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37-694: The Western Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union (WCIAU — later renamed Western Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Association) was formed in 1919–20 as the first recognized western-based post-secondary athletic organization in Canada, with the University of Manitoba winning the first-ever league championship, a men's hockey title, in 1920. In the spring of 1972, the WCIAA was split into the Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA) and

74-542: A fight song "Hail UBC", written by Harold King in 1931. A pep song with the same name "Hail UBC", written by Steve Chatman, was adopted in 2011. The lyrics go: Hail to the Thunderbirds! Hail UBC! Thunder and lightning — Onward to victory! Hail to the Blue-and-Gold! Hail UBC! U, B, C forever — Onward to victory! In 2005, they applied to become members of the principal U.S. college sports governing body,

111-707: A re-vamped service for the 2017–18 season. In 2017, a dramatic 59-yard field goal kick by Niko DiFonte with two seconds on the clock lifted the Calgary Dinos over the UBC Thunderbirds to win the 81st Hardy Cup football championship in November. Immediately, the footage circulated across mainstream media. Not only did the clip of the record-breaking kick get coverage on television networks and social media channels across North America – including Sportsnet , TSN , CBC , ESPN , NFL.com and USA Today – but it also showcased

148-696: A school joining the NCAA under this program can retain its CIS membership. It was expected that both UBC and Simon Fraser would be among the first schools to apply for NCAA membership under this program. Simon Fraser did apply and was accepted, but in April 2009 UBC deferred a decision on applying. Since 1984, the Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year Award is named in honour of Marilyn Pomfret. Before her death in April 2019, she had spent 23 years at UBC, supporting

185-518: Is currently coached by Didier Banse. UBC's rugby program has a long tradition of producing national team rugby players (7s and 15s), most recently Jim Douglas (RWC 2003), Mike Burak (RWC 2007), Chris Pack , Ryan MacWhinney, Justin Mensah-Coker , Tyler Hotson , Eric Wilson , Harry Jones (RWC 2015), Brock Staller and Ben LeSage . U Sports does not currently contest a national championship for Men's Rugby, however UBC are five-time champions of

222-679: The Canada West Universities Athletic Association , and nationally in U Sports , winning 119 national titles. UBC has won an additional 21 national titles competing in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics against collegiate competition from the United States and 43 national titles in sports that compete in independent competitions. Across 15 varsity sport disciplines, UBC fields 26 teams overall; notably, 15 of which compete in U Sports , six in

259-579: The NAIA to allow "full ride" scholarships. Canadian schools did not allow any form of scholarships until the late 1980s. SFU was forced to leave the NAIA in many sports due to schools in the Northwest US shifting to the NCAA. Until 2009, the NCAA limited membership to schools based in the U.S. Some Simon Fraser teams still competed in the U.S. before the school moved to the NCAA, and their men's wrestling program competed in

296-459: The NCAA . They are not the first Canadian school to try to join the NCAA; in 2000, local rival Simon Fraser , then exclusively an NAIA member, sought to join the NCAA but was turned down. At the time, the NCAA's constitution prohibited non-U.S. schools from joining; however, some observers believed the real reason Simon Fraser was turned down was that the school sought to join as a Division II school, and

333-402: The 1960s and 1970s, the Thunderbirds played in the old Pacific Coast League , notably finishing as league runners up in 1967-68 and 1968-69. The Thunderbirds men's volleyball team has won four U Sports men's volleyball championships and five conference championships. Kerry MacDonald took over the helm of the men's volleyball program starting with the 2016–17 season. In the following season,

370-628: The 2006 NAIA World Series Father David Bauer coached the Thunderbirds for two seasons, and led the team to a Western Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship in 1963, and reached the final game of the Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union men's ice hockey championship tournament for the CIAU University Cup , but lost by a 3–2 score to the McMaster Marauders . Bob Hindmarch began coaching

