UNITY— Roughriders Brett Lauther and Noah Zerr stopped by St. Peter’s Elementary School, March 19, during the off-season to talk to the younger students about how important it is to learn how to read and discuss mental wellness to the older grades.
With only two months left in the off-season, the kicker and offensive lineman have been travelling throughout the province. Lauther said he learned Saskatchewan had the lowest literacy rates in Canada when he started this program.
“I think it’s very important for the kids to understand you’re going to have to use reading in every aspect of life, even after school,” said Lauther.
For the homegrown offensive lineman, Zerr connects to the students with his own life story.
“I grew up with a learning disability, so to get into schools and try to help those kids that maybe had a tougher time is really kind of beneficial and really kind of full circle for me, so it’s been a lot of fun,” he said.
Both players visited the Kindergarten to Grade 3/4 classrooms, reading a couple of stories such as “Stick and Stone”, “The Sour Grape” and even the Rider-themed title, “The ALWAYS Team”.
“One book that I read to all the kids is “Not Without my Teammates. This book is so cool because it was written by Jeff McWhinney, who is actually the caretaker of the Grey Cup. I was lucky enough to meet him a few years ago and he asked me what I did in the off-season. So I named a ton of different things, like traveling, playing hockey, then talked about reading to kids in school and doing the Win with Wellness. He told me he had written a book and the next time I saw him he had a copy for me to take with me,” said Lauther.
Students had some time to ask questions and get their Rider gear signed before being treated with doughnuts and juice donated by the Delta Co-op. The kindergarten class had also surprised their guest speakers with an acapella version of “Green is the Colour”.
The whole school gathered in the gym for a group photo with the pair before they started their next presentation to the Grade 5 and 6 students. The Win with Wellness presentation involves players interacting with the students, helping them understand mental wellness while providing some tips to manage stress and anxiety. The presentation also touches on supportive and healthy relationships and various support and tools that are available to Saskatchewan youth.
Lauther, who has been participating in the Rider Foundation’s presentations for the past five years, said in the past month he has done 80 Rider Reading and 41 Win with Wellness presentations, totaling more than 5,000 students personally for this year alone.
“We’ve still got a couple of months to go, and when you factor another seven or eight guys are doing this, I know it was the Foundation’s goal to get out to every school that applies. Then after a couple of years, try to repeat those schools where kids are passing up in higher grades and make sure everyone kind of gets a presentation or two,” added Lauther.
As the season draws nearer, the players are already starting to get back into training. Zerr is hitting the weights almost daily and running twice a week as he prepares to get back on the field, while Lauther practices kicking into the net three days a week before his weight and cardio workouts.
“I am just excited to getting back into the practice field with the guys. Every team and every year is a little bit different. There’s going to be some kinks to work out and some chemistry to find with some new and old faces. And I think I’m just excited for the roller coaster that’s going to be next season,” said Zerr.
“There’s just the optimism in the air of a new season and what potentially could happen in that year. I’m really excited with the roster we have on paper right now. I mean, you don’t win anything on paper but I think we’re in a pretty good place. And just being back in the locker room with the guys,” added Lauther.
Both Lauther and Zerr will take to the field in Winnipeg, Man. for their first preseason game on May 24 before they host the Ottawa Redblacks at Mosaic Stadium, June 5.
