Vanier Cup - WikiHQ

The Vanier Cup () is the trophy awarded annually to the champion Canadian football team in U Sports, the governing body for university sports in Canada. The U Sports football champion is determined in a one-game playoff (the Vanier Cup game), played by the winners of the Uteck Bowl and the Mitchell Bowl. In turn, the participating teams are determined by the winners of four bowl games: the Loney Bowl (AUS), Hardy Cup (Canada West), Dunsmore Cup (RSEQ), and Yates Cup (OUA). The Vanier Cup game is played at a neutral site that changes every year; the hosting university is determined months or years in advance.

The Laval Rouge et Or have won the most Vanier Cups (12), while the Western Mustangs have the most appearances (15). Eighteen teams have won the Vanier Cup, while three others have played for the championship but never won. There are six active teams that have never appeared in the championship game. The most recent game was the 60th Vanier Cup game which was played on November 22, 2025, at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. The Montreal Carabins won their third championship in franchise history, defeating the Saskatchewan Huskies, 30–16.

History

The Vanier Cup was created in 1965 as the championship trophy of the Canadian College Bowl. For the first two years of competition, the Canadian College Bowl was an invitational event, with a national panel selecting two teams to play, similar to other U.S. collegiate bowl games. In 1967, the Canadian College Bowl was declared the national football championship of the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union, later Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) and now U Sports, with a playoff system determining the two participants.

left|thumb|A [[1991 Vanier Cup|1991 program of the Vanier Cup, which featured the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks and Mount Allison Mounties.]]

The Vanier Cup was played in Toronto, Ontario, from its inception in 1965 through 2003. However, after the CIS opened the game to host conference bids in 2001, the possibility arose to have games held outside Toronto. As of 2025, 41 of the 61 Vanier Cups have been played in Toronto, eight in Quebec City, five in Hamilton, two in Kingston, one in Regina (November 22, 2025), one in Saskatoon, one in Vancouver, one in London, Ontario, and one in Montreal. No games have been staged in the Atlantic region. Four times, the game has been played in the same city and during the same weekend as the Grey Cup: 1973, 2007 and 2012 in Toronto and in 2011 in Vancouver at BC Place Stadium.

The winners' trophy is named after Georges Vanier (governor general of Canada 1959–1967) and was first awarded in 1965 to the winner of an invitational event contested between two teams that were selected by a panel. In 1967, the trophy was declared the official "CIAU National Football Championship" and a playoff system was instituted. From its creation until 1982, it was known as the Canadian College Bowl. The game typically occurs in late November, although it is occasionally played in December.

On June 8, 2020, U Sports announced that all fall athletics championships for the 2020–21 season had been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results

File:SaskVanier1990.jpg|alt=The Vanier Cup.|The Vanier Cup raised in 1990 by the Saskatchewan Huskies following their win over Saint Mary's.

File:Laurier Golden Hawks - 2005 Vanier Cup champions.jpg|The Laurier Golden Hawks won the 2005 Vanier Cup, defeating Saskatchewan 24–23.

File:47th Vanier Cup.jpg|The Laval Rouge et Or vs. the McMaster Marauders in the 47th Vanier Cup.

File:52nd Vanier Cup.jpg|The Laval Rouge et Or vs. the Calgary Dinos in the 52nd Vanier Cup.

File:55th Vanier Cup ULaval 19.jpg|The Calgary Dinos hoist the Vanier Cup trophy following their win over the Montreal Carabins in 2019.

</gallery>

;Key

Number of times that team has won the Vanier Cup.

Note: All Ted Morris Trophy and Bruce Coulter Award winners played for the winning team, unless otherwise noted.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%"

!Game

!Date

!Champion

!Score

!Runner up

!Stadium

!City

!Ted Morris Memorial Trophy (Game MVP)

!Bruce Coulter Award (starts in 1992)

!Attendance

|1st

|November 20, 1965

|Toronto

|14–7

|Alberta

|Varsity Stadium

|Toronto

|Gerry Sternberg

| style="text-align: center;" | —

|3,488

|2nd

|November 19, 1966

|St. F.X.

