In this, the 200th anniversary year of McGill University's founding, we take a look at a historical timeline of the role that athletics has played on our campus.

Sports in Montreal started as a feature of community activities for entertainment or competition. It was natural that sports became an important part of the community activity in winter with variations of hockey and in summer with rudimentary rugby, soccer, and the early version of the game of baseball. McGill students participated informally – an early form of intramural activities -- in the 1850s through the 1860s. An annual athletics sports day, primarily for track and field events, was initiated on campus in the early 1870s.

But in the mid-1870s, McGill students played a prominent role in the founding of football and hockey. That was followed two decades later by basketball, which was invented by McGill graduate James Naismith in 1891.

After graduating, other famous names with ties to McGill's intercollegiate sports like Molson, Birks, Redpath, Notman, Pitfield, Rothschild, Cleghorn, Chippindale and Tilden, among others, went on to become household names in the business community.

McGill's gift to the world isn't only from the playing fields. The list of graduates also includes 145 Rhodes Scholas, a dozen Nobel prize winners and three prime ministers (John Abbott, Wilfrid Laurier and Justin Trudeau) among the many who have studied or taught at this hallowed institute of learning.

SPORTS AND CULTURE

In the 1860's the McGill students took advantage of the Montreal Gym Club and began regular exercise programs called "physical jerks". This became more of a McGill project when Frederick Barnjum established gym classes three times a week in 1880. When it was no longer possible for Barnjum to continue his classes, James Naismith, a young McGill graduate (BA 1887) and a notable athlete in gymnastics and rugby-football, took over as director of physical training for McGill in 1889.

Concurrently, the students formalized their annual athletics competitions by establishing the McGill University Athletics Association in 1884. This was the first student athletics association in Canada and an annual MUAA competition became the highlight of the school year.

Two years later, following the admission of women students at McGill in 1884, women developed their own McGill tennis and sports activities. When McGill's Royal Victoria College for women was opened in 1900 they started the RVC Athletics Club.

In this way McGill women "never walked very warily" in the pursuit of athletics. In 1888 the Faculty of Arts passed a resolution "that if a number of women students being willing to form a class in gymnastics on the same terms of payment as the men, the Faculty will recommend to the governors that the necessary arrangements be made". Students paid the costs of their enthusiasm for sports.

McGILL STUDENTS - LEADERS IN SPORTS

Athletics and recreation was a formal part of student life on campus from 1860. McGill students played Harvard in the first North American style rugby-football game in 1874 and took part in the first organized game of ice hockey in 1875. They established and modified the first codified hockey rules a number of times between 1873 and 1886, formed the first organized hockey team in 1877, were instrumental in the organization of the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada in 1886 and its major re-draft of the rules.

Also, the aforementioned James Naismith, invented the game of basketball in 1891.  It was first played as an intramural sport on the McGill campus in 1893, followed by the introduction of the varsity hoops team in 1903.


FIRST STEPS TO THE MODERN ERA

Throughout the university's history, men and women of vision have worked hard to ensure that athletics thrived at McGill.

One outstanding student-athlete and leader, who had won many trophies for McGill, was Captain Percival Molson, who at the age of 16, had become the youngest player ever to win the Stanley Cup.  He took initiatives as a governor of McGill and played a key role in the construction of a football facility, then known as McGill Graduates' Stadium when it opened in 1914 on land donated in 1911 by Sir William C. Macdonald. That parcel of land, known then as Macdonald Park, was bordered by an area bounded on the south by Pine Avenue, on the west by University Street, and to the north and east by Mount Royal.

Over the years McGill sold some of that land which was later re-purchased for the development of the new Sports Centre.

The Stadium sat dormant through World War 1 and Molson was killed in action in 1917. In his will was a generous bequest of $75,000 for the Stadium, which was expanded and re-dedicated in his memory in 1919.

Macdonald paid for the completion of Percival Molson Memorial Stadium and Percy Erskine Nobbs, a professor of design in the school of architecture at the time, designed the stadium and its fieldhouse.

In 1939, a new era of athletics was ushered in when the Sir Arthur Currie Memorial Gymnasium-Armoury was constructed on the north side of Pine Avenue, just east of University Street. Sir Arthur Currie, for whom the gym was named, had been a highly-decorated general in World War I, after which he became principal of McGill from 1920 to 1933, the year of his death.

The new gymnasium became the appropriate home to the offices of the department of physical education as well as intercollegiate athletics, intramurals and student services programs.

Also, McGill played an important role with the Canadian armed forces and the Currie Gymnasium was linked with the physical training headquarters for Canadian Officers Training Corps.

