Fans pack Nathan Phillips Square to celebrate Toronto Argos’ Grey Cup win

Hundreds of fans celebrated the Toronto Argonauts at Nathan Phillips Square after the 100th Grey Cup champions paraded through the downtown core Tuesday morning.

“Toronto is alive and the CFL is alive in Toronto,” Argos general manager Jim Barker said.

The double blue crushed the Calgary Stampeders 35-22 Sunday night to win their 16th Grey Cup and their first championship at home since 1952.

“The city’s got a champion,” special teams captain Mike O’Shea said.

“You just look down the street and all the people that have come out — I can’t thank them enough for the support. It brings a tear to your eye.”

The victory parade started at 11:30 a.m. at Wellington and Yonge streets. Players in the back of pickup trucks then headed north on Bay Street and the blue and white party procession ended at Nathan Phillips Square where Mayor Rob Ford read a proclamation declaring Nov. 27 Toronto Argonauts Day.

“This is a dream come true, folks,” he said.

Read Ford’s proclamation here.

The Argos’ cheerleaders, the Argos’ pep band the Argonotes, Toronto Police and Toronto Fire pipe and drum bands, antique police and fire vehicles, a veterans’ colour guard, EMS and TTC honour guards and the St. Michael’s drumline accompanied the Argos along the parade route.

Football teams from North Albion Collegiate and Sir Robert L. Borden high schools also marched alongside their pro heroes.

Defensive end Ricky Foley, who was named the Grey Cup’s most outstanding Canadian, said Tuesday he hadn’t slept since the big win.

“It’s unreal man,” he said. “I couldn’t have dreamed this.”

CityNews reporters Keeley Rogers and Hugh Burrill and 680News’s Kris McCusker are reporting live from the big party. Follow their updates below:

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