Two individual player awards are unveiled at the end of each year’s Grey Cup: Most Valuable Player and Most Valuable Canadian. For those unfamiliar with the process, here is how these prizes are awarded.
According to Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) president Jeff Hamilton, there are seven voters who cast ballots each year. Two voters are selected from both of the markets represented in the game, then three are chosen from different regions across the country.
Voters are asked to complete their ballots by the five-minute mark in the fourth quarter. They may select individuals outright or include a caveat based on the outcome of the game. For example, a voter may indicate on their ballot than Player A gets their vote if Team A wins, but Player B gets their vote if Team B wins.
In the event of a tie, the FRC president is tasked with casting the deciding vote if he or she is present in the press box. If the FRC president is not in the press box for the game, a different member of the executive is predetermined as the tiebreaker.
According to Hamilton, the most recent tie occurred in 2022 between linebacker Henoc Muamba and quarterback Chad Kelly. Muamba ended up winning both awards after recording three tackles and an interception in a 24-23 win for the Toronto Argonauts over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.
Voters are announced at the FRC Canadian Football Hall of Fame media induction breakfast, which is held annually during the morning of Grey Cup Sunday. This event is typically streamed online, though this year’s event was not due to technical problems.
The Most Valuable Player award was first handed out at the 47th Grey Cup in 1959, while the Most Valuable Canadian award was first introduced in 1971.
For reasons that are unclear, no Grey Cup Most Valuable Player was selected from 1963 to 1966. From 1974 to 1990, there were two Grey Cup Most Valuable Players selected — one offensive and one defensive.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders defeated the Montreal Alouettes in the 112th Grey Cup at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg by a score of 25-17.
Trevor Harris was named Most Valuable Player after he completed 23-of-27 pass attempts for 302 yards, winning his first Grey Cup as a starter. Samuel Emilus was named Most Valuable Canadian after he made 10 catches for 108 yards, finishing only two receptions shy of tying the Grey Cup record.