407-621: The American collegiate NAIA , and five of which are independent of these governing organizations: U Sports NAIA Independent The UBC Thunderbirds football team has won the CWUAA Hardy Trophy conference championship 16 times, which is third all-time among competing teams. On a national level, the team has won the Vanier Cup championship four times, in 1982, 1986, 1997 and, most recently, in 2015. The team has also lost three times in

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444-590: The Great Plains Athletic Association (GPAA - later renamed the Great Plains Athletic Conference). CWUAA consisted of schools spanning from Victoria to Saskatoon (Victoria, British Columbia, Calgary, Alberta, Lethbridge and Saskatchewan), while GPAA's member institutions stretched from Regina to Thunder Bay (Regina, Brandon, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Lakehead). In 1985–86, Canada West offered playing privileges to men's hockey teams from

481-604: The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) with other sports following over the years, culminating with the 2001-02 merger of basketball. Since 1999, 11 additional schools have joined the Canada West's six charter members. Trinity Western joined in 1999–00 and, in 2000–01, all schools from the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) except for Brandon were provided full membership in Canada West (Manitoba, Regina and Winnipeg). Brandon joined as an associate member at

518-619: The NCAA did not want to set a precedent with a lower-level school. UBC, on the other hand, was reportedly interested in joining Division I . UBC's athletic budget of approximately $ 4 million Canadian is dwarfed by those of schools in the Pac-12 Conference , the only BCS conference on the U.S. West Coast. However, at least two mid-major conferences with a West Coast presence, the West Coast Conference and Western Athletic Conference , had been suggested as possible future homes for

555-562: The Thunderbirds defeated the two-time defending champion Trinity Western Spartans in straight sets in the U Sports gold medal match on March 18, 2018 to win their first national title since 1983. MacDonald resigned after this season to take a position with Volley Canada and Mike Hawkins took over as head coach for the 2018–19 season. The Thunderbirds women's volleyball team has been the most successful program in its sport, with 14 National Championship victories , most recently in 2024 . The Thunderbirds have also won 16 conference titles with

592-478: The Thunderbirds. The NCAA approved a change to its constitution on January 14, 2008 to allow Canadian schools to become members. Under a 10-year pilot program due to begin June 1, 2008, Canadian schools can join the NCAA as Division II members, and any school that meets the June 1 deadline for application can become a member as of the academic year immediately following the deadline. CIS has not officially indicated whether

629-621: The UBC article for more details. Simon Fraser University (then known as the SFU Clan before changing to the Red Leafs in 2022) did not compete in what is now known as U Sports until 2002, after a failed attempt to join the U.S. NCAA . On July 10, 2009, the NCAA accepted SFU's bid to join NCAA Division II in the 2011–2012 season. Canada West proceeded as a 13-team, 14 member conference for 2010–11, with

666-642: The University of Victoria in a two-game, combined score series to claim the coveted "Boot". They also play a two-game, combined score series against the University of California for the "World Cup" trophy (a competition started in 1921). The varsity XV was coached for many years by Spence McTavish (former UBC varsity rugby captain, former Canadian rugby international and captain, and former Bobby Gaul award winner), and assistant coach Rod Holloway (former UBC varsity rugby scrumhalf, and former assistant coach of Canada's National Senior Men's team (RWC 1995). The men's team

703-707: The Year is awarded the Marilyn Pomfret Trophy. In recognition of the Male Athlete of the Year, the Bus Phillips Memorial Trophy is awarded. Since 2010 Calgary Dinos football The Calgary Dinos football team represents the University of Calgary in the sport of Canadian football in U Sports . The Dinos program has been in operation since 1964, winning the Vanier Cup national championship five times ( 1983 , 1985 , 1988 , 1995 , 2019 ),

740-429: The following institutions are building their athletic programs for potential admission into the association. In 2012 the conference declared they would not take applications from new schools, as Canada West approved a bid from Grant MacEwan University (Now rebranded as MacEwan University) in 2013. In May 2005, UBC made a formal bid to join the NCAA, but decided in April 2011 to remain a part of Canada West Athletics. See

