Ajay Dilawri is a co-founder of the Dilawri Group of Companies, Canada’s largest automotive group, which he built with his brothers Kap and Tony, starting with their first Honda dealership in Regina in 1985.Committed to both business growth and community impact, Ajay has expanded the group to 81 franchised dealerships across five provinces and one state. He continuously seeks growth opportunities that align with the company's mission of excellence. Ajay has received numerous awards for customer service and operational excellence. He and his brothers actively participate in philanthropy and serve on various non-profit and corporate boards across major Canadian cities.

Why was it important for you to get involved with the2024 Grey Cup Festival?

The Grey Cup Festival is a great chance to showcase our beautiful city to the rest of the country. By becoming involved in the festivities, we build a stronger community and help create a culture that makes us proud to be British Columbians.

What is your favourite CFL / BC Lions / Grey Cup memory?

Because I grew up in Regina, the excitement around the CFL was a key part of my childhood that has continued throughout my life. The joy surrounding football is contagious and I have seen it bring the community together in a great celebration of sport and camaraderie.

What should visitors coming to the 2024 Grey Cup Festival add to their list?!

For people coming to Vancouver for the festivities, I would encourage them to check out the hospitality tents – the energy and celebrations will be so much fun. However, I would also encourage them to check out the exceptional restaurants and shopping that make Vancouver such a great place to visit.

Craig is an internationally respected facility manager and major event organizer with over 25 years of experience. He has planned and executed three of North America’s largest Olympic Winter Games venues and contributed to eight organizing committees since 1988. As General Manager of the award-winning Vancouver Convention Centre, Craig oversees event operations and supplier management, re-establishing the venue as a premier destination for meetings and events. Under his leadership, the Centre has hosted prestigious events like the TED Conference and FIFA Women’s World Cup. He also led the Centre to become the first double LEED Platinum convention center in the world. Craig serves on several industry boards, including the Convention Centres of Canada and the DVBIA Policy Advisory Committee.

What does Vancouver hosting the 2024 Grey Cup Festival mean to you as a British Columbian?

Events like the Grey Cup are iconic and I do not think we can overstate its importance on our Sport/Event/Football culture in Canada.

What are you most looking forward to at the 2024 Grey Cup Festival?

Seeing fans from the far reaches of our country celebrating with each other.

What is your favourite CFL / BC Lions / Grey Cup memory?

Sitting down in the newly renovated BC Place (2011) with50,000 Grey cup fans and seeing the Lions take the field that day.

Richard Jaffray, inspired by a surfing trip, boldly moved to the west coast to launch his hospitality career, opening his first restaurant at 21. With four decades of success, he is a nationally recognized leader and visionary in the industry. As CEO of LFG Growth Partners, founded in 2022, he partners with hospitality leaders to expand brands, including celebrated restaurants like Nook, Oddfish, Hawksworth, Nightingale, and The Chase. His achievements, including founding Cactus Club, have garnered numerous accolades, such as Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year Award and induction into the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame.

Why was it important for you to get involved with the 2024 Grey Cup Festival?

The Grey Cup is always a high-energy, fun-filled event. It’s our turn to show CFL fans from across Canada what an amazing city Vancouver is and how much enthusiasm we’re putting into hosting the best Grey Cup yet! I’m excited to be a part of it.

What is your favourite CFL / BC Lions / Grey Cup memory?

My favorite CFL memory is from the 82nd Grey Cup, in 1994,when the BC Lions played the Baltimore FC. I was sitting right behind the uprights, with a perfect view of Hall of Famer Lui Passaglia kicking thewinning field goal. Tom Cocherane played the halftime show and it was an unforgettable day!

What should visitors coming to the 2024 Grey Cup Festival add to their list?!

If you're coming to the 2024 Grey Cup Festival, make sure to check out all the festival events. Vancouver has a lot of great restaurants, check out our local food scene. Hop on the Seabus and visit The Shipyards and Lonsdale Quay Market. You’ll get a good look at Vancouver from the North Shore.

