[translation] CFL VETERAN SHEA EMRY CONTINUES TO TACKLE MEN’S HEALTH AND PERCEPTIONS OF MASCULINITY
Two-time Grey Cup champion and eight year middle linebacker continues to tell his story
TORONTO - Canadian Football League (CFL) linebacker, Shea Emry, continues to share his story in a quest to inspire self-care and unmask masculinity within the world of sport. As tweeted by Emry earlier today, he is in the middle of a two-day media tour that will see him promote men’s health on various sport radio shows and TV interviews across the country.
On Wednesday, January 27th, Emry will be interviewed on CTV’s The Social at 1 p.m. (2 p.m. AT), alongside his partner, Devon Brooks.
Emry is an official Ambassador and Champion for Movember Canada’s Men’s Mental Health campaign, the David Suzuki Foundation and Canadian Men’s Health Foundation. Additionally, Emry is the founder of Wellmen – the men’s adventure club, which cultivates raw outdoor excursions and brotherhood. The aim of the project is to create recurring endorphin inducing experiences that reconnect men back to nature by evoking genuine expression where men can forge a path to thrive.
QUOTES:
“I created Wellmen out of my own personal (in)experience. I was completely disconnected from who I was and spent so much time working on my football identity that when it was briefly taken away, I couldn't find happiness and self-worth within myself outside the lines. This disconnection became evident when I missed the 2011 season with a concussion that sent me into a downward spiral of depression. I was lost. I figured out that I needed to embark on an adventure within and find confidence in myself through the pursuit of knowledge. It didn't matter whether it was in the classroom, kitchen, or backwoods — I wanted to learn.”
- Shea Emry, Founder, Wellmen and CFL veteran
“We in sport have the capacity to positively impact lives – whether it’s through helping change perceptions and stereotypes, or challenging social norms. Our players are our league’s greatest ambassadors, and they are doing some incredible work in each of our communities across Canada. The initiatives and conversations that Shea is helping to lead will go a long way in making life tangibly better for so many men struggling with issues of mental health. He is one fine example of the great tradition of community service our players are known for and that our league is so proud of.”
- Jeffrey L. Orridge, Commissioner, Canadian Football League