The Currie Gym was paid for in part by a posthumous donation from Donald Smith, later known as Lord Strathcona, a long-standing benefactor of McGill, and in part by the Graduates' Society which had been raising money and planning for years for this facility. In 1935, the Society held a competition for the best gym design among architectural graduates of McGill; the winner was commissioned to build the gymnasium. Work on this brick structure was advanced rapidly with the onset of World War II in 1939.

Due to its function and the limited funds at the time, no ornamentation was to be found throughout the structure and the swimming pool was not started. The gym ceiling is supported by trusses so that no pillars would disturb the floor space.

In 1947, the gym was extended and the swimming pool and the Memorial Hall were installed. The marble-floored Hall contained paintings of McGill's history and a wall of the names of all the graduates who gave their lives in the two World Wars. In 1994, an upgrade included the addition of the Richard Tomlinson Fieldhouse, which featured an indoor track. Tennis courts, later known as the Lorne Webster Courts, were added to the east end of the Gymnasium complex by the firm of Werlman and Guy.

SPORTS FOR ALL

The success of sports at McGill has resulted from the combined and concurrent efforts of many who developed physical training for women, teacher education, compulsory sports, intercollegiate leagues, and other variations on the need for a balanced sports program for students at the university.

The success of coach Frank Shaughnessy -- who in 1912 became the first professional college coach in Canada -- and others involved in the sports programs, led to a formal, organized Athletics Department when Major D. Stuart Forbes, an architect, was appointed the first athletics manager in 1923. The McGill Athletics Board was established in 1924 to provide guidance to an increasingly active program and to coordinate the role of McGill athletes in the Montreal community.

The director of women's physical education in 1939-40 paved the way for a more active program of teaching, teacher education, and direct sports programs on an intercollegiate basis for women. The entire program with few exceptions was funded by the success of gate receipts for major sports events, and pay as you go, sports clubs.

PROFESSIONAL SPORTS AND TELEVISION - A NEW ERA AT McGILL UNIVERSITY

In 1947, Vic Obeck took over the head coaching reigns of the football program after a successful head coaching stint at Columbia University. He was appointed director of athletics at McGill in 1949 and with his skill in promotion oversaw the construction of the south stands at Molson Stadium. He also enlarged the north-side stands, and established his own sports television program in 1953, which he promoted from the Sir Arthur Currie Gymnasium. His conflict of interest as general manager of the Montreal Alouettes football club necessitated an administrative change at McGill in 1954.

Former McGill star athlete Harry Griffiths, who served as a paratrooper behind enemy lines during the Second World War, was appointed director of athletics in 1955 and had to overcome the effect of an increasing influence of television and professional sports on all areas of athletics including McGill's, own athletics facilities. Although these were shared at times by the Alouettes which was a new source of funding, the university embarked on a fledgling athletic fee to cover costs from declining McGill gate receipts.

In 1956, John W. McConnell, a tremendous benefactor of the University, donated McConnell Winter Stadium just northeast of the gymnasium. This structure, built by the firm of McDougall, Fleming, and Smith, has an arched roof so that the entire interior can be used for stands and a hockey rink.

The school of physical education moved from the downtown McGill campus to the suburban Macdonald College campus and back downtown. After it was came under the domain of the faculty of education, a number of other changes occurred among students within the university. Sports became less of a focus for spectators and more of an emphasis was placed on participation.

The traditional student leadership is sports organization and decision-making was in sharp contrast to other areas of McGill such as the senate and the board of governors. Demand for change seemed the order of the day.

With the University running a deficit of $6 million, the crunch came in 1970 when the Quebec government had begun its pressure on McGill and deficit financing started. The University's board of governors canceled funding to intercollegiate sports to save $300,000 in the strapped university budget.

The response of the university community was a vigorous defence of intercollegiate sports by the Martlet Foundation, graduate volunteers, donors, and many students. The result was increased formalized athletic fees combined with donations and an agreement with McGill to keep athletics going and to reintroduce intercollegiate sports and to remove required sports training.

COMBINING THE SUCCESS OF MEN AND WOMEN IN SPORTS

In December 1976, Robert Dubeau was appointed director of athletics, initially working alongside Harry Griffiths who officially retired in February, 1977.

The assistant director of athletics was Gladys Bean, the previous director of women's athletics. In 1977, the men's and women's athletics boards were combined to become known as the McGill Athletics Board.

At the same time, membership in the Student's Athletics Council covered men and women students. This was true of other areas including the swimming, diving and track & field teams, among others, together with a natural evolution of athletics back to "the pay as you go" arrangement of the years prior to 1949. This was balanced by a payment for use of athletics facilities for academic purposes.

ATHLETICS SUCCESS THROUGH STUDENT LEADERSHIP AND PARTICIPATION

In the spring of 1982, with the initiative of the SAC, a group of students guided a referendum question which was unanimously approved by the students of McGill, confirming a plan to contribute a specified fee each term for 10 years towards the redevelopment of the McGill sports complex.

