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Alouettes’ “Signature Look” jerseys salute their namesake, the RCAF’s 425 Squadron

Andrew Bucholtz

The CFL's new "Signature Look" third jerseys have generally gone in bold new directions for each team, from the Redblacks' plaid to the Roughriders' "blitz green" and the Blue Bombers' camouflage. The Montreal Alouettes released their own new look Monday, and it definitely continues along that path, providing a grey and silver look that's much different from the team's typical colours; the red and blue are still present, but on the helmet instead of the uniform. However, while the look may be new, the uniform's actually inspired by a return to the roots of their team name, which came from the Royal Canadian Air Force's 425 Squadron:

Founded in 1942 in the Dishforth region of England, the 425 Squadron - the original birds of prey - was the first ever French Canadian unit as well as the 5th bombing unit in the Royal Canadian Air Force. The squad was quickly nicknamed ’’Alouettes” in honor of the Gallic native bird known for its toughness and its high-altitude flights.

The unit’s legacy is steeped in courage, dedication, and professionalism, qualities which were on full display when they answered the call to defend Canada during the Second World War and subsequently were awarded over 190 decorations for their service and sacrifice to the country.

In 1946, shortly after the 425 squadron’s return from war, the Montreal Alouettes Football Club was founded as the successor to the teams of years past, thanks to the combined efforts of football coach Lew Hayman and businessman Léo Dandurand.

Hayman, a Canadian Football Hall of Fame inductee as a player and coach, was, at one time, an officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force. His RCAF experience, the triumphant repatriation of the 425 Squadron, and the famous French song about plucking a lark inspired him to name Montréal’s team the “Alouettes”.

Since July 1962, the 425 Squadron’s aerial base has been located in the Saguenay area of Bagotville, QC. Still active today, the squadron remains the only francophone unit in all the Americas.

The Alouettes worked on this uniform in partnership with Reebok and the Department of National Defence, and the military touches involved in it are noticeable. The uniform features the patch of the 425 Squadron prominently on the front and their logo on the helmet, plus its grey is inspired by the colour of the squadron's aircraft. This isn't entirely a departure for the Alouettes, though; their traditional blues and dark reds are still present on the helmet and on the gloves, which look particularly cool. The bird wings on the shoulder are a nice touch as well, reinforcing the overall theme and calling back to the birds that inspired the squadron's name in the first place. It's interesting that they were able to work so closely with the military on this, as that's not always easy, but the partnership appears to have been fruitful. The team even decided to unveil the uniform at the 425 Squadron's base:

The Montreal Alouettes are proud to announce that their CFL Signature Uniform – the team’s new official third jersey – was unveiled today at the Canadian Forces Base in Bagotville, QC. The ceremony paid tribute to the team’s naming origins which are directly inspired by the 425 Squadron, the first French Canadian unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force. To mark this special moment in Alouettes and Quebec football history, the team’s President and CEO, Mark Weightman, was joined by Lt. General Yvan Blondin and 300 soldiers.

Here's another look at the jersey, from the side:

While some military-inspired uniforms have taken plenty of criticism (see the Winnipeg Jets' jerseys), the Alouettes' original connection to the 425 Squadron makes this relatively logical, and it's interesting to see a new uniform reflect their history so directly. History's a huge part of the CFL's appeal, and it's nice to see that recognized in new uniform design. Having a uniform that salutes the only francophone air unit in the Americas is a cool idea, too; the Alouettes have been the main CFL team to embrace francophone fans (although the expansion Ottawa Redblacks are doing a good job of that so far as well), so this is a natural synergy for them. We'll see if these jerseys turn out to be a hit with Montreal fans, but their backstory's definitely interesting. From this corner, these look like a good move.

Montreal plans to wear their new jerseys first on Sept. 7 against Hamilton.