Football Canada Newsletter July 2023
Football Canada Summer Event Recap
Quebec’s Subzero captures women’s title; Saskatchewan’s Gamecocks men’s champions
Both teams to represent the country as Team Canada at the 2024 IFAF Flag World Championships in Finland
July 2, Halifax, NS – Two new champions were crowned on Sunday at the 2023 Senior Flag Football Championships in Halifax, NS. Football Quebec Subzero (women’s) and Football Saskatchewan Gamecocks (men’s) captured the title and earned to honour to represent the country as Team Canada at the 2024 IFAF Flag World Championships that will be held in Finland.
🔗 Full Story Here #SFN23
Saskatchewan wins gold at home in 2023 Western Regional Challenge
July 8, Regina, SK – Team Saskatchewan was crowned best in the West on Saturday in the final game of the 2023 U16 Western Regional Challenge. Team BC collected the silver medal and Team Alberta secured the bronze.
🔗 Full Story Here #U16West23
Team Quebec golden at the 2023 U16 Eastern Regional Challenge
July 8, Sackville, NB – The 2023 U16 Eastern Regional Challenge offered football fans in Sackville, New Brunswick, a stellar night cap on Saturday when Team Québec and Team Ontario battled tooth and nail in the final game, Québec narrowly besting Ontario 21-14 to win the gold medal. Team Nova Scotia captured the bronze.
🔗 Full Story Here #U16East23
Québec girls, Saskatchewan boys victorious in 2023 U18 Flag Nationals Finals
July 23, Winnipeg, MB – The 2023 U18 Flag National Championships wrapped up on Sunday at Bison Field in Winnipeg, MB, with Team Québec winning their way to gold in the Girls Division, and Team Saskatchewan crowned champions in the Boys Division.
🔗 Full Story Here #U18Flag23
Ontario, Alberta finish on top at women’s U18 National Tackle Championship 2023
July 30, Ottawa, ON – The 2023 edition of the Women’s U18 National Tackle Championship concluded on Saturday with outstanding divisional finals. The busy week in the Nation’s Capital wrapped up with Team Alberta and Team Ontario Black winning their way to their respective division titles.
🔗 Full Story Here #U18WN23
Québec girls, Saskatchewan boys pull off one-point wins on way to U16 Flag National Championships
August 3rd, Antigonish, NS – The 2023 U16 Flag Football National Championships concluded on Wednesday at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, and teams pulled out all the moves in thrilling last-minute, one-point gold medal games in both girls’ and boys’ finals. Team Québec Blue (girls) and Team Saskatchewan Green (boys) were crowned 2023 champions.
🔗 Full Story Here #U16Flag23
Football Canada July 2023 News Recap
2023 Canada Cup finalists to be awarded after cancellation
(August 4th,2023) – Following the cancellation of the medal games of the 2023 Football Canada Cup in Edmonton due to air quality concerns in July, Football Canada’s Board of Directors has determined that both Saskatchewan and Quebec will receive gold medals as co-champions. Ontario and Alberta will each be awarded bronze medals for reaching the third-place game.
National team members inspiring next generation at Women’s U18 National Championship
(July 28th, 2023) – If the Women’s U18 National Tackle Championship 2023 marks only the second edition of the tournament, this growing segment of the beloved sport can already count on over a dozen former women’s national team members reinvesting their time and knowledge off the field to lead the next generation of women and girls tackle football athletes.
Coast to Coast Football
Indigenous Bowl (Football Alberta)
July 20th – “This tournament was more about creating a brotherhood then a football team! The players all came in nervous, timid, shy. Many not knowing anything about their culture. By the end the coaches and players had experienced ceremonies, smudging, talking to elders and most importantly being comfortable to share stories about themselves with the team.” says Todd Carwell.
“The coaches mostly were First Nation from NFL, CFL Junior and University Programs; which I believe gave hope to these young men that anything is possible no matter where you are from or your upbringing. Coaching staff did an amazing job inspiring all the players.”
“The Elks invited the players into the Alumni room and also onto the sideline pre game they went out of the way to really make the team feel respected and important. Thanks to Dan McKinnon and Geroy Simon.”
MGFA Championship Winners
(Football Manitoba)
July 1 – Congratulations to the St. Vital Mustangs Junior Girls and the North Winnipeg Nomads/East Side Eagles Senior Girls on their MGFA Championship Wins!
(The Manitoba Girls Football Association is the first female tackle program of its kind in Western Canada.)
Ontario Football Clubs and Partners Raise over $200,000 Dollars for 50/50 Raffle
(Football Ontario)
July 31st – For the past 8 weeks, Football Ontario along with it’s partners and members have been contributing to a 50/50 raffle prize. This all came to a head with a historic final Jackpot of over $200,000.
One lucky winner will undoubtedly receive a lifechanging amount of money due to the efforts and contributions from thousands of Football Fans across the province.
Additionally, those who participated by buying a ticket directly contribute to a football program of their choice. Enabling them to maintain affordability, ensure safety, and promote active participation among children.