Such an initiative had never before been seen across Canada and it reflected the perseverance and determination of students to upgrade the out-of-date athletics facilities at McGill and recognize the trend back to personal fitness for all. Their initiative helped to launch the McGill Advancement Campaign a year later, which took on the task of matching and exceeding the gifts by students to have a combined total of $10 million towards the proposed new athletics centre.

Over the intervening years, after overcoming some political problems in the neighbourhood, and the strategy with which McGill administration pursued the project, a prolonged delay was finally overcome in order that construction could begin in 1991.

GENERATIONS OF STUDENT SUPPORT CONTINUES

The new sports complex took on an even greater momentum and the construction went well beyond the $10 million that students originally projected in 1982 and it was decided to complete the facilities in various phases as more funding became available. In 1992, construction covering Phase 2 began an odyssey towards a $32 million dollar project. In 1994, the Richard Tomlinson Fieldhouse and its indoor track was completed.

The McGill Sports Centre expanded to house the Seagram's Sports Science Centre, Sports Medicine Clinic, Cleghorn Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Lab, Weider Varsity Weight room, Winsor Varsity Clinic, Tomlinson Fieldhouse, Webster Squash Courts and a McGill Fitness Centre.

This latter project was made possible through a third referendum in 1997 which saw McGill students once again take the initiative towards completion of this significant project to enhance fitness and personal development.

The McGill budget constraints, combined with the growing number of varsity teams (which reached a peak of 50 teams), increasingly pressured the department of athletics to initiate budgetary measures, such as designating the varsity teams into Tier 1 versus Tier 2 sports, for purposes of funding and complementary resources. In 2008, the Athletics Department was renamed McGill Athletics & Recreation and the varsity program dropped 20 teams from funding, to a more manageable 30.

In 1996, the department introduced a McGill Sports Hall of Fame, located in Tomlinson Hall, which has become an outstanding setting to showcase the exceptional record of athletics achievements over more than a century of time.

In 1998 with the appointment of a manager of marketing and promotions the activities of sports information and communication was expanded to reinforce the good work of all the coaching, instructional, and recreation staff to emphasize the wide diversity of programs in the department of athletics.

When Bob Dubeau retired in August, 2005, Prof. Derek Drummond took over on an interim basis for two years until Drew Love was appointed executive director of athletics in June, 2007.

Under Love's, direction, the department was renamed McGill Athletics and Recreation and he oversaw the restructuring of McGill's extensive varsity sports program, which now offers 30 teams. He also enhanced the number of full-time coaching positions in hockey, basketball, track & field, soccer and football. Love oversaw the Montreal Alouettes expansion of Percival Molson Stadium, which he offered up as part of a successful joint-bid to host the 50th Vanier Cup CIS national football championship. Love retired in August, 2015 and was replaced on an interim basis by Philip Quintal, a McGill employee for more than three decades.

In June, 2016, Marc Gélinas began his new appointment as executive director of McGill Athletics and Recreation. Gélinas, a McGill alumnus and a former Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect, brought some 25 years of sports management and leadership from both federal and provincial levels. He retired in December, 2019 and the following year, long-time administrator Geoffrey Phillips, a McGill grad who played and coached varsity sports, was elevated to the position of senior director, guiding McGill Athletics & Recreation through a difficult year during the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in the cancelation all all varsity sports and the year-long closing of the McGill Sports Centre.

The new age of sports at McGill is beginning to resemble the early days of sports whereby basic costs of programs were covered by participants and gate receipts. The department continues to be an oasis for many in a challenging and hectic academic program. Students continue to use the facilities for exams and Tomlinson Hall has become one of the most attractive reception areas in the university. Since 1995, the McGill Team Challenge has served as the largest indoor meet in the country. In the near future, another phase of improvements for the McGill Sports Centre is anticipated when various fundraising projects are completed.

EARLY INFLUENCES

- 1851 Montreal Y.M.C.A. offered programs to McGill men. Soldiers Stationed in Montreal. Community Competition and Entertainment. Play Fields Established; Official and Unofficial. International 'Y' movement promoted gymnastics...  Montreal Gym Club, 1850, 1860-61 "physical jerks" for McGill Students "pay as you go"

- 1863 Exercise classes for McGill men at the Y.

- 1865 Earliest authenticated rugby game on campus, known as the "Town and Gown" match, was played between a team of British regiment officers and a civilian team composed primarily of McGill grads and current students.

- 1868 The first written account of a football game in Montreal (which some authorities characterized as the first football game played in North America), appeared on Oct. 10, 1868, by R. Tait McKenzie. The game was played between a team of officers from the English troops garrisoned in Montreal and a team of civilians, mainly from McGill University at Montreal's downtown cricket grounds.