|40–14

|Waterloo Lutheran

|Varsity Stadium

| Toronto

|Terry Gorman

| style="text-align: center;" | —

|13,678

|3rd

|November 25, 1967

|Alberta

|10–9

|McMaster

|Varsity Stadium

|Toronto

|Val Schneider

| style="text-align: center;" | —

|16,167

|4th

|November 22, 1968

|Queen's

|42–14

|Waterloo Lutheran

|Varsity Stadium

| Toronto

|Don Bayne

| style="text-align: center;" | —

|16,051

|5th

|November 21, 1969

|Manitoba

|24–15

|McGill

|Varsity Stadium

| Toronto

|Bob Kraemer

| style="text-align: center;" | —

|9,347

|6th

|November 21, 1970

|Manitoba

|38–11

|Ottawa

|Varsity Stadium

| Toronto

|Mike Shylo

| style="text-align: center;" | —

|10,550

|7th

|November 20, 1971

|Western

|15–14

|Alberta

|Varsity Stadium

| Toronto

|Bob McGregor

| style="text-align: center;" | —

|13,041

|8th

|November 25, 1972

|Alberta

|20–7

|Waterloo Lutheran

|Varsity Stadium

| Toronto

|Roger Comartin Andy MacLeod

| style="text-align: center;" | —

|10,192

|9th

|November 24, 1973

|Saint Mary's

|14–6

|McGill

|Exhibition Stadium

| Toronto

| Ken Clark

| style="text-align: center;" | —

|17,000

|10th

|November 22, 1974

|Western

|19–15

|Toronto

|Exhibition Stadium

| Toronto

|Ian Bryans

| style="text-align: center;" | —

|24,777

|11th

|November 21, 1975

|Ottawa

|14–9

|Calgary

|Exhibition Stadium

| Toronto

|Neil Lumsden

| style="text-align: center;" | —

|17,841

|12th

|November 19, 1976

|Western

|29–13

|Acadia

|Varsity Stadium

| Toronto

|Bill Rozalowsky

| style="text-align: center;" | —

|20,300

|13th

|November 19, 1977

|Western

|48–15

|Acadia

|Varsity Stadium

| Toronto

|Bill Rozalowsky

| style="text-align: center;" | —

|19,514

|14th

|November 18, 1978

|Queen's

|16–3

|British Columbia

|Varsity Stadium

|Toronto

|Ed Andrew

| style="text-align: center;" | —

|19,124

|15th

|November 17, 1979

|Acadia

|34–12

|Western

|Varsity Stadium

| Toronto

|Don Ross

| style="text-align: center;" | —

|19,397

|16th

|November 29, 1980

|Alberta

|40–21

|Ottawa

|Varsity Stadium

| Toronto

|Forrest Kennerd

| style="text-align: center;" | —

|11,000

|17th

|November 28, 1981

|Acadia

|18–12

|Alberta

|Varsity Stadium

| Toronto

|Steve Repic

| style="text-align: center;" | —

|11,875

|18th

|November 20, 1982

|British Columbia

|39–14

|Western

|Varsity Stadium

| Toronto

|Glenn Steele

| style="text-align: center;" | —

|14,759

|19th

|November 19, 1983

|Calgary

|31–21

|Queen's

|Varsity Stadium

| Toronto

|Tim Petros

| style="text-align: center;" | —

|18,324

|20th

|November 24, 1984

|Guelph

|22–13

|Mount Allison

|Varsity Stadium

| Toronto

|Parri Ceci

| style="text-align: center;" | —

|16,321

|21st

|November 30, 1985

|Calgary

|25–6

|Western

|Varsity Stadium

| Toronto

|Lew Lawrick

| style="text-align: center;" | —

|16,321

|22nd

|November 22, 1986

|British Columbia

|25–23

|Western

|Varsity Stadium

| Toronto

|Eric Putoto

| style="text-align: center;" | —

|17,847

|23rd

|November 21, 1987

|McGill

|47–11

|British Columbia

|Varsity Stadium

| Toronto

|Michael Soles

| style="text-align: center;" | —

|14,326

|24th

|November 19, 1988

|Calgary

|52–23

|Saint Mary's

|Varsity Stadium

| Toronto

|Sean Furlong

| style="text-align: center;" | —

|13,127

|25th

|November 18, 1989

|Western

|35–10

|Saskatchewan

|SkyDome

| Toronto

|Tyrone Williams

| style="text-align: center;" | —

|32,847

|26th

|November 24, 1990

|Saskatchewan

|24–21

|Saint Mary's

|SkyDome

| Toronto

|David Earl

| style="text-align: center;" | —

|26,846

|27th

|November 30, 1991

|Wilfrid Laurier

|25–18

|Mount Allison

|SkyDome

| Toronto

|Andy Cecchini

| style="text-align: center;" | —

|28,645

|28th

|November 21, 1992

|Queen's

|31–0

|Saint Mary's

|SkyDome

| Toronto

|Brad Elberg

|Eric Dell

|28,645

|29th

|November 20, 1993

|Toronto

|37–34

|Calgary

|SkyDome

| Toronto

|Glenn McCausland

|Rob Schrauth

|20,211

|30th

|November 19, 1994

|Western

|50–40 (OT)

|Saskatchewan

|SkyDome

| Toronto

|Brent Schneider

|Xavier Lafont

|28,652

|31st

|November 25, 1995

|Calgary

|54–24

|Western

|SkyDome

| Toronto

|Don Blair

|Rob Richards

|29,178

|32nd

|November 30, 1996

|Saskatchewan

|31–12

|St. F.X.

