The Calgary Stampeders announce today that co-owner and co-managing partner Ted Hellard is stepping down from all roles with the football club effective Dec. 1, 2010.

Hellard was the club’s president from 2005 to 2007 and took the role of managing partner prior to the 2008 championship season. He was named managing partner, football operations prior to the 2009 campaign.

“I count the last six years as some of the most challenging and rewarding of my life,” said Hellard, who also served as team president during his time with the Stampeders. “I would like to thank the Stampeders fans for the tremendous support they have given this club over the time I have been involved. I am very proud of what has been accomplished both on and off the field and of what the organization has and will continue to put forward for the best fans in the CFL.

“From watching, interacting and working with our staff for six years, I have witnessed first hand the incredible passion and commitment they have for the horse and this proud franchise. I have been fortunate to watch and work with some of our league’s great coaches and the dedication and drive I have seen them give, day after day, has been inspiring to witness. I have also truly felt blessed to meet and develop so many relationships with so many dedicated athletes. Their commitment to giving all they have for our horse is truly something they should all be very proud of.

“On a personal note, as president and managing partner of football operations, I wish I had been able to help the players, our staff and our fans get that elusive trophy more often than we did. 2008 was an experience I will never forget and I know that with the tremendous coaching, players and staff this organization has, it will not be long until this city has that wonderful experience again.”

Hellard played an instrumental role in the existing ownership group’s purchase of the Calgary Stampeder Football Club in 2005 and he helped set in motion a new chapter in the history of Stampeders football.

“On behalf of the Calgary Stampeders’ ownership group, I would like to thank Ted for his significant contribution to our organization,” said Stamps chairman and managing partner John Forzani. “Ted was instrumental to our group when we took control of the club in early 2005 and he was key in building the foundation that exists today.

“We are entering our seventh season as owners of the club and due to the solid foundation we have in place, we are able to adapt and move forward when there is change at all levels of this organization. Shareholders, staff and personnel will come and go in this business and we will continue to be strong on and off of the field.

“Ted was instrumental in developing our football operations department which, under the guidance of head coach and general manager John Hufnagel, has never been stronger. We now have a head coach/general manager, a director of football operations and a director of player personnel in place that Ted was pivotal in selecting and those individuals will continue to work towards the goals of this organization.”
 
Over the years, Hellard has been committed to the sporting community, both as an athlete and as a coach. He starred with the University of Calgary Dinos basketball team from 1974 to 1978 and coached championship high-school basketball and football teams.

Never one to shy away from contributions in the community, Hellard and his family donated $500,000 to the Greater Calgary Amateur Football Association in the fall of 2008 in support of the Shouldice facility enhancement project that saw three synthetic turf fields installed at Shouldice Park. The Hellard family name will be permanently honoured at the facility as one field was named Hellard Field.

Prior to joining the Stampeders, Hellard founded and was chairman of Critical Mass, a successful Calgary-based interactive marketing agency.