- 1870s An organized annual athletics sports day was initiated on campus. It featured competitions for kicking a football the longest distance; the broad jump; a high jump, a hammer throw (16 lbs); the hop, step and jump; the shot put (16 lbs); the high jump; throwing a cricket ball; a one-mile race; a 120-yard hurdles race; a half-mile run; a 100-yard dash; a half-mile steeple chace, a quarter-mile race, a three-legged race and a 100-yard backwards race.

- 1872 The McGill University Rugby Football Club was formally organized.

- 1873 McGill undergraduate received the James Gordon Bennett Challenge Cup, emblematic of the intercollegiate championship of America, after winning a two-mile race in July at Springfield, Mass. The victory -- over teams from Harvard, Amherst, Cornell, Princeton and Yale -- aroused so much interest on campus, back in Montreal, that officials decided to organize a "Field Day". The event became an annual staple, pitting the faculties of Arts, Sciences and Medicine against each other.

- 1874 McGill and Harvard play first North American style rugby-football game on May 13, 1874

- 1875 A number of McGill students took part in the first organized indoor hockey game, played on March 3 at the Victoria Skating Rink in Montreal... The McGill Snowshoe Club was founded late in the fall, followed by the McGill Skating Club, which was formally organized on Dec. 9, 1875.

- 1877 McGill students formed first organized ice hockey team and codify first hockey rules. McGill defeats the Victoria Skating Rink club 1-0 in their first official game, played on January 31, 1877.

- 1880 Frederick S. Barnjum, gave classes three times a week at a rented McGill gym located at 19 University Street. A. McLaren from Oxford helped with the sports... A new rule was then introduced in 1880 requiring teams to line up facing each other across an imaginary "line of scrimmage." This important rule forever separated and distinguished football from its rugby cousin.

- 1881 McGill students posed for first hockey team photo (at the Crystals Skating Rink)... McGill Tennis Club was initiated and they played on a court beside the Redpath Museum.

- 1883 McGill students won first hockey championship (Birks Winter Carnival Cup). James Naismith (BA 1887) won Wicksteed gold medal, awarded to the University's most outstanding athlete in the senior class

- 1884 McGill University Athletics Association, first such organization in Canada, was established to organize annual athletics competition. Women students admitted to McGill University.

- 1886 McGill students among founding members of first organized hockey league (CAHA) and play instrumental role in re-drafting of codified rules. Women's Tennis and Skating begins at McGill.

- 1889 James Naismith appointed first director of physical training at McGill... McGill Cricket Club was formally organized... R. Tait McKenzie wins the Wicksteed gold medal as the university's all-round gymnastics championship. He also participated in swimming, fencing, boxing, football, and track, and became the Canadian intercollegiate high-jump champion

- 1890 R. Tait McKenzie (BA 1889, MD 1892, LLD 1921) is appointed first Medical Director of Physical Training

- 1891 McGill grad James Naismith invents rules to basketball in Springfield, Mass., on Dec. 21, 1891.

- 1894 Interfaculty basketball played at McGill... McGill men's soccer team (Association Football) was formally organized

- 1895 First outdoor rink on campus, which measured 100 x 200 feet, located "in the hollow between the Physics building and Sherbrooke Street"... Baseball was first played on the campus but the sport was dropped after scheduling conflicts with the cricket club.

- 1896 Women's hockey club formed. Women's Tennis and Skating clubs begin... Two outdoor campus rinks were constructed side-by-side on lower campus, each measuring 80 x 100 feet. One was reserved for skating, the other was used exclusively for hockey... Prof. Capper and Prof. Porter offered a "handsome" trophy for interfaculty play (intramurals).

- 1898 The Yates Cup, donated by McGill professor Dr. Henry B. Yates, was initiated for an annual football championship. Also, soccer, or "Association football", as it was then known, made its first recorded appearance at McGill, when the team played exhibition games and participated in local summer leagues such as the Montreal City and District League. In the early years, the roster included mostly medical students because the medicine was the only faculty in session during the summer months

- 1899 McGill track & field team is founded

- 1900 McGill adopts new school colours of red and white, replacing previous chocolate and gules-coloured uniforms. R.V.C. Athletic Club, first exercise programs for women, established under guidance of Miss Holmstrum and Miss Lichtenstein

- 1902-03 the Queen's Cup, donated by Queen's University was presented to McGill the champions of the new Canadian Intercollegiate Hockey Union, which was the first organized intercollegiate hockey league, composed of McGill, Toronto and Queen's as the founding members... One year after the sport was introduced on campus, the first men's basketball club was organized and the team received a grant of $25 from the McGill U. Amateur Athletics Association for operating expenses. The team's first-ever game was a road loss to Ogdensburg, N.Y.

- 1904 McGill met and defeated Queen's 9-7 in the first-ever Canadian intercollegiate men's basketball game in Kingston, Ont., on February 6, 1904.

