Moustache season has arrived and Movember, the leading men's health organization, is kicking off its annual campaign.

Prepare yourself... Many Foothills residents will be sporting muzzies! Full and thick like Lemmy or barely there and thin like Vincent Price. 

The annual moustache-starring campaign encourages Movember Community members across the globe to rally in support of Movember's cause areas, men's mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer.

A bare-faced Gino prepares to grow a mo this year!

In Canada, 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, testicular cancer continues to be the most diagnosed cancer in young men, and 3 in 4 suicides are by men. Men's physical and mental health continues to be in crisis.

Locally, a few of the players on the Okotoks Oilers including the voice of the team, Play-by-Play announcer Gino De Paoli, have shaved and waxed their upper lips in preparation for this month's muzzie manifestations.

The idea came from the Business Operations Coordinator for the Oilers Kyle Moore. 

"He wanted to get some guys and I know it's tough for players to grow mustaches when the average age is about 17 years old," Says Play-by-Play announcer Gino De Paoli.

"So I figured I can step up and hold the rope"

The team goal has their eyes set on a $10 000 goal. A total they are confident they can hit with the support from the foothills. 

Having experienced mental trauma after the passing of his father, Gino's campaign focus is always centred around mental health.

"I still haven't truly recovered. I'm lucky enough that I've had resources and family and friends who have always reached out to me, and they've always made me feel welcome, that sort of thing, and we're always there for each other. But some people may not have that option."

The heart of the month-long Movember campaign is to start engaging conversation, usually with a silly twist. This is why Gino has sworn that if they reach their goal he will wax his chest and back!

"It will be a front-to-back sort of torso wax and if everybody wants to get more interested, we'll pull more hair off I guess."

...on one condition.

"Not my legs though. That's the one thing that I will not do. Pull the hair off my legs."

How to Support

You can directly support their pages:

Gino's campaign

The Okotoks Oilers

Or check out the other ways to support from the Movember Foundation.

GROW: A Mo. It's our hairy ribbon. At the beginning of the month, grab the razor and shave down clean. Grow your moustache for the next 30 days and wear it proudly.


MOVE: Commit to moving 60kms over the month. That's 60kms for the 60 men we lose to suicide each hour around the world, every hour across the world. Run, walk, wheel, spin, bike – get out and get active.


HOST: A Mo-ment- Rally a crew and do something fun. Hosting is all about having a good time for a good cause. And you can always put a virtual spin on your plans. The best part? Virtual events are easy to organize, cheap to run, and you can wear whatever you want.


MO YOUR OWN WAY: Whether it's a gruelling test of physical endurance or a not-so-sweaty pledge to kick a bad habit, you choose your adventure and run with it.