777-473: The inclusion of UBC-Okanagan as a non-competing, probationary member for 2010–11, in time to begin competition (pending summer 2011 CIS approval) for the 2011–12 season. In May 2011 Mount Royal was awarded Canada West membership, effective Sept. 2011, with competition to begin in the 2012–13 season. In May 2013 MacEwan (Formally Grant MacEwan) approved as a 17th Canada West member starting in the 2013–2014 season. From its inception in 1965, Simon Fraser competed in

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814-616: The increase in funding and intramurals for women. Having worked as a coach, Pomfret also served as the Director of Women's Athletics from 1963 to 1969, followed by a second stint from 1972 to 1986. In addition, she served in the role of president of the Women's Athletic Directorate, creating and organizing several women's sporting events. Prior to her administrative career, Pomfret was a student-athlete, arriving to UBC in 1951, participating in basketball and volleyball. The Thunderbirds Female Athlete of

851-530: The independent Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship in 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, and 2023. Women's rugby is 5 time CanWest XVs Champions and 2024 7s & 15s National Champions. The UBC Thunderbirds are the most successful men's soccer program in Canada, having won 13 U Sports championships , eight more than any other school in the country. They have also won 22 Canada West conference titles since competition started in 1972. Notable players include Brian Budd , Pat Onstad , and Srdjan Djekanovic . In

888-1129: The longest reign as a repeat champion in the sport with six consecutive wins (2008-2013). The program has also featured five Mary Lyons Award winners, with Liz Cordonier (2010), Shanice Marcelle (2011, 2013), Kyla Richey (2012), Lisa Barclay (2014), and Kiera Van Ryk (2019) each winning the award. Women's Swimming (24) Men's Swimming (20) Women's Field Hockey (19) Men's Soccer (14) Women's Volleyball (14) Women's Soccer (9) Women's Basketball (6) Football (4) Men's Volleyball (4) Men's Basketball (2) Men's Cross Country (2) Women's Cross Country (1) Women's golf (7) Women's cross country (5) Women's track and field (4) Men's track and field (2) Men's golf (2) Men's cross country (1) Women's golf (17) - Canadian University/College Golf Championships Men's rowing (9) - Canadian University Rowing Association Men's golf (8) - Canadian University/College Golf Championships Men's rugby (5) - Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship Women's rowing (4) - Canadian University Rowing Association UBC used to have

925-456: The men's ice hockey team during the 1964–65 season, and led them to the 1971 Western Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship. He accumulated a winning record in 11 of 12 seasons, and set UBC record with 214 wins by a coach in ice hockey. In December 1973, they became one of the first Western Bloc sports teams to tour China, and played a series of games focused on friendship and teaching hockey skills to local players. The trip

962-781: The most out of any of the Canada West teams. The Dinos have also won the Hardy Trophy conference championship 18 times, including six consecutive wins from 2008 to 2013. The team appeared in the 2013 and 2016 Vanier Cup , but lost both years to the Laval Rouge et Or . Vanier Cup Ottawa L 9-14 Vanier Cup Western W 25-6 Vanier Cup Saint Mary's W 52-23 Vanier Cup Toronto L 34-37 Vanier Cup Western W 54-24 Vanier Cup Queen's L 31-33 Vanier Cup Laval L 14-25 Vanier Cup Laval L 26-31 Vanier Cup Montreal W 27-13 Calgary

999-534: The most recent win occurring in 2014. The team has been led by head coach Doug Reimer since 2000 (and from 1994 to 1997) and he has accounted for ten of the program's championship wins. Notably, in the 2013 gold medal match , the Thunderbirds defeated the Alberta Pandas in straight sets to tie U Sports ' all-time record—shared with the Winnipeg Wesmen (1983-1988) and Alberta Pandas (1995-2000) for holding