|SkyDome

| Toronto

|Brent Schneider

|Warren Muzika

|14,577

|33rd

|November 22, 1997

|British Columbia

|39–23

|Ottawa

|SkyDome

| Toronto

|Stewart Scherck

|Mark Nohra

|8,184

|34th

|November 28, 1998

|Saskatchewan

|24–17

|Concordia

|SkyDome

| Toronto

|Trevor Ludtke

|Doug Rozon

|15,157

|35th

|November 27, 1999

|Laval

|14–10

|Saint Mary's

|SkyDome

| Toronto

|Stéphane Lefebvre

|Francesco Pepe Esposito

|12,595

|36th

| December 2, 2000

|Ottawa

|42–39

|Regina

|SkyDome

|Toronto

|Phill Côté

|Scott Gordon

|18,209

|37th

| December 1, 2001

|Saint Mary's

|42–16

|Manitoba

|SkyDome

| Toronto

|Ryan Jones

|Kyl Morrison

|19,138

|38th

|November 23, 2002

|Saint Mary's

|33–21

|Saskatchewan

|SkyDome

| Toronto

|Steve Panella

|Joe Bonaventura

|17,179

|39th

|November 22, 2003

|Laval

|14–7

|Saint Mary's

|SkyDome

| Toronto

|Jeronimo Huerta-Flores

|Philippe Audet

|17,828

|40th

|November 27, 2004

|Laval

|Saskatchewan

|Ivor Wynne Stadium

|Hamilton

|Matthew Leblanc

|Matthieu Proulx

|14,227

|41st

| December 3, 2005

|Wilfrid Laurier

|24–23

|Saskatchewan

|Ivor Wynne Stadium

|Hamilton

|Ryan Pyear

|David Montoya

|16,827

|42nd

|November 25, 2006

|Laval

|13–8

|Saskatchewan

|Griffiths Stadium

|Saskatoon

|Éric Maranda

|Samuel Grégoire-Champagne

|12,567

|43rd

|November 23, 2007

|Manitoba

|28–14

|Saint Mary's

|Rogers Centre

|Toronto

| Mike Howard

| John Makie

|26,787

|44th

|November 22, 2008

|Laval

|44–21

|Western

|Ivor Wynne Stadium

|Hamilton

|Julian Féoli-Gudino

|Marc-Antoine L. Fortin

|13,873

| 45th

| November 28, 2009

|Queen's

|33–31

|Calgary

| Stade du PEPS

|Quebec City

|Danny Brannagan

|Chris Smith

|18,628

| 46th

| November 27, 2010

|Laval

|29–2

|Calgary

|Stade du PEPS

|Quebec City

|Sébastien Levesque

|Marc-Antoine Beaudoin-Cloutier

|16,237

| 47th

| November 25, 2011

|McMaster

|41–38

|Laval

|BC Place

|Vancouver

|Kyle Quinlan

| Aram Eisho

|24,935

| 48th

| November 23, 2012

|Laval

|37–14

|McMaster

|Rogers Centre

|Toronto

| Maxime Boutin

|Arnaud Gascon-Nadon

|37,098

| 49th

| November 23, 2013

|Laval

|25–14

|Calgary

|Stade Telus

|Quebec City

|Pascal Lochard

|Vincent Desloges

|18,543

| 50th

| November 29, 2014

|Montréal

|20–19

|McMaster

|Molson Stadium

|Montreal

|Regis Cibasu

|Anthony Coady

|22,649

| 51st

| November 28, 2015

|British Columbia

|26–23

|Montréal

|Stade Telus

|Quebec City

|Michael O'Connor

|Stavros Katsantonis

|12,557

| 52nd

| November 26, 2016

|Laval

|31–26

|Calgary

|Tim Hortons Field

|Hamilton

|Hugo Richard

|Cédric Lussier-Roy

|7,115

| 53rd

| November 25, 2017

|Western

|39–17

|Laval

|Tim Hortons Field

|Hamilton

|Chris Merchant

|Fraser Sopik

|10,754

| 54th

| November 24, 2018

|Laval

|34–20

|Western

|Stade Telus

