June 8, 2020

Dear student-athletes,
 
We know that many of you have been patiently waiting to hear how the COVID-19 pandemic response will affect U SPORTS during the fall term. We are writing with the difficult news that U SPORTS has just announced that they are cancelling all five of their 2020 fall term national championships. Though we are certain this decision was not easy, we know that it was made with the utmost care and consideration for the health and safety of all U SPORTS student-athletes.
 
The teams directly affected by this include women's field hockey, men's and women's cross-country running, men's and women's soccer, women's rugby and football including the national semifinals (Mitchell and Uteck Bowls) and the Vanier Cup. Some teams, such as hockey, basketball and volleyball will continue preparing for a potential modified schedule beginning in January 2021.

Following the announcement by U SPORTS, the Atlantic University Sport (AUS), Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and Canada West conferences all made similar declarations and changes to their fall competitive sport programming. We understand that the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) is continuing to review the situation and will wait to make a decision in the future. All four conferences support the decisions made by U SPORTS and are working collaboratively on a plan for the 2021 winter season. Further details on the winter schedule will be announced in the fall.

This is certainly hard news for our varsity community to hear, however, we'd like to assure you that McGill Athletics & Recreation will still be here for you throughout the fall. Our main focus has been, and will continue to be, the health and well-being of our student-athletes. We are determined to keep doing everything we can to support you and allow teams to continue their sport safely. We are developing plans for individual teams to practice and train in accordance with government, public health and University directives, and will continue to update you on these plans as details become available.
 
Thank you for your continued understanding and patience as we work together to navigate what this global crisis means for the McGill Athletics & Recreation community.
 
Stay healthy, stay safe.
 
 
Philip Quintal
Interim Senior Director
Athletics and Recreation, McGill University
 
Geoffrey Phillips
Director of Sport Programs
Athletics and Recreation, McGill University