Ontario University Athletics

Ontario University Athletics
(OUA)
Association U Sports
Members 20
Headquarters Hamilton, Ontario
Website Official website

Ontario University Athletics (OUA) is a regional membership association for Canadian universities which assists in co-ordinating competition between their university level athletic programs and providing contact information, schedules, results, and releases about those programs and events to the public and the media. This is similar to what would be called a college athletic conference in the United States. OUA, which covers Ontario, is one of four such bodies that are members of the country's governing body for university athletics, U Sports. The other three regional associations coordinating university-level sports in Canada are Atlantic University Sport (AUS), the Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA), and Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ).

OUA came into being in 1997 with the merger of the Ontario Universities Athletics Association and the Ontario Women's Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

History

The first formal organization of intercollegiate athletics in Canada took place in 1906 with the formation of the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union. This organization had four active members: Ottawa College, Trinity College, McMaster College and the Royal Military College. As the years passed, the CIAU expanded until in 1954 the union had nineteen members.

In 1954, the administration of the CIAU was becoming somewhat unwieldy. There was a great variation in the standards of play between institutions, a different philosophy towards athletics between many members and difficulties in agreeing upon common standards of eligibility. It was also felt that the name Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union was not truly appropriate since intercollegiate athletic associations were also in existence in other parts of the country. In 1955, it was agreed by the member institutions that the CIAU (Central Division as it was then called) would reorganize in two sections to be known as the Ontario-Quebec Athletic Association (with nine members) and the Ottawa-St. Lawrence Intercollegiate Association (with ten members).

The original members of the O-QAA had been joined by the Assumption College (University of Windsor) and were joined in 1961 by Waterloo and 1968 by Carleton University and the University of Ottawa. In 1968, the O-QAA was divided into Eastern and Western Divisions in order to facilitate the scheduling of events. The 1960s also saw the creation of Canada's first national governing body for university athletics, the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union (also CIAU), in 1961.

In 1971, the Quebec-based universities in the O-QAA withdrew from the Association. Laval, McGill and Montreal elected to pursue their future athletic endeavours in the newly formed Quebec Universities Athletic Association.

In the resulting reorganization meetings, the remaining members of the O-QAA, (Carleton University, University of Guelph, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, Queen's University, University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, University of Western Ontario and University of Windsor) voted to change their name to the OUAA (Ontario Universities Athletic Association). Invitations were extended to all Ontario universities to participate in the reorganization meeting.

As part of the reorganization, it was decided that all the trophies, records, etc. of the O-QAA would remain with and be recognized by the OUAA.

The Ontario Women's Interuniversity Athletic Association was founded in 1971, which provided athletic competition for women students in the universities of Ontario. The OWIAA was unique in North America in both its longevity and singleness of purpose. Formed by the amalgamation of the Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Union (WIAU), which was founded in 1923 and the Ontario-Quebec Women's Conference of Intercollegiate Athletics (O-QWCIA), the OWIAA continued the heritage of 50 years of women's interuniversity competition. This coalition was the only association for women's athletics to have survived through 60 years of commitment to women athletes in Ontario universities.

In the spring of 1972, the following institutions were admitted as full members of the OUAA: Brock University, Laurentian University, Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, Trent University, Waterloo Lutheran University and York University.

The Royal Military College of Kingston was admitted to the OUAA in 1973. Also in 1973, Waterloo Lutheran University changed its name to Wilfrid Laurier University. The continuing evolution of the OUAA saw three Quebec-based universities (Bishop's, Loyola (now Concordia) and McGill) receive "playing privileges" in the OUAA football league in 1974. In 1978, the CIAU changed its name to Canadian Interuniversity Athletics Union.

In 1980, football was reorganized so that the teams of the Ontario-Quebec Intercollegiate Football Conference- West Division would form the new OUAA Football League. The OQIFC East teams: Ottawa, Carleton and Queen's would join the three Quebec schools in the new OQIFC. In 1987, the OUAA awarded playing privileges in hockey to three Quebec schools, McGill, Concordia and Trois Rivieres.