- 1905 Intercollegiate soccer play began. McGill teamed up for a single round-robin tournament with Queen's and the University of Toronto.

- 1906 McGill men's swimming club was formally organized... Ethel Mary Cartwright at R.V.C., Director of Sports and Physical training for Women, started credit courses for Teachers. Cartwright was appointed as the first coordinator in Canada for sports and physical training for women (first in Canada).

- 1907-08 the Wilson Cup, donated by the H.A. Wilson Company, was donated for the championship of the new Canadian Intercollegiate Basketball League, with founding teams from McGill, Queen's and Toronto.

- 1908-09 McGill men's swimming club was formally organized... The Intercollegiate Association Football Union was formed with men's soccer teams from McGill, Queen's and Toronto.

- 1909 compulsory physical training courses for women (another Canadian first); afternoon classes for teachers. Intercollegiate gate receipts helped to cover costs of athletics.

- 1911 parcel of land known as Macdonald Park (bordered by Pine Avenue, University Street, and Mount Royal Ave.) was donated by Sir William Macdonald, one of the University's most charitable friends. At one time, the Law family house and the Molson estate, named Piedmont, were located here.

- 1912 Dr. Arthur S. Lamb, appointed Director of Physical Education, a post he held for 37 years... Frank "Shag" Shaughnessy becomes first "professional" college football coach in Canada and leads team to win first of back-to-back Yates Cup championships.

- 1913 The Canadian Officers Training Corps (COTC) established at McGill in preparation for  the first World War. A group of graduates, led by Percival Molson, a former football, hockey and track star at McGill around the turn of the century, formed a committee to build a football stadium on land donated by Sir William Macdonald. Molson, a governor, was named chair of the Stadium Committee. The cost of leveling the ground for the field and surrounding track was offset by selling rock from the excavation. The University loaned the committee, $75,000 to build the 8,000 seat concrete grandstand which rises in 38 tiers on the north side of the field. It was estimated that the income from gate receipts would be sufficient to pay off this loan over a period of years. During the course of construction a large number of graduates made individual pledges to cover the interest on the loan. Percy Erskine Nobbs, a professor of Design in the School of Architecture at the time, designed the stadium and its fieldhouse. The stadium today is unchanged, except that its stands are much higher than was originally intended. They partially block the view from Douglas Hall, a residence to the north of the stadium.

- 1914 Construction begins for a grass football field (then known as "McGill Graduates' Stadium", later known as Percival Molson Stadium)... Montreal General Hospital and McGill School of Physical Education offered a combined "Remedial" Program which gained importance in the war.

- 1915 First sporting event held at McGill Graduates' Stadium was a track meet on Oct. 22, 1915

- 1917 Capt. Percival Molson received the Military Cross for gallantry and distinguished conduct and was killed in action on July 5, 1917 in Avion, France. He left a $75,000 bequest for completion of the football Stadium, which discharged the initial financial obligation from the graduates

- 1919 McGill Graduates' Stadium was re-dedicated as Percival Molson Memorial Stadium on Oct. 19, 1919 with a seating capacity of 7,676. The McGill football team, which defeated Queen's 25-2 in the home opener on Nov. 8, 1919, finished the season undefeated and did not allow their goal-line to be crossed during the entire season to win the Yates Cup championship. McGill School of Physical Education established under Faculty of Medicine

- 1921 Syracuse visits Molson Stadium for football game where first forward pass is attempted in Canada by McGill quarterbacks Boo Anderson and Don Baillie... Physical Education graduates officially become part of the McGill Convocation ceremonies.

- 1923 The McGill Athletics Board established and was chaired by Principal Sir Arthur Currie... Major D. Stuart Forbes appointed athletics manager and Prof. F. Van Wagner appointed head basketball coach

- 1926 Hay Finlay, first male graduate of the McGill School of Physical Education, joined Athletics Department staff.... The nickname "Red men" – later changed to "Redmen" – was first adopted for McGill varsity teams. (See 2020 entry for subsequent change to "Redbirds").

- 1927 Miss J. S. Herriott replaced Ethel Mary Cartwright

- 1931 After 10 years of lobbying from McGill coach Frank Shaughnessy, the forward pass is formally adopted by the Canadian Rugby Football Union... Molson Stadium hosted the 1931 Grey Cup game, with the MAAA defeating Regina 21-0 before a crowd of 5,112

- 1939 Iveagh Munro, appointed Director, Women's Physical Education. Sir Arthur Currie Memorial Gymnasium Armoury opened. The gym was paid for in part by a posthumous donation from Lord Strathcona, a long-standing benefactor of McGill, and in part by The Graduates' Society which had been raising money and planning for years for this facility. Lord and Lady Strathcona made gifts of $118,992 for the armoury-drill hall and the Graduates' Society having raised $195, 628 in a campaign to build the gym. Work on this brick structure was advanced rapidly with the onset of World War II in 1939. Due to its function and the limited funds at the time, no ornamentation was to be found throughout the structure and the swimming pool was not started. The gym ceiling is supported by trusses so that no pillars disturb the floor space.

