‘An honour’: Keeper of the Cup talks Grey Cup week in Winnipeg.

Jeff McWhinney discusses the history of the Grey Cup and what the plans are while the trophy is in town.

When you see the Grey Cup around Winnipeg this week at community events, you’ll also see one man who has had a front row seat to all of the visits.

Jeff McWhinney has served as the Keeper of the Cup for the trophy since 2015, and makes sure the trophy looks its best at every event.

“It’s a competition between me and the (CFL) commissioner for who’s got the coolest job,” McWhinney said during a Your Morning Winnipeg interview Monday.

For McWhinney, there is a personal connection for him with the Grey Cup. His father Glenn has his name etched on the trophy as a member of the 1954 Edmonton Eskimos.

“He’s on row four, column seven, with some great players,” he said.

The cup arrived at The Forks on Sunday, being carried by a member of the Canadian Armed Forces as they rappelled from a helicopter.

McWhinney said this week with the Grey Cup, he will be taking it to gala events, hospital visits, even a Remembrance Day service, before helping get it ready and polished before it’s presented Sunday in Winnipeg to either the Saskatchewan Roughriders or the Montreal Alouettes.

“It’s an honour to be the keeper of the Grey Cup,” he said.

The Grey Cup is given to members of the winning team to celebrate, and is returned to the CFL between 90 and 110 days following the game, where it is checked for integrity and prepared for the next season.

-With files from CTV’s Katherine Dow