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Bob Ackles always loved orange.

When the B.C. Lions' late president and chief executive officer returned to the organization in 2002, he wanted to see a return of the orange jerseys and the original lion's paw logo that he knew from his days as the team's original water boy in the 1950s. He shared that sentiment with new general manager and head coach Wally Buono, but left the final decision to his football chief.

"Bob loved the orange because he is a traditionalist," Buono said yesterday in advance of the team's home game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers tonight. "When Bob got here and talked about wanting to go back to the orange, all he said to me was 'Wally, do me one favour and keep it simple.' "

Tonight, there will be nothing simple about a game against the desperate Blue Bombers, still seeking their first win of the season after three losses, nor about the festivities planned.

A special postgame ceremony celebrating Ackles's life will take place and bring closure to nearly a fortnight of tributes to the man known as B.C.'s Mr. Football.

Ackles died suddenly after a heart attack on July 5. He was 69.

The ceremony is scheduled to last 20 minutes and will include speeches from Buono, Lions owner David Braley, CFL commissioner Mark Cohon, former kicker Lui Passaglia and Dennis Skulsky, a friend and media executive. It will begin with a video montage of Ackles's career and life away from football and end with a video tribute.

In between, there will be bag pipers and marching Mounties, a rendition of the team's fight song, Roar You Lions Roar, and Ackles's induction into the team's ring of honour.

During the game, the music of Frank Sinatra, Ackles's favourite, will be heard over the B.C. Place Stadium sound system. Centre field will be adorned with the team's original logo and Ackles's famous slogan: "Be the best that you can be."

And the team will wear orange.

You can bet that emotions will be running high. The public has been waiting for nearly two weeks to formally remember someone who was called "one of the most well-liked, respected citizens in the history of Vancouver" by Mayor Sam Sullivan yesterday.

The team has already sold 33,000 tickets. A normal walkup crowd for a summer Lions game is in the range of 3,000, but this is not a normal game, nor a normal night. It is Bob Ackles Day, as proclaimed by the mayor, and it is a chance for football fans and British Columbians to bid farewell to a favourite son.

The ceremony was originally planned for halftime, but the club had already scheduled its Wall of Fame inductions for then. And, besides, the coaches and players wanted to participate as well.

"It's a big deal," defensive tackle Tyrone Williams said. "For the [private] memorial service, only the captains went but a lot of guys wanted to go. We understood why — the number of bodies and space and all that — but it's a big deal for the team."

At the private memorial last weekend, which was attended by roughly 400 mourners, Williams and the team captains presented Kay Ackles, Bob's widow, with the game ball from a victory in Winnipeg last week.

After the win, Buono told the team that "Bob would be proud of you," and the coach admitted this week has been just as difficult, especially those moments when he wanted to pick up the phone and call Ackles, only to have to remind himself that there would be no answer on the other end.

Instead, the organization has proceeded as Ackles would have wanted them to: with professionalism, hard work, dignity and the knowledge that Lions' victories before happy fans were what the boss cherished most in his 40 years with the team.

Tonight comes the final gathering and the final send off. One more time with feeling.

"I think it will be a smashing success," said Lorne Cullen, Ackles's former high school coach who is now 80 years old. "He would've liked to see it."