Football fans in Lacombe viewed, touched and snapped photos with the Grey Cup at MEGlobal Athletic Park on Friday afternoon, as the CFL trophy stopped over on its tour with the Calgary Military Family Resource Centre, which was holding a golf tournament fundraiser in Red Deer that day.

It was a rare sight, as the Grey Cup does not tour often, said Gord Young, executive director of the Calgary MFRC.

The trophy was escorted by a security detail comprised of soldiers from Edmonton, Young said.

The Calgary MFRC is a charity that supports military families, helping to ensure they receive all the support they need. 

It also serves those in central Alberta.

"We want to be the people who can provide the resources to the military families here within central Alberta. We want to make the relationships, (with) all sorts of resources," said Shannon Humphrey, the group's Red Deer representative.

"So when people come to us, they're brand new to the area, maybe to Red Deer, they come to us and ask, 'Where can I access daycare or where can I go to the gym,' we can make those referrals."

"We can refer people to mental health services. We can refer people to medical services. Any of the basic needs that people have."

Young said they want to branch out into the community.

"Our goal is to make sure all the community services that operate here know who we are, know where we are because all the military families have a lot of entitlements and we want ot make sure they know what those are and they access them," he said.

The link between the CFL and Canadian Armed Forces dates back decades, he said, when football action was suspended during both World Wars and numerous players served their country.