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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 14h

The football season is in full swing? Are you equipped? Check out this ad for Hurd & McBride that appeared in the Ottawa Citizen on October 2, 1907. #cfl

Advertisement in the Ottawa Citizen for football equipment (2 October 1907).

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 27/10/2026

Working on an article about the Two Game Total Point Series for the 1986 Eastern Final between the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Stay tuned. #cfl

Hamilton Spectator preview of Game One of the 1986 Eastern Final between Hamilton and Toronto.

Molson ad in the Hamilton Spectator cheering on the Tiger-Cats (1986).

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 05/10/2026

Today in Canadian football history... October 5, 1907 Montreal defeated the Toronto Argonauts 17-8 at the M.A.A.A. grounds in the first game of the new Interprovincial Rugby Football Union. This will be this week's story... #cfl

Headline in the Montreal Star for the first IRFU game between Montreal and Toronto.

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 24/09/2026

Today in Canadian football history... September 24, 1977 Rookie defensive back Ken Hinton of the B.C. Lions returned an Edmonton missed field goal a whopping 130 yards, breaking a CFL record. The Lions won the game 30-13. #cfl

Article in the Province about BC's Ken Hinton returning a missed field goal 130 yards.

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 01/09/2026

Today in Canadian football history... September 1, 1990 The Toronto Argonauts defeated the BC Lions 68-43 in the CFL’s highest scoring game. I'll do a story about this game later this week. #cfl

CFL Game summary - Toronto vs. BC, 1 September 1990

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 18/08/2026

Today in Canadian football history... August 18, 1954 The ORFU's Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen hosted the WIFU's Edmonton Eskimos in exhibition football. Edmonton won the game by a score of 28-6. #cfl

Ad in the Waterloo Record promoting the Edmonton vs. Kitchener-Waterloo game

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 10/08/2026

This week - in honour of the 68th anniversary of the CFL - we'll look back at the league's first game as well as some bickering over an interlocking schedule. Stay tuned. #cfl

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 08/08/2026

Today in Canadian football history... August 8, 1961 The Hamilton Tiger-Cats defeated the Buffalo Bills of the AFL by a score of 38-21 in an exhibition game at Civic Stadium. #cfl

Hamilton Spectator article on the Tiger-Cats' win over the Buffalo Bills on August 8, 1961.

Advertisement in the Buffalo News for the Tiger-Cats-Bills game being broadcast on Buffalo's WBEN.

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 07/08/2026

On August 3, 1960, the Toronto Argonauts hosted the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers in an exhibition game. Yes, back in the day, CFL teams and NFL teams played exhibition games against one another. #cfl #nfl

Associated Press photo of Toronto vs. Pittsburgh exhibition game in 1960.

Canadian Press article in the Kingston Whig-Standard about the Toronto-Pittsburgh exhibition game in 1960.

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 31/07/2026

Tonight, the Ottawa Redblacks celebrate 150 years of football in Ottawa. Over the years, the Ottawa Football Club has been known as the Rough Riders, Renegades, and, of course, Redblacks. #cfl canadianfootballhistory.ca/2025/05/07/r...

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 28/07/2026

Congratulations to Brandon Banks, Sean Millington, Charleston Hughes, Calvin Tiggle, Jim Evenson, and Frank “Pop” Ivy. #cfl

Canadian Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 28/07/2026

Hamilton Tiger-Cats cheerleader Pigskin Pete says Hi. (circa 1950s) Oskee Wee Wee Oskee Waa Waa Holy Mackinaw Tigers, Eat 'em raw! (the modern Oskee Wee Wee Tiger-Cat cheer) #ticats #cfl

Hamilton Tiger-Cats cheerleader Pigskin Pete (1950s)

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 27/07/2026

This week, we'll go back to 1921 and the controversial Saskatchewan Rugby Football Union championship. Stay tuned. #cfl

Article in the Regina Leader Post about the meeting in Saskatoon to hear the protest motion by Regina Rugby Club.

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 30/06/2026

Tomorrow is Canada Day. Our great Dominion turns 159. Remember to be Radically Canadian!! #cfl

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 29/06/2026

Yep. Check out those end zones at the Liberty Bowl. Yikes.

