is playing or who's playing Calgary, I wear my Rider gear to every single Calgary home game and I don't think that's disrespectful to Calgary at all. I'm just supporting my team."
Jason grew up in Grayson, Saskatchewan and has lived in Calgary for 22 years.
tburdeniuk@rawlco.com