Crown in Saskatoon - Sport and Leisure

Sport and Leisure

The University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team has an enduring connection with the national university championship, the Vanier Cup. Both the championship and its trophy are named for Governor General Georges Vanier, who granted his permission in 1965. The Huskies have participated in the final championship game on nine occasions between 1989 and 2006, and have been awarded the Cup on three occasions in 1990, 1996 and 1998. The University hosted the first ever championship held in western Canada at its renovated Griffiths Stadium in 2006. The Huskie Athletics programme comprises student athletes who compete in elite interuniversity competition administered by Canadian Interuniversity Sport and its members, both as regions and as individual institutions. At various times in its history, the programme has offered teams in twenty-four different sports. The Duke and Duchess of York helped to publicise the Canada Summer Games on their visit to Saskatoon in 1989. Two years prior to their visit, the Queen inaugurated the Canada Summer Games Boating and Rowing Facility ahead of the event. The Canada Games are a high-level multi-sport event held every two years, alternating between the Winter Games and Summer Games. Athletes are strictly amateur, and represent their province or territory. Since its inception in 1967, the event has played a prominent role in developing some of Canada's premier athletes.