1036-613: The position of Director of Baseball. The Thunderbirds compete in the United States as the only Canadian member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). In 2001, the program reached a new level as the New York Mets made Derran Watts the first ever Thunderbird to be drafted, when they selected him in the 12th round . Since then nine more Thunderbirds have been drafted including 2007 World Series starter Jeff Francis . T-bird baseball successes include their trip to

1073-486: The present day Thunderbirds baseball. Hiscott recognized student Terry McKaig, a former collegiate player and national team member, as the one to take over the program as head coach. Since 1997, McKaig has been the driving force behind the T-Birds with support and funding from such major leaguers as Jeff Zimmerman and Ryan Dempster . In 2015, Chris Pritchett was named the new head coach of the baseball team and Terry moved up to

1110-406: The same time, UBC Okanagan received probationary membership. In 2011, Mount Royal University and the University of Northern British Columbia were voted in as probationary members and began active competing in 2012–13. In 2013, UBC Okanagan was awarded full membership, while Mount Royal University and the University of Northern British Columbia were awarded full membership in 2014. Full membership

1147-461: The streaming quality of the new-look Canada West TV. In January 2018, Canada West announced record viewing numbers for the new service. On June 8, 2020, the conference announced cancellation of fall sports and no events were featured on Canadawest.tv. Throughout the remainder of 2020 the conference would announce a series of cancellations. The conference announced the resumption of Canadawest.tv streaming on Aug 3, 2021. The 2021–2022 season marked

Canada West Universities Athletic Association - Misplaced Pages Continue

1184-402: The tenth year of Canada West TV service and the first year with streaming partner Visaic after its acquisition of Yare Media in 2020. UBC Thunderbirds#NCAA membership bid The UBC Thunderbirds are the athletic teams that represent the University of British Columbia . In Canadian intercollegiate competition, the Thunderbirds are the most successful athletic program both regionally in

1221-462: The then-CIS and the NAIA. UBC has several of its programs (baseball, golf, outdoor track and field and softball) compete in the NAIA. On August 24, 2011, the association announced the launch of Canadawest.tv as the official home of web-based broadcasting for all 14 Canada West member institutions during the 2011–12 season and beyond. On May 10, 2017, Canada West announced a multi-year deal with Surrey, BC based streaming company, Yare Media, to develop

1258-446: The time, until full membership was granted in 2005. Simon Fraser joined Canada West in 2000, followed by Thompson Rivers in 2005 and Fraser Valley in 2006. Simon Fraser withdrew from the conference as a member after the 2009–10 season, following this, Simon Fraser officially became the first Canadian university to join the NCAA in the 2011–12 season.while both Thompson Rivers and Fraser Valley were awarded full membership in 2010 and, at

1295-451: The title game, in 1978, 1987, and 2023. The Thunderbirds program has also yielded three Hec Crighton Trophy winners: Jordan Gagner in 1987; Mark Nohra in 1997; and, most recently, Billy Greene in 2011 . In the summer of 1996, 30 years after the original UBC baseball program was disbanded due to budget cuts, Athletic Director Bob Phillip along with former professional Jim Murphy and community baseball coach Mark Hiscott provided funding for

1332-464: Was granted to MacEwan University in the spring of 2015, after the Edmonton-based university fulfilled their probationary membership requirements and was accepted by Canada West membership as the conference's 17th member. (Data mined from the U Sports homepage's member directory and WorldStadiums.com. The member directory numbers seem to be ballpark figures in some cases.) The media has reported that

1369-460: Was supported by the Government of Canada as part of a desire to normalize relations with China, and was not well-publicized at the time. The Thunderbirds won all seven games played by a combined scored of 56 to 5. Men's rugby is one of the oldest varsity sports at UBC (including the precursor to UBC, McGill University College of BC, varsity rugby started in 1906). The varsity XV now competes against

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