Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association fall championship season is underway and the busiest weekend on the calendar is here. With the weekend coinciding with Remembrance Day, our student-athletes across the province will be paying respect to our veterans and fallen soldiers by donning poppy stickers throughout the competitions.

"We've had a really good relationship with the Royal Canadian Legion, Saskatchewan Command. We have certain freedoms because of the sacrifice that Canadian veterans and Legion members have provided. One of those many privileges we have is that our students get to participate in high school athletics and be involved," said Dave Sandomirsky, assistant executive director for the SHSAA.

Provincial football championships, along with Senior Boys Conference Volleyball and Senior Girls Regional Volleyball playoffs, will all be contested on the weekend of November 8th and 9th. Over the course of the weekend, approximately 2900 student-athletes will represent 194 volleyball teams in 38 tournaments and 12 football teams in the 6 championship games. Beginning the last Friday in October, through the end of the National Poppy Campaign, close to 8600 poppy stickers provided by the Legion will have been worn proudly by student-athletes during competition.

"As an education-based program, The Saskatchewan High School Athletic Association wants to be able to educate our young people about the sacrifices the people who came before us were able to provide. Those allowed us to have these privileges of safety and leisure time. That's what we would like to do, is take time out of our sporting activities to pay respect to those people that deserve the recognition."

This weekend, all host schools are encouraged to plan an observance of Remembrance Day and free admission will be provided to members of the Legion attending SHSAA events.