Rivalry games always bring the best out of teams and fans alike, creating memories and storylines that sometimes become the stuff of legend.

This Labour Day Monday will mark another chapter in one of the top rivalries in the CFL between the Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Eskimos.

Tim St. Pierre, fullback for the Stamps — and former linebacker for the neighbours to the north — has experienced his fair share of the classic on both sides.

“I’ve had more success being on this side in Red and White,” says a reflective St. Pierre. “My last Labour Day Classic with Edmonton (in 2010) was a pretty rough one. I think it was like 52-5 or something crazy like that. That wasn’t a good one.

“Plus, you have the rivalry and the emotion. It almost feels like a playoff atmosphere. It’s cool to be a part of.”

The Labour Day Classic, officially designated in 1982, has taken on a life of its own pitting not only team against team, but representing the sibling-like geographical feud between Alberta’s two largest cities.

The winner of the Classic generally claims bragging rights for the year; entitling citizens from the victorious city to 365 days of trash-talk.

Provincial bragging rights aside, St. Pierre knows that the annual grudge match carries significance for the team in terms of their season.

“It means so much to both cities and to both teams. This is an important part of the year where you start to shape your identity for the rest of the season,” says the offensive blocker known to his teammates as TSP.

Teammate Juwan Simpson agrees.

“I know once we get to Labour Day it’s the second half of the season. Everything means a lot more,” says the field general. “It’s getting to the real nitty-gritty part of the season now.”

If anything, Simpson knows the importance of a rivalry, having been a part of one of the legendary battles in college football while attending the University of Alabama – sworn enemies of Auburn University.

Although the Eskimos have struggled in the first part of the season, limping to a 1-7 start, the Stamps know those numbers may not tell the whole story.

“In a rivalry game you have to throw out records,” says Simpson. “Regardless of whatever scores have been in the past, a Labour Day game is something that both teams are ready for.”

When it comes to rivalry games in the CFL, there are few that can claim the expertise of Calgary quarterback Kevin Glenn.

In his 13 seasons, Glenn has been a starter in all three CFL Labour Day games — Labour Day Classic, Saskatchewan-Winnipeg and Hamilton-Toronto — and is believed to be the only QB with at least one victory in all three contests.

“It’s a good stat,” laughs the generally mellow veteran. “Says I’ve produced in rivalry games.”

Having played in some of the most exciting games the league has to offer, Glenn says it’s hard to say whether one is better than the other.

While he has special memories from each series, last year’s Labour Day Classic — his first time experiencing the great western clash — was significant for the way the Stampeders came together despite some of the injury woes they were fighting through.

“We won, which is the most significant thing,” notes Glenn. “We did it in a team fashion where we had to come back and score and then our defence had to stop them and all that kind of stuff. So it was a real big win.”

Looking for another one of those “team–fashioned” wins, the Stamps will square off against the Eskimos at McMahon Stadium on Monday with bragging rights on the line.