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 29/06/2026

Today in Canadian football history... June 29, 1995 The Memphis Mad Dogs made their CFL debut in a losing effort against the Calgary Stampeders. The Mad Dogs played just one season during the CFL's short-lived expansion into the United States. #cfl

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 12/06/2026

Today in Canadian Football History... June 12, 1880 The original Canadian Rugby Football Union was founded. #cfl

Globe and Mail article about the founding of the original Canadian Rugby Football Union (14 June 1880)

Globe and Mail article cont'd about the founding of the original Canadian Rugby Football Union (14 June 1880)

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 11/06/2026

The Ottawa Citizen reported some previous low scoring Canadian football games: October 11, 1930: Toronto 2 Montreal 0 September 20, 1947: Toronto 2 Hamilton 0 September 14, 1946: Ottawa 4 Montreal 0 November 2, 1940: Hamilton 5 Toronto 0 September 29, 1945: Hamilton 5 Montreal 0

Ottawa Citizen article about previous low scoring Canadian football games (31 October 1966)

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 01/06/2026

The CFL kicks off its 68th season this week. This graphic, which appeared in the Vancouver Sun in 1980, looks eerily similar to today's CFL logo especially cropped. If you zoom in, you can see the letters "cfl" repeated to create the background of the football. #cfl

CFL graphic in the Vancouver Sun (July 5, 1980)

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 25/05/2026

Today in Canadian football history...May 25, 1990 The Hamilton Tiger-Cats signed Canadian receiver Richard Nurse, who they selected in the CFL draft a few months earlier. Nurse played six season with the Tiger-Cats. #cfl

Hamilton Spectator article about the Tiger-Cats signing Richard Nurse and John Monaco.

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 22/05/2026

Here's the Canadian Press article mentioned in the blog post.

Canadian Press article from 1985 criticizing the CFL preseason.

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 14/05/2026

Today in Canadian Football History... May 14 and 15, 1874 The Harvard-McGill football games were played in Cambridge, Massachusetts. #cfl

The Harvard vs. McGill rugby game in 1874.

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 29/04/2026

While the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union first held a formal draft for Canadian players in 1953, the first national draft was held in 1956. Canadians from six universities were selected by teams in both the IRFU and the Western Interprovincial Football Union. #cfl

Canadian Press article about the 1956 Canadian College Draft, the first national draft in Canadian football.

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 27/04/2026

Tomorrow, the CFL will hold its annual Canadian draft. The first "official" Canadian draft was held in 1953 by the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union. Doug McNichol, from the University of Western Ontario, was the first pick overall. He was drafted by the Montreal Alouettes. #cfl

Doug McNichol playing card (Montreal Alouettes)

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 21/04/2026

One of the ideas I had back in 2012 was to have a message from The Queen in the 100th Grey Cup program. 2012 was the 100th Grey Cup and The Queen's Diamond Jubilee. I was ecstatic when everyone agreed to make it happen. #cfl

Queen's Message 2012 Grey Cup Program (FR)

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 21/04/2026

Today would have been Queen Elizabeth II's 100th birthday. Here are some photos of Her Majesty enjoying some Canadian football. (1) WIFU game in Edmonton 1951 (2) CFL game in Ottawa 1977 (3) With Tiger-Cat Terry Evanshen 1977. Photos courtesy of City of Edmonton Archives and Cdn FB Research Soc.

Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip at a WIFU game in Edmonton (1951).

Queen Elizabeth II with Prime Minister Trudeau at a CFL game in Ottawa (1977).

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip with Hamilton Tiger-Cat Terry Evanshen (1977).

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 20/04/2026

It's Dave Ridgway week here at Canadian Football History, marking 30 years since the man they called "Robokicker" retired. Here's an account in the Regina Leader-Post from the Roughriders' training camp in 1982 about newcomer Ridgeway earning praise from head coach Joe Faragalli. #cfl #riders

Account of rookie kicker Dave Ridgeway in the Regina Leader-Post (1982)

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 17/04/2026

Happy Friday. I'm working on a story for next week about Dave Ridgeway. It's been 30 years since Robokicker retired. He played in 238 games over 14 years as the kicker for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. #cfl

Dave Ridgeway (36) kicking the game winning field goal in the 1989 Grey Cup.

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 15/04/2026

On this day in 1912, the Titanic sank off the coast of Newfoundland after hitting an iceberg the night before. 1600 people lost their lives in the disaster including Hugo Ross, who was the honorary president of the Western Canadian Rugby Football Union. #titanic #cfl

Hugo Ross of Winnipeg, passenger on the Titanic.

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 14/04/2026

The legendary Wally Buono, keeping in shape in preparation for training camp, along with his Great Dane. (Montreal Gazette, 24 April 1976) #cfl

Wally Buono walking his Great Dane (Montreal Gazette, 24 April 1976)

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 12/04/2026

In April 1997, the CFL entered into a multiyear partnership with the National Football League. #cfl

Winnipeg Sun article about the CFL-NFL partnership in 1997.

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 08/04/2026

In 1948, when the Hamilton Wildcats left the Ontario Rugby Football Union for the Big Four, it could've been the death knell for the ORFU. Reduced to just three teams, the country's oldest football league was in trouble. Then, the Hamilton Tigers took the Wildcats' place. The ORFU carried on.

Canadian Press article on ORFU outlook in 1948

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 27/03/2026

Here's an ad from 2001 for Canoe/Slam Sports promoting the websites for the CFL, Tiger-Cats, Alouettes, and Argonauts. #cfl

An advertisement from 2001 promoting various CFL websites.

