June 9, 2016
Arlene Mousseau was hooked from the very first moment of the very first Winnipeg Blue Bombers practice she ever attended.
“It was ‘Swaggerville’ that first got me interested,” recalled Mousseau, now a six-year Bomber season ticket holder.
“I wasn’t really into the CFL, but one day a friend said, ‘Come with me. Come watch a practice.’ I went with her, saw (former Bomber defensive back) Alex Suber and thought, ‘He needs a fan’.”
Arlene Mousseau
“He was the hook. We became friends and we’re still friends. I’m friends with his mom and he’s friends with my whole family. That’s a connection that’s always going to be there.
“After that I bought my two season tickets and I’m still a loyal fan even though he’s no longer here. I love the Bombers and I love coming here because there’s so much more involved than just football.”
Mousseau, who works as a digital content editor at the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, still wears a Bomber #21 jersey – Suber’s old number – and has an autographed button of him pinned to the front of the uniform.
But her initial connection to Suber, Swaggerville and the Bombers has grown to be much more than that. It’s not just the connection she has to the team, but to the people she attends games with who have become her extended family.
“I came to my first game and, because I’m active on Twitter, I met 15 ladies that were also Bomber fans,” explained Mousseau. “We started going to dinners, we’d meet when the boys were playing an away game and ever since then the connection I have with them is really strong. I have to thank the Bombers for that.
“Now we sit together, there’s nine of us ladies who are all in Section 125. It’s great. Now I have my grandchildren getting hooked on football. My eight-year-old granddaughter is starting to know some of the plays. I need someone to carry on with this when I go.”
Many players come to the stadium on game day either to get taped, get zoned in for the matchup or just to burn off some nervous energy. And Mousseau? She’s geared up from the first moment she gets up in the morning.
“I get all decked out in my Bomber stuff for work on game day, even if they’re not here,” she said. “Some people think I’m crazy, but you only have one life.
“I love game day. I love home games. Where else can you see a big bird dressed up in a blue jersey and a short little bird doing his dancing moves? That brings a smile.
“I just love it. This is my happy place.”