In 1988, Lakehead University was admitted to full membership while McGill, Concordia and Bishop's were granted playing privileges in basketball due to the folding of the Quebec Universities Athletic Association.

Nipissing University was admitted in 1993 with full membership.

July 1, 1997 marked a new era of university sport in Ontario. Both the OUAA and the OWIAA amalgamated to form one association, Ontario University Athletics. In November, 1997 the OUA hired the organization’s first Executive Director.The “new” OUA office opened on September 1, 1998 in Hamilton.

In 2001, the Queen’s Golden Gaels and the Ottawa Gee Gees football teams rejoined the OUA from the OQIFC, expanding the OUA Football Conference to ten teams. In that same year, the CIAU changed its name to Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS).

The 2004-05 season saw Royal Military College enter completely into the OUA. In the past, the Kingston school had competed in both the OUA and OCAA, but withdrew from OCAA competition entirely.

In January 2006, the OUA welcomed its 19th member to the fold as the University of Ontario Institute of Technology was granted membership in a unanimous vote by the league's Board of Directors. The Oshawa-based school began competition in the 2006-07 season, participating in rowing and tennis, while joining men's and women's hockey in 2007-08.

In October 2016, CIS changed its name to the current U Sports.

Member schools

Institution Nickname Location
(Ontario)
Founded Type Enrollment Endowment Joined Division
Algoma University Thunderbirds Sault Ste. Marie 1967 Public 1,300 --- 2013-14 East
Brock University Badgers St. Catharines 1964 Public 17,000 --- 1972-73 West
Carleton University Ravens Ottawa 1942 Public 20,901 $230M 1968-69 East
University of Guelph Gryphons Guelph 1964 Public 19,408 $164.2M 1955-56 West
Lakehead University Thunderwolves Thunder Bay 1946 Public 8,050 $32.1M 1988-89 West
Laurentian University Voyageurs Sudbury 1960 Public 7,758 $143M 1972-73 East
McMaster University Marauders Hamilton 1887 Public 25,688 $498.5M 1955-56 West
Nipissing University Lakers North Bay 1909 Public 6,300 --- 1993-94 East
University of Ontario Institute of Technology Ridgebacks Oshawa 2003 Public 5,000 --- 2006-07 East
University of Ottawa Gee-Gees Ottawa 1848 Public 42,027 $183.9M 1968-69 East
Queen's University Gaels Kingston 1841 Public 20,566 $657M 1955-56 East
Royal Military College of Canada Paladins Kingston 1876 Public 1,268 --- 1973-74 East
Ryerson University Rams Toronto 1948 Public 32,670 --- 1972-73 East
University of Toronto Varsity Blues Toronto 1827 Public 73,185 $1.823B 1955-56 East
Trent University Excalibur Peterborough 1964 Public 7,160 $21.2M 1972-73 East
University of Waterloo Warriors Waterloo 1957 Public 27,978 $172M 1961-62 West
University of Western Ontario Mustangs London 1878 Public 30,000 $266.6M 1955-56 West
Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks Waterloo 1911 Public 12,394 --- 1972-73 West
University of Windsor Lancers Windsor 1857 Public 13,496 $32.5M 1961-62 West
York University Lions Toronto 1959 Public 42,400 $306M 1972-73 East

Sports

2012 men's hockey playoffs, Windsor Lancers vs. York Lions at Windsor Arena (February 16, 2012).
The Ottawa Gee Gees taking on the Windsor Lancers at the 2013 Wilson Cup semi final.

Member Universities of the OUA compete in a variety of sports at both the varsity and club levels.

