After nearly four years of meetings and polling and outreach, the board announced that the team would keep the original name and increase northern engagementthat is, they would send players to Inuit communities to play football, speak at anti-bullying seminars and celebrate local festivals. Bills sign veteran RB Murray to one-year deal, LB Barrett's 2-year-old daughter drowns in pool, Deion 'ashamed' after only 1 HBCU player drafted, Sources: NFL eyes May 11 to release schedule, Jets coach Saleh: Rodgers making 'presence felt', Cowboys scout emotional as team drafts his son, Rams use 'Mr. They received more than 14,800 submissions. Then on July 8, the club promised to speed up another review of its name and provide an update by month's end. Obed is Inukhe grew up in Nunatsiavut, along Labradors Arctic shoreso he stood out, especially on the ice where he was the only Indigenous player. The Edmonton name change comes in time for the resumption of CFL play. All three have contributed a lot to the CFL and the game of football and Id like to thank them all for their time spent with our club., Read more: Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. A press conference will be held Tuesday to introduce arguably the most overqualified employee in the entire history of EE football. His dad had previously campaigned for ex-Eskimo Don Getty for Premier. Toronto police are set to make a major announcement on Canadas most wanted individuals on Monday morning. In November 2020, the club canvassed its fans for ideas. Returning home, Cui made the key move of his career. The accumulation of these issues percolated and crystalized over these last several months and it became apparent change was necessary, said Murray. However, he stated that he was ultimately supportive of the move because some people might be offended by the name. from fans, shareholders, alumni, players," Cui says. I looked up the name Rick LeLacheur, in the phone book, he said of the former EE board chairman and Grey Cup chairman who had been hired to run the event. "Some of the issues are operations, some are pure business. The Edmonton Rugby Foot-ball Club, unaffiliated with the current team, was an early Canadian football-rugby union team based in Edmonton. 32 lingering post-draft questions: Will Lions have regrets? Victor Cui is one hell of a hire. The others included: Evergreens, Evergolds, Eclipse, Elkhounds, Eagles and Elements. The league has tentatively scheduled starting a 14-game 2021 season Aug. 5 after not playing in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Elks were founded in 1949 as the Edmonton Eskimos and have won the Grey Cup championship fourteen times (including a three-peat between 1954 and 1956 and an unmatched five consecutive wins between 1978 and 1982), most recently in 2015. Barrett joins the Elks after a storied . The government placed them in Rimbey, Alberta. The team then worked with their apparel manufacturers to create new equipment and merchandise. Its also about the bottom line. And, according to Allan Watt, the teams VP of marketing, many others said there were more pressing issues to address, like food and housing insecurity. The Edmonton Elks are one of three "community owned" teams in the CFL (owned by local shareholders). 2023 A mission is underway to recover a fuel truck holding 17,000 litres of diesel oil that rolled off a barge and sank off Vancouver Island. Most professional sports teams are owned by billionaires the Dallas Mavericks Mark Cuban, the Ottawa Senators Eugene Melnykor conglomerates like Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Alberta. Antlers appeared on cups, on advertising panels, on the press box and on the jumbotron. And for us to come rolling in wanting to talk about the name of a football team? At the Elks home opener this past August, the team handed out free T-shirts to tens of thousands of fans as they filed into the transformed stadium. If people wont listen to us about this issue, how can we expect people to listen to us on bigger items? Norma Dunning, an Inuk researcher, and professor at the University of Alberta says the decision to keep the name seemed like an affront to Inuit whod voiced their discontent. Toronto Maple Leafs fans hoping to make a trip down south to catch a playoff game against the Florida Panthers will hit an unexpected road block. Please join us in thinking of J-Min and his family during this incredibly difficult time. I left about a dozen messages on his machine until he finally returned my call. The team has a rivalry with the Calgary Stampeders and is one of the three community-owned teams in the CFL. The team won five consecutive Grey Cups (197882), led by superstar quarterbacks Warren Moon and Tom Wilkinson and head coach Hugh Campbell. 2023 Edmonton Sun, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. He was hired in 2019 and oversaw the team's name change that was accelerated bya sponsor backlashin the summer of 2020. Club shareholders re-elected Diane Brickner, President & CEO, Peace Hills Insurance and