September 1, 2024
Something is amiss when there are no inductees from three provinces in the CCAA Hall of Fame when representatives of member institutions from each of the those provinces won CCAA championships and there are more CCAA Hall of Fame inductees from member intuitions of two provinces than CCAA titles won by representatives of member institutions in those provinces.
Despite four Manitoba curling teams, a Prince Edward Island golf team, and three Saskatchewan teams (one basketball and two curling) raising CCAA champion banners, there are no representatives from those provinces in the CCAA Hall of Fame. Prospects from Prince Edward Island have not received the Hall call while Manitoba and Saskatchewan prospects have been shutout of the nomination process due to a bias that favours current member conferences and current member institutions.
At the other end of the spectrum, two provinces have more inductees in the CCAA Hall of Fame than CCAA championships. A New Brunswick post secondary institution has a coach and an athlete in the CCAA Hall of Fame, but none of the province's representatives at nationals finished atop the podium. Five badminton athletes (three in single events and two in a doubles event) and a hockey team account for Nova Scotia's five national titles. Six coaches, four athletes and two builders from Canada's Ocean Playground are in the CCAA Hall of Fame.
Over the years, 409 teams have won a CCAA national championship including 22 hockey teams. Quebec squads have raised 118 banners as national champions including three in hockey. Alberta teams captured 107 national titles including 16 in hockey. Ontario squads were on top of the podium 100 times including twice in hockey. BC teams were Canada's best on 75 occasions, but never in hockey.
With the exception of anniversary years, the CCAA is adamant about inducting athletes, coaches and builders from a specific conference annually. As a result, the focus is on a conference class not a national class. The disparity of Hall members between conferences with sustained success and conferences with limited success is evident. The CCAA Hall of Fame must not be a substitute for a conference hall of fame.