- 1946 Dawson College for post war veterans at St-Johns. E. M. Orlick, Director of Sports at Dawson. Orlick researched the origins of ice hockey and became a staunch proponent for McGill as the cradle of hockey.

- 1947 The Currie Gym was extended and the swimming pool and the Memorial Hall were initiated. The marble-floored Hall contains paintings of McGill's history and a wall of the names of all the graduates who gave their lives in the two World Wars...  Vic Obeck, head football coach from New York University, was appointed new McGill football coach. J. B. Kirkpatrick appointed Director, School of Physical Education. Women's Athletics Board established.

- 1948 Vic Obeck initiated and oversaw construction of south-side stands for Molson Stadium.

- 1949 Vic Obeck appointed Director of Athletics; B. Kirkpatrick named Director of the School of P.E. Women's Athletics Board; established separate from the McGill Athletics Board.

- 1950 War Memorial swimming pool (six lanes, 25 yards) was officially opened on December 9, 1950 in memory of the McGill men and women who gave their lives during World Wars I and II. The cost was $727, 249 and again it was borne by subscriptions from members of The Graduates' Society.

- 1951 Molson Stadium served as the venue for a royal visit by Princess Elizabeth before a capacity crowd

- 1953 Vic Obeck's sports program was televised weekly from McGill University

- 1955 Former McGill star athlete Harry E. Griffiths appointed Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation and Iveagh Munro appointed Director, School of Physical Education for teachers. A sports fee established for all students as gate receipts were dropping.

- 1956 Official opening of McConnell Winter Stadium on Nov. 30, 1956 by Chancellor B.C. Gardner. This structure, built by McDougall, Fleming, and Smith, has an arched roof so that the entire interior can be used for stands and a hockey rink. This building, along with the gym and stadium, continues to satisfy the students' need for recreation and activity. The arena was built at a cost of more than $500,000, financed entirely by senior governor J.W. McConnell. Douglas W. Ambridge, president of the Graduates' Society, dropped the puck at the ceremonial faceoff before a sold-out crowd of 1,159 spectators that saw Toronto defeat McGill 4-2.

- 1957 Molson Stadium hosted the CFL All-Star Game

- 1958 Professor Winona Wood appointed Director, Department of Physical Education, Institute of Education at Macdonald/McGill.

- 1959 The Weston Pool opened at RVC.... A record crowd of 26,191 attended a CFL game at Molson Stadium to witness the Montreal Alouettes 27-21 victory over Hamilton on Sept. 12, 1959

- 1960 Head football coach Bruce Coulter leads McGill to its first-ever national title, a 46-7 home-field victory over Alberta, to capture the Churchill Bowl in an invitational championship format pitting the Eastern and Western title holders.

- 1965 A new building was added to the Currie Gym, housing the Faculty of Education's Dept. of Physical Education, Dr. Robert E. Wilkinson was appointed chairman of the department.

- 1969 Head football coach Tom Mooney leads McGill to its first appearance in the Vanier Cup national championship, a 24-15 loss at Manitoba.

- 1970 McGill Athletics fee a "book entry" for all students. But budget pressure forced cancellation of Intercollegiate Athletics.

- 1970-71 The Committee for the Coordination of Student Services was established to guide student fee assessment for all student services.

- 1971-72 Head coach Fouad Kamal leads McGill men's swim team to become the University's first sports program to win a CIAU national championship

- 1972 Charlie Baillie, who had served as an assistant coach since 1969, was appointed head football coach and began a 29-year stint in that role, leading the football team to a pair of Vanier Cup appearances (1973: a 14-6 loss to Saint Mary's and in 1987 a 47-11 victory over UBC).

- 1975 Molson Stadium was transformed from a grass field to AstroTurf in preparation for Montreal Olympics in 1976, where the venue was used for field hockey

- 1976 Robert Dubeau was appointed director of athletics. Dr. Gladys Bean was named assistant director of athletics. Professor Doug Riley was named chairman of the Department of Physical Education at McGill.

- 1977 The McGill Athletics Board was reorganized to include representation from men, women, the Martlet Foundation, The Graduates' Society and the McGill Alumni Association. Also, the Student Athletics Council was reconfigured to combine the men's and women's councils. The nickname "Martlets" was adopted for McGill women's varsity teams.

- 1981 Head coach Gord Gow leads McGill men soccer team to team's first Sam Davidson Trophy as CIAU national championship in Edmonton with a 4-2 edge in penalty kicks to come away with 1-0 victory over Alberta.

