Calgary

Calgary and Ottawa mayors make Grey Cup bet

The traditional Grey Cup bet has been established between Calgary's Naheed Nenshi and Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson.

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi confident with Stamps' odds

Mayors Naheed Nenshi and Jim Watson are already embroiled in a good-natured showdown ahead of the Grey Cup final. (CBC)

The deal has been struck. 

Should the Calgary Stampeders trample the Ottawa Redblacks during Sunday's Grey Cup final, Mayor Naheed Nenshi will be snacking on Beavertails as his counterpart in Canada's capital comes to terms with his team's loss. 

That oh-so-Canadian snack will be, of course, courtesy of Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, who also pledged to donate to the food bank and don a Stamps jersey at council if the Redblacks lose. 

Conversely, if the Stampeders crash and burn at BMO field, Nenshi will be wearing the Redblacks', well, red and black, when he heads into City Hall next week. 

The fine print

  • The losing mayor will donate 10 times the score differential to the local food bank in the winning mayor's city.
  • There will be a jersey swap, where the losing mayor has to wear the winning team's jersey at council.

  • That mayor must also read a poem aloud — written or chosen by his victorious counterpart.

  • A "culinary swap" will also take place. If the Stamps lose, Watson will receive some "Nenshi's salted caramel" donuts from Jelly Modern Donuts. Should the Redblacks lose, Nenshi will get the aforementioned Beavertails. 

"Our sports teams are so good, I feel like I'm making this bet all the time," Nenshi told reporters on Tuesday.

He said he's also working to establish a bet with Quebec City Mayor Régis Labeaume ahead of the Vanier Cup on Saturday.

And that's just the beginning of the smack talk, with good-natured shots flying between the two mayors on Twitter.

Both mayors are encouraging fans of each team to make similar bets and donate to their local food banks. 

With files from the CBC's Evelyne Asselin