Christopher Anstey will join the Calgary Stampeders coaching staff for a four-week period during the club’s training camp as part of the Canadian Football League’s Diversity in Football Program.

The Halifax native has been the University of Calgary Dinos’ defensive line coach since 2015 and he previously served in the same role at Saint Mary’s University.

Anstey also has extensive coaching experience at the minor, junior and high-school levels. He won a Maritime Football League championship in 2011 as head coach with the Dartmouth Knights and in 2012 he was part of the coaching staff for Team Nova Scotia at the Canada Cup.

As a player, Anstey was a member of the University of Manitoba Bisons from 1996-99. He is also an alum of the Champlain College Cougars football program, winning a Bol D’Or as a player in 1995 and later serving as the Cougars’ director of recruiting and defensive line coach.

“We look forward to having Chris as a part of our team during training camp,” said Stampeders general manager and head coach Dave Dickenson. “He brings a lot of experience and knowledge and I’m excited to watch Chris develop as part of our Diversity in Football program.”

“Football has provided me with every opportunity to know why diversity and inclusion matters,” said Anstey. “In, 1995 I left home for college in Quebec without the ability to speak French. My roommates had very little English background and were from varying backgrounds both ethnically, culturally and socioeconomically. The cohesion and bond that was formed in a small residence dorm forever shaped my perspective that people with common goals and passions achieve more.

“As a university coach, I want to continue to build on my ability to mentor and believe that exposure to the highest level of my profession in the country will provide me with the opportunity to do that. I cannot imagine a better platform to continue my own personal and professional development.”