- 1982 Head coach Gord Gow leads McGill men soccer team to a second CIAU national championship with a 1-0 victory over Victoria at Molson Stadium... Student Athletics Committee, led by Robert Smith, Dana Reid, Lori Henritzy and Larry Rush, coordinated a referendum campaign to encourage a campus-wide student fee assessment to refurbish the antiquated Currie Gym athletics complex. After numerous delays, the project was finally approved in 1983-84, and over the next decade, students contributed some $4,115,000 through special fees. This was believed to be the first major student support projects in Canada.

- 1983 McGill Advancement Program Capital Campaign launched with the Athletics Complex goal of $10 million dollars (4 million from students 6 million from private support). The MAP Capital Campaign generated $5,126,000 from the Molson Foundation and Molson Family, in addition to $1,526,000 from Seagram's Limited.

- 1987 Head coach Charlie Baillie leads McGill football program to a 47-11 victory over UBC in the CIAU national championship game to become first Quebec team to win Vanier Cup

- 1988 The 13-year-old AstroTurf surface at Molson Stadium was replaced by AstroTurf-8

- 1991 War Memorial Pool was gutted and replaced by a new eight-lane, 25-metre "Memorial Pool" with an Omega electronic timing board. The construction of a new pool was the first of a long overdue four-phase project to upgrade the McGill sports facilities.

- 1992 the Students Athletics Council endorsed and earned campus-wide support to continue the athletics referendum fee assessment until 1997 for an additional $2 million.

- 1992-97 the McGill 21st Century Fund campaign raised funds for the Robert Winsor Varsity Clinic, the Lorne Webster Squash Courts, the Donald Love Competition Hall, the Richard Tomlinson Hall, the Ben & Joe Weider Fitness Centre, the Molson Sports Room, the COTC Lounge renovations (later renamed Hurlburt Lounge), and additional building funds. During the same period, the Martlet Foundation raised one million dollars to establish a Martlet Members Endowment Fund to promote athletics projects and Martlet Scholarships.

- 1992 Students Athletics Council endorsed and earned campus-wide support to continue the Athletics Referendum fee assessment until 1997 for an additional $2 million for the Sports Centre.

- 1993 McGill Campaign launched with new students referendum commitment. The redeveloped swimming pool reopened in the Spring as Phase I of construction.

- 1994 The McGill men's baseball team defeated McMaster 6-1 at Guelph, Ont., to capture their first national title as CIBA champs....The official dedication of indoor track and tennis courts in the east end of the Gymnasium complex by the firm of Werlman and Guy. The Phase II of the Sports Centre almost completed and the new Fieldhouse opened in the Fall with a one-mile race won by McGill track star Linda Thyer. The event and the efforts of the students were recognized with a souvenir publication... The Seagram Sports Science Centre opened.

- 1995 The new McGill Fieldhouse was dedicated in January as an extension to the Sir Arthur Currie Gym. The Fieldhouse, which measures 100m x 55m, contains a 200-metre, 5-lane banked running track. In addition, there were convertible courts for volleyball, basketball, badminton, tennis, racquetball, squash and indoor soccer, in addition to a dance studio and a weight room. The exterior of the Sports Centre was designed to blend into the mountain and to sympathize with the local architecture. Also, the Sports Medicine Clinic and Tomlinson Hall opened. Donald Love Competition Hall was constructed for basketball, volleyball and other events with spectator capacity raging up to 1,500 seats.

- 1997 Head coach Pat Raimondo leads McGill men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over UBC, winning 5-4 on penalty-kicks, to capture the Sam Davidson Trophy as CIAU national championship for the third time in school history... The Cleghorn Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Lab opened.

- 1998 completion of the Lorne Webster Squash & Racquetball Courts, plus fitness and dance studios, gymnastics and multipurpose rooms, in addition to team meeting rooms, equipment rooms, laundry rooms, storage rooms and locker rooms.

- 2002 McGill captures first Geraldine Dubrule Trophy as inaugural national champs in the newly formed Canadian University Synchronized Swimming League.

- 2003 The 15-year-old AstroTurf-8 surface at Molson Stadium was replaced by FieldTurf... McGill captures second consecutive Geraldine Dubrule Trophy as national champs in the Canadian University Synchronized Swimming League.

- 2005 Bob Dubeau retired in August and  Prof. Derek Drummond took over on an interim basis for two years until Drew Love was appointed executive director of athletics in June, 2007... McGill captures third Geraldine Dubrule Trophy as national champs in the Canadian University Synchronized Swimming League.

- 2006 The McGill men's baseball team blanked Dalhousie 8-0 in Ottawa to capture their second national title as CIBA champs... McGill captures fourth Geraldine Dubrule Trophy as national champs in the Canadian University Synchronized Swimming League.