Ryan Beedie leads one of Canada's top industrial and residential property development companies. Guided by the principles of Built For Good, BEEDIE encompasses Beedie Industrial for land development and construction, Beedie Living for residential projects, Beedie Capital for private investments in mining and technology, and Beedie Luminaries, which supports B.C. students facing challenges. A committed philanthropist, Ryan has donated or pledged over $135 million to more than 350 charitable organizations in the past decade.

What does Vancouver hosting the 2024 Grey Cup Festival mean to you as a British Columbian?

As a homegrown BC Lions fan, hosting the 2024 Grey Cup Festival is an exciting opportunity to showcase beautiful BC to the rest of the country. We are setting the bar high, and I know the 500 thousand+ fans coming to Vancouver to soak up the fun will not be disappointed! 

What are you most looking forward to at the 2024 Grey Cup Festival? (Event, activity, moment)

Honestly, it’s hard to choose! Ziplining over the water? Tailgating? The entertainment? The game? It’s all going to be fantastic, but if I must choose, I’m probably most looking forward to the contagious excitement that’s going to take over the city November 10^th – 17^th.

What impact do you hope to bring to the 2024 Grey Cup Festival as a Steering Committee member?

As a Steering Committee member my goal is to help make thisGrey Cup one for the record books. BC hasn’t hosted the Grey Cup since 2014 –that’s ten years! It’s time we shine and show the rest of Canada that not only is Vancouver capable of holding events like this, by far we are the best host in the country!

Paul Mochrie was appointed city manager in April 2021, after serving as acting city manager since January. He previously held the role of deputy city manager, overseeing departments such as Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services, Development, Buildings, and Licensing, and Human Resources. Joining the City in May 2011 as general manager of Human Resource Services, he became deputy city manager in October 2015. Paul brings extensive public sector experience, including work with the provincial government and regional health authorities. Before joining the City, he worked with the BC Ministry of Health, managing relationships with pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies.

What does Vancouver hosting the 2024 Grey Cup Festival mean to you as a British Columbian?

Our City and Province have a great record of hosting major events and, without question, the work that the Grey Cup Festival team has done to prepare for November 2024 will further cement that record. As an iconic Canadian tradition, the Grey Cup provides us with another opportunity to welcome visitors from across Canada and show them the very best of Vancouver. 

What are you most looking forward to at the 2024 Grey Cup Festival?

In addition to the championship game itself, which I know will be electric, I am very excited by the plans for the public festival activation that will take place at Canada Place. It will be a fantastic week-long opportunity for everyone to be part of the festival and the waterfront at Canada Place provides the perfect setting for that celebration. 

Bridgitte Anderson is the first female President and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, leading the organization for over 137 years. Her focus is on enhancing the region’s economy through effective public policy and initiatives like the Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council and Canada’s first ESG Microcredential Program. Previously, she was Vancouver General Manager for Edelman and Press Secretary to BC Premier Gordon Campbell. Bridgitte serves on multiple boards, including Invest Vancouver, and has been recognized on Vancouver Magazine’s Power 50 List in 2023 and 2024.

Why was it important for you to get involved with the 2024 Grey Cup Festival?

The 2024 Grey Cup Festival is not only a sporting event, it is a community event and it is an economic opportunity for the region. The Festival will bring thousands to our region supporting our local tourism industry and overall economic growth.  That said, it is also going to be a lot of fun for fans, families and friends which is great for Vancouver and BC.

What does Vancouver hosting the 2024 Grey Cup Festival mean to you as a British Columbian?

Vancouver is showcasing a “calendar of awesomeness” over the next few years with many major sporting and cultural events coming to our city.  These are great opportunities for all of BC, especially the 2024Grey Cup Festival.  People from all over our province are CFL fans. The 2024 Grey Cup Festival will offer so much for people to do, that BC will want to experience it.