Eight decades, generations of memories: Montreal Alouettes celebrate 80 years
Posted October 1, 2026 9:13 pm.
For one night, the biggest gain wasn’t measured in yards, but in years.
Eight decades of Montreal Alouettes football came together Thursday night as former players, coaches and executives joined current players and supporters at an 80th anniversary dinner celebrating the franchise’s history.
Founded in 1946, the Alouettes have won eight Grey Cup championships, with their most recent in 2023. Generations of players have since left their mark on the organization, creating a history that stretches from the team’s earliest years to the present day.
Among those at Thursday’s celebration were Étienne Boulay, Wally Buono, Ben Cahoon, Pierre Desjardins, Jim Popp, Mike Pringle, Jamel Richardson, Johnny Rodgers, Larry Smith and Marc Trestman.
The evening brought together people from different eras of the franchise, with former teammates and coaches revisiting their time in Montreal while current players shared the room with some of the names who helped shape the organization.
A night for the people behind the history
For Boulay, the former Alouettes defensive back who was part of Montreal’s 2009 and 2010 Grey Cup championships, the most meaningful part of his playing career was never just the final score. He remembers the people he shared those seasons with.
“Those were my best football years as far as fun, camaraderie, performance,” Boulay said.
He said the relationships built during those championship seasons have lasted long after the games ended.
“This goes way beyond just what we did on the football field. I’m super proud of the run we had. Of course, I’m proud of our performances. But the brotherhood that was created then that still goes on today is something special,” he said.
Boulay, a Montreal native, had another reason to feel connected to the anniversary. He grew up supporting the Alouettes before eventually becoming one of their players.
“Before being a football player with the Montreal Alouettes, I was a Montreal Alouettes fan,” he said.
He remembers starting high school football in 1995, the year the Alouettes returned to the CFL. At the time, Mike Pringle was one of the team’s stars.
Nearly three decades later, Boulay was standing in the same room with Pringle and other figures from the franchise’s past.
For Boulay, that was part of what made the anniversary special.
“It’s a great period to regroup, recognize all the generations that built the way, that paved the way,” he said.
A familiar face coming home
Pringle’s return carried its own set of memories.
The former Alouettes running back became one of the most recognizable players in franchise history, and Montreal remains a place he associates with both his football career and his family life.
“It is always a pleasure when I come back to Montreal,” Pringle said. “It’s just amazing to be here again.”
Pringle said he had walked through parts of Montreal before the event, revisiting places that once held meaning for him and his family.
“It’s like I’m coming back home,” he said.
The years have also given Pringle a different perspective on the relationship between athletes and fans. He said he is often approached by people who remember watching him when they were children.
“You don’t really understand the type of influence that you have, or effect that you have on people,” Pringle said.
For him, hearing that he brought people joy remains an honour.
That connection between the Alouettes and their fans can stretch across generations.
Andrew McPherson, who attended the dinner as a lifelong supporter, said his father had season tickets to the Alouettes in the 1950s.
“I’ve been a fan my whole life,” McPherson said. “I’m still a fan and enjoy watching CFL football very much.”
Remembering the people behind the wins
Trestman, who coached the Alouettes for five seasons, came to the anniversary with memories of his own.
“I feel like I’m here not only representing myself, but the coaches and the players that I got a chance to spend time with over the five years I was here,” Trestman said.
When asked what stood out most from his time in Montreal, Trestman pointed to the relationships he built with his players. Those relationships extended to the players’ families, particularly during playoff runs.
“One of my greatest pleasures was just telling parents and relatives how great their sons were and how proud I was of them,” Trestman said.
For Trestman, those connections remain part of what makes Montreal feel familiar even years after his time on the Alouettes sideline. He said he continues to return to the city and described it as his “second home.”
Turning memories into something more
While the dinner celebrated the past, the money raised during the evening is intended to help young people in the present.
Proceeds will benefit the Montreal Alouettes Foundation’s Together at School program, which provides educational support, mentorship and opportunities for young people to succeed.
Boulay said the Alouettes have long had a role in encouraging young people beyond football.
“We would go into schools and talk to kids, try to motivate them and try to help them structure and dream and chase their dreams,” he said.
He believes that work remains important.
“I think it’s the right time to try to get involved and create a little spark for some of these kids,” Boulay said.
Trestman said community involvement and education were already part of the organization when he arrived in Montreal.
“It’s always been contributions to the community and the education of children,” he said.
The fundraising dinner gave that work a place alongside the franchise’s history.
Guests were treated to a welcome cocktail, hors d’oeuvres and a four-course dinner. A live auction featured Alouettes memorabilia and experiences, while a historical display included the Grey Cup, the Heisman Trophy and other pieces from the organization’s past.
The evening also included professional photo opportunities, a commemorative gift for guests and surprise appearances.
The past meets the present
Current Alouettes players were also part of the celebration, giving different generations of the organization a chance to share the same room.
Among them was quarterback Davis Alexander, who said it was a privilege to be surrounded by so many figures from the franchise’s history.
“It’s just an incredible privilege to be here, especially with some of the names in the house,” Alexander said.
The fundraiser also gave him a chance to see the evening as something larger than a celebration of football.
“Like a lot of things in life there’s a bigger purpose,” he said. “We’re putting it to better in the future and I think that’s all you can ask for honestly.”
Anthony Calvillo, another major figure in Alouettes history, was also at the event. The former quarterback now works with the team and said the night offered an opportunity to reconnect with former teammates, coaches and fans.
“We’ve had a long day of work with the Alouettes, but to come here to celebrate with ex-teammates, ex-coaches and just share some of our memories with some of the great fans that are going to be here as well,” Calvillo said.
A history still being written
The anniversary also offered a reminder that the Alouettes’ history is not finished.
The current team is trying to add its own chapter, while the people who came before them continue to shape the connection between the franchise and its supporters.
Alexander said the goal for the current season is clear.
“I think everyone’s hoping that,” he said when asked about another Grey Cup. “We’re all on the same page with that.”
For Trestman, the current team’s identity will continue to evolve as players and coaches change.
“Every year is different. If you have one new player, one new coach, it’s a new team,” he said.
But the former coach said there are also elements that carry from one era to the next.
“What you see is you see an alignment with the Alouettes. I call it a cultural alignment,” Trestman said.
That culture is part of what Thursday night’s celebration was about.