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 25/03/2026

This week, we're going back to the CFL's early days on the World Wide Web. New blog post coming tomorrow. #cfl

Screenshot of the CFL's homepage in 1996.

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 10/03/2026

This week, we're going back to 1955 and the very first East-West all-star game in Canadian football. Sponsored by the Shriners, the game was played between all-stars from the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and the Western Interprovincial Football Union (WIFU). #cfl

1955 East-West All Star game program cover. (photo: Canadian Football Research Society)

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 03/03/2026

On June 24, 1994, the Shreveport Pirates hosted the Baltimore CFL Colts in a preseason game at Independence Stadium. Here's a picture of the stadium scoreboard published in the Shreveport Times. This was a few weeks before a court injunction prevented Baltimore from using the name "Colts." #cfl

The scoreboard at Independence Stadium in Shreveport before the preseason game between Shreveport and Baltimore (1994).

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 02/03/2026

Pirate Ball was a weekly publication of the Shreveport Times, a guide to the Shreveport Pirates and the CFL. Here is the cover of the first issue previewing the Pirates' first ever regular season game in Ottawa. The Rough Riders defeated the Pirates 40-10. #cfl

Pirate Ball weekly publication in the Shreveport Times

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 26/02/2026

A final CFL USA themed article is coming (hopefully tomorrow). This one is all about the Shreveport Pirates. The Pirates played their home games at Independence Stadium for two seasons (1994 and 1995). #cfl

Advertisement for Shreveport Pirates family season tickets (Shreveport Times, 1994)

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 13/02/2026

Happy Friday! Here's a photo of two cheerleading legends in football: Paul Weiler (RIP) aka Pigskin Pete and Len “The Big Wheel” Burrier.

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 02/02/2026

This week, as we continue to look back at the CFL's expansion into the United States, we'll focus on the Baltimore CFL Colts / Stallions. Have some great stories and photos to share...

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 27/01/2026

I've updated the Links page on the CFH website. Check out these great sites for some great CFL and Canadian football content. canadianfootballhistory.ca/links/

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 23/01/2026

When the CFL expanded into the United States in the early 1990s, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers were the lone dissenting vote. They were labelled "dinosaurs" by some for being opposed to change.

Globe and Mail article (1992) calling the Winnipeg Blue Bombers "dinosaurs" for opposing American expansion.

"CFL is riding a runaway train" article in the Winnipeg Sun (1992)

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 19/01/2026

Today in Canadian Football History... The Canadian Football League was formally established in Winnipeg upon the merger of the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union (aka the Big Four) and the Western Interprovincial Football Union. Sydney Halter was named the CFL’s first commissioner. #cfl

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 09/12/2025

As we await the release of the 2026 CFL schedule here are early CFL schedule makers putting together the 1958 WIFU schedule. (Source: The Regina Leader Post, 20 January 1958, page 19.)

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 05/12/2025

If you're ever at Rideau Hall, be sure to check out the portraits of Canada's former governors general, including that of Earl Grey. His portrait was painted by JWL Forster at Rideau Hall and is displayed in the Tent Room. Grey served as Governor General from 1904 to 1911 and donated the Grey Cup.

Portrait of Earl Grey at Rideau Hall in Ottawa

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 16/11/2025

One of Canada's greatest sporting traditions continues tonight. It's the 112th edition of the Grey Cup. Good luck to Saskatchewan and Montreal. #cfl

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 13/11/2025

The first televised Grey Cup was the 1952 game held in Toronto. It was broadcast on Toronto's CBC affiliate station CBLT. The broadcast even included a short pre-game show hosted by Annis Stukus. A reader sent us this pic of the title card from the "Football with Stukus" pre-game feature. #cfl

Football with Stukus title card for the 1952 Grey Cup on CBC

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 12/09/2025

The 1956 plane crash that claimed the lives of five Canadian football players garnered widespread newspaper coverage across Canada and parts of the United States. Here is a sampling of news articles about the tragedy.

Front page of the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix (December 10, 1956)

Front page of the Regina Leader-Post (December 10, 1956)

Front page of the Iowa City Press-Citizen (December 10, 1956)

Article in the Regina Leader-Post holding out hope for Mario DeMarco.

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 01/09/2025

Next up, it's Calgary versus Edmonton in the Battle of Alberta. For the 1992 Labour Day Classic between these two teams, a state-of-the-art replay screen was brought into McMahon Stadium. It cost Stampeders owner Larry Ryckman $50,000 for the video board.

1992 Labour Day Classic ad in the Calgary Herald

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Canadian Football History @canadianfootballhistory.ca · 01/09/2025

The Labour Day Classics continue in the CFL. First up, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats host the Toronto Argonauts. Here's an ad in the Hamilton Spectator promoting the 1992 game between these two rivals.

1992 Labour Day Classic Hamilton Spectator ad

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