Conference sports
SportMen'sWomen's
Badminton
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Baseball
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Basketball
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Cross Country
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Curling
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Fencing
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Field Hockey
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Figure Skating
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Football
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Golf
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Ice Hockey
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Lacrosse
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Nordic Skiing
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Rowing
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Rugby
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Soccer
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Squash
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Swimming
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Tennis
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Track and field (indoor)
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Volleyball
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Water Polo
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Wrestling
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The OUA awards the Queen's Cup to its men's ice hockey champion, the Yates Cup to its men's football champion and the Wilson Cup to its men's basketball champion. Winners of OUA championships generally go on to compete in the national U Sports competition, against the champions of the other three conferences.

Facilities

Canadian athletic facilities are often listed by their "maximum capacity", which is often an estimate of their largest recorded crowd in the facility. These maximum capacities can and often do include standing room patrons and attendees seated on grass surrounding a playing field. Seated Capacity is the actual number of permanent seats, be they grandstands or permanently in use bleachers. This is why you will sometimes see larger capacities listed for these sites when searching for them on line. When capacity numbers have mismatched on source sites, unless the larger capacity could be confirmed as a seated capacity, the smaller capacity number has been listed here.

Please update with verified "seated capacities" only when the institutions release more accurate official seated capacities.

Facilities
InstitutionFootball
Stadium
Seated
Capacity
Basketball
Arena
Seated
Capacity
Hockey
Arena
Seated
Capacity
Soccer
Stadium
Seated
Capacity
CarletonKeith Harris Stadium 3,044 Raven's Nest1,500Ice House500Keith Harris Stadium3,044
OttawaGee-Gees Field4,152Montpetit Hall1,000Minto Sports Complex850Matt Anthony Field-W1,500
TorontoVarsity Centre5,000Goldring Centre2,000Varsity Arena4,116Varsity Centre5,000
RyersonNo Football -- Mattamy Athletic Centre1,000Mattamy Home Ice2,796Monarch Park Stadium3,000
Queen'sRichardson Memorial Stadium10,258*Bartlett Gymnasium3,000Kingston Memorial Centre 3,300 Miklas-McCarney Field350
YorkYork Stadium2,000Tait McKenzie Centre 1,200 Canlan Ice Sports-York 1,700 York Stadium2,000
LaurentianNo Football -- Ben F. Avery Gymnasium1,200Countryside Sports Complex 5,100 Laurentian University Soccer Field500
RMCNo Football -- No Basketball -- Constantaine Arena1,500Navy Bay Soccer and Rugby Fields2,500
TrentNo Football -- No Basketball -- No Hockey -- Trent University Main Playing Field1,000
NipissingNo Football -- Robert J. Surtees Athletic Centre[1] -- Memorial Gardens4025Steve Omischl Sports Field400
UOITNo Football -- No Basketball -- UOIT Campus Ice Centre550No Soccer
WesternTD Waterhouse Stadium8,000Alumni Hall2,400Thompson Arena3,615TD Waterhouse Stadium8,000
WindsorUniversity of Windsor Stadium2,000St. Denis Centre2,000Windsor Arena-M
South Windsor Arena-W
4,600
1,000
University of Windsor Stadium2,000
McMasterRonald V. Joyce Stadium6,000Burridge Gymnasium2,250No Hockey -- Ronald V. Joyce Stadium6,000
GuelphAlumni Stadium5,100W.F. Mitchell Athletics Centre2,200Gryphon Centre Arena1,400Gryphon Soccer Complex1,000
WaterlooWarrior Field5,400Physical Activities Complex4,500Columbia Ice Field1,000Warrior Field5,400
LaurierUniversity Stadium6,000Athletic Complex2.500Waterloo Recreation Complex3,400University Stadium6,000
BrockNo Football -- Bob Davis Gymnasium2,400Seymour-Hannah Sports & Entertainment Centre1,400Brock Badgers Field --
LakeheadNo Football -- C.J. Sanders Fieldhouse2,000Fort William Gardens4,680No Soccer

Queen's has plans to relocate Richardson Memorial Stadium and reduce the permanent seating to 8,000.[2]

(Data mined from the U Sports homepage's member directory[3] and WorldStadiums.com.[4] The members directory numbers seem to be ballpark figures in some cases.)

References

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