|Quebec City

|Hugo Richard

|Adam Auclair

|12,380

| 55th

| November 23, 2019

| Calgary

|27–13

|Montréal

|Stade Telus

|Quebec City

|Adam Sinagra

|Redha Kramdi

|8,376

| colspan="9" align="center" | 2020 game cancelled due to 2019 coronavirus pandemic

|Laval

|30–24

|Saskatchewan

|Western Alumni Stadium

|London

|Kevin Mital

|Charles-Alexandre Jacques

|8,420

| 58th

| November 25, 2023

|Montréal

|16–9

|British Columbia

|Richardson Memorial Stadium

|Kingston

|Jonathan Sénécal

|Nicky Farinaccio

|7,109

| 59th

| November 23, 2024

|Laval

|22-17

|Wilfrid Laurier

|Richardson Memorial Stadium

|Kingston

|Felipe Forteza

|Arnaud Desjardins

|9,500

| 60th

| November 22, 2025

|Montréal

|30–16

|Saskatchewan

|Mosaic Stadium

|Regina

|Pepe Gonzalez

|Loui-Philippe Gauthier

|8,896

| 61st

| November 28, 2026

| colspan="3" |

|Stade Telus

|Quebec City

| colspan="2" |

| 62nd

| November 27, 2027

Broadcasting

thumb|right|The [[48th Vanier Cup was the most watched and highest attended Vanier Cup game.]]

The Vanier Cup final game is regularly broadcast nationally. From 1965 though 1976 it was broadcast on CBC Television, from 1977 through 1988 it was broadcast on the CTV Television Network. In 1989, TSN acquired rights to the game, lasting through to 2012 (besides a one-year stint on The Score in 2008).

In November 2010, the rights to the Vanier Cup were purchased by sports marketing company MRX. The 2011 game was held in Vancouver, on the same weekend as the 99th Grey Cup and for the first time it was fully integrated into the Grey Cup Festival as a festival event. The game, broadcast on TSN and RDS was watched by 910,000.

In February 2013, the CIS terminated the option years on their agreement with MRX opting for an open bid process for the hosting of the game. Laval University, in Quebec City, was the only bidder for the game and won the right to host the 49th Vanier Cup. In May, CIS terminated its agreement with TSN, and entered into a six-year deal with Sportsnet to broadcast its championships, including the Vanier Cup.

The switch in venues, the decoupling of the Vanier Cup from Grey Cup week, and the change in broadcaster, led to a precipitous drop in attendance and viewership. A total of 301,000 viewers watched Laval defeat the Calgary Dinos 25–14 Saturday, November 23, 2013, which was a decline of 64 per cent from the previous year. A standing room crowd of 18,543 were on hand at the Telus Stadium which was a decline of 50 per cent from the previous year in Toronto (although a sellout in that venue). In 2019, after several more years of declines, the Vanier Cup returned to CBC.

References

;General

;Specific

External links

Official Vanier Cup website
2009 Vanier Cup Media Kit

History

Results

Broadcasting

See also

References

External links