- 2007 McGill captures fifth Geraldine Dubrule Trophy as national champs in the Canadian University Synchronized Swimming League.

- 2008 Guided by head coach Peter Smith, McGill becomes first Quebec women's hockey team to win the Golden Path Trophy as CIS national championship with a 2-0 shutout over Laurier in Ottawa... McGill captures sixth Geraldine Dubrule Trophy as national champs in the Canadian University Synchronized Swimming League.

- 2009 Head coach Peter Smith leads McGill to second consecutive CIS women's hockey national championship with a 3-1 victory over Laurier in Antigonish, N.S... McGill captures seventh Geraldine Dubrule Trophy as national champs in the Canadian University Synchronized Swimming League.

- 2010 The McGill men's baseball team captured their third national title as CCBA champs... McGill captures eighth Geraldine Dubrule Trophy as national champs in the Canadian University Synchronized Swimming League.

- 2011 Head coach Peter Smith leads McGill to win third CIS women's hockey national championship. They defeated St.FX 5-2 in the gold medal game at Waterloo, Ont., to cap an unblemished 33-0 season against CIS opponents... McGill captures ninth Geraldine Dubrule Trophy as national champs in the Canadian University Synchronized Swimming League.

- 2012 Head coach Kelly Nobes leads McGill to first CIS men's hockey national championship with a 4-3 overtime victory over Western in the University Cup final at Fredericton, N.B... The McGill men's lacrosse team defeat Western 7-6 in double overtime in Peterborough, Ont., to win their first Baggataway Cup as CUFLA national champions... McGill captures 10th Geraldine Dubrule Trophy (eigth consecutive) as national champs in the Canadian University Synchronized Swimming League.

- 2013 The 10-year-old FieldTurf surface at Molson Stadium was replaced by FieldTurf Revolution

- 2014 Head coach Peter Smith leads McGill to fourth CIS women's hockey national championship with a 4-3 double overtime victory over the Montreal Carabins at Fredericton, N.B...  The McGill men's baseball team defeat Concordia 6-1 in Cote St. Luc, Que., to capture their fourth national title as CCBA champs... McGill captures 11th Geraldine Dubrule Trophy as national champs in the Canadian University Synchronized Swimming League... Drew Love retired as executive director of athletics in August, 2015 and was replaced on an interim basis by Philip Quintal, a McGill employee for more than three decades.

- 2015 The McGill men's lacrosse team defeat Western 15-11 in Lennoxville, Que., to capture their second Baggataway Cup as CUFLA national champions... The McGill men's baseball team defeat Holland College 4-1 in Fredericton to capture their second consecutive national title as CCBA champs... McGill captures 12th Geraldine Dubrule Trophy as national champs in the Canadian University Synchronized Swimming League.

- 2016 Marc Gélinas began his new appointment in June as executive director of McGill Athletics and Recreation.... The McGill men's baseball team defeat conference rival Montreal 3-2 at Ahuntsic Park to capture their third consecutive national title as CCBA champs... McGill captures 13th Geraldine Dubrule Trophy as national champs in the Canadian University Synchronized Swimming League.

- 2017 Head coach Ryan Thorne leads McGill to first-ever U SPORTS women's basketball national championship and become the first Quebec-based school in 33 years to win the Bronze Baby Trophy as the Martlets defeat Laval 66-55 in the final, played at Victoria, B.C.... The McGill men's baseball team defeat Carleton 10-1 in Fredericton to capture their fourth consecutive national title as CCBA champs... McGill captures 14th Geraldine Dubrule Trophy (fourth consecutive) as national champs in the Canadian University Synchronized Swimming League.
 
- 2018 The McGill men's baseball team defeat UNB 9-4 in Ottawa to capture their fifth consecutive national title -- their eighth overall -- as Canadian Collegiate Baseball Association champs

- 2019  McGill captures 15th Geraldine Dubrule Trophy as national champs in newly renamed Canadian University Artistic Swimming League, in Ottawa, Ont... Marc Gélinas retired as executive director in Dec. 2016

- 2020 McGill captures 16th Geraldine Dubrule Trophy as national champs in the Canadian University Artistic Swimming League, in Vancouver, B.C... Long-time administrator Geoffrey Phillips, a McGill grad who played and coached varsity sports on the campus, was elevated to the position of senior director of athletics, guiding McGill A&R through a difficult year during the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in the cancelation of all varsity sports and a year-long closing of the McGill Sports Centre... The men's varsity team name was changed to "Redbirds". The decision to rename the men's team followed meaningful input from McGill students, including the #ChangeTheName campaign. Announced in November and endorsed by the Principal, the name "Redbirds" was selected as a nod to our future and our past given numerous historical links to McGill.



SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
McGill Athletics and Recreation
(514) 398- 7012
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca
www.mcgillathletics.ca