Flag Football takes over New Brunswick
(Football New Brunswick)
Football New Brunswick is currently launching flag football programs from U6-U18 in new areas of the province. There is currently no flag football in the northern part of the province. However, intro programs will now be launched in the coming weeks in Bathurst, Edmundston and Woodstock.
Programs will run 3 weekends, starting August 11th. For more info and to register; people can join the Facebook group – Northern Football Alliance Group – https://bit.ly/3Oucnnq
NFL Flag is set to begin this Fall with more information coming and will be posted in the Facebook Group.
“Football NB is excited to begin expanding our reach to the northern areas of the Province. This has been a long time coming and with so much growth in flag football the timing is right. Flag football is the perfect fit due to its lower start up costs and easy implementation compared to tackle football.” says Josh Harris, Executive Director of Football New Brunswick.
2023 Atlantic Bowl
(Football Nova Scotia, Football New Brunswick, Football PEI, Football Newfoundland)
July 10-16: Football PEI is proud to have hosted the annual 6-a-side tackle tournament at the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown, PEI.
Teams from Newfoundland & Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island will face-off against each other in U16 and U18 action.
For all 2023 Atlantic Bowl information; head to the link below:
https://footballpei.ca/atlanticbowl/
Which Matchup Deserves the title of “Most Exciting Game” for this 2023 FC Event Season??
British Columbia (20) vs Alberta (17) – U16 West Boy’s Semi Finals
Ontario (14) vs Quebec (21) – U16 East Boy’s Gold Final
Nova Scotia (31) vs PEI (25) – U18 Flag National Men’s Semi Final
Saskatchewan (15) vs Ontario (12) – Canada Cup Men’s Semi Final
Quebec (90) vs New Brunswick (72) – U18 Women’s National Tackle
Les Bleues (19) vs SubZero (20) – Senior National Women’s Flag Gold Final
Canada (20) vs Panama (14) – IFAF Americas Women’s Bronze Final
Sask Green (37) vs Nova Scotia Blue (36) – U16 Boy’s Flag Nationals Gold Final
Quebec Blue (19) vs Sask White (18) – U16 Girl’s Flag Nationals Gold Final
🥇 Gold Medal Games – Replay Hub🥇
2023 Football Canada U16 Eastern Challenge 🏈 Gold: Quebec vs Ontario [July 8, 2023]
2023 Football Canada U16 Western Challenge 🏈 Gold: BC vs Saskatchewan [July 8, 2023
2023 Football Canada U16 Flag National Championships 🏈 – Final Day Field 1 [Aug 2, 2023]
2023 Football Canada 🏈 Senior Flag National Championships | Bronze & Gold Medal Games [July 2, 2023]
2023 Football Canada U18 Flag National Championships 🏈 | Boy’s Medal Games [July 23, 2023]
2023 Football Canada U18 Flag National Championships 🏈 | Girl’s Medal Games [July 23, 2023]
2023 Football Canada Women’s U18 Harlow Championship 🏈 Quebec v Alberta [July 29, 2023]
2023 Football Canada Women’s U18 Cummings Championship 🏈 Saskatchewan v Ontario Red [July 29, 2023]
Message From the President
Dear Football Canada Community,
As we wrap up another exciting annual tournament schedule, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to every individual who contributes to the success of football in Canada. To our devoted athletes, their supportive families, our skilled coaches, committed team support staff, diligent officials, and the countless volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes, your dedication is what truly fuels our game.
I also want to acknowledge the fervor of our fans and the administrative teams who work from coast to coast to coast, ensuring that we keep our sport thriving and our events running. We are eagerly looking forward to seeing how the skills honed and lessons learned during this summer’s activities translate to our traditional fall season of Canadian football.
In the upcoming year, Football Canada will be undergoing a period of transition. The changes we face are a response to the new policies and regulations from Sport Canada. While these shifts in governance will undoubtedly have an impact on our provincial members, we commit to full transparency and collaboration with the PSOs as we develop our plans to comply with these new guidelines.
As the nation where this sport originated, we have a rightful claim to excellence in international competition. However, in our post-pandemic world, our recent performances have not reflected Canada’s historic role as a leading force in the sport. This calls for a reinvigorated focus and concerted effort from all of us. As we prepare for the World Junior Championship in Edmonton next summer, and potentially becoming an Olympic sport for 2028 with flag football, our determination to reclaim our position on the global stage must not rest.
The promise from Football Canada to you, our community, is to innovate, to develop, and to strive for constant improvement. We are committed to using these opportunities to better ourselves, not just as an organization, but as a family that shares the love for football and continues to place the athlete at the centre of what we do.
Thank you for your unwavering support, and here’s to a thrilling season ahead.
Yours in football,
Jim Mullin
President,
Football Canada
About Football Canada
Established in 1884, Football Canada is the national governing body of amateur football in Canada and a proud member of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF). Working closely with the provincial football associations, we develop programs and resources for players, coaches, officials in the three disciplines of Tackle, Flag and Touch Football. Football Canada’s vision statement is “from playground to stadium” where players can participate in the game of football throughout a lifetime recreationally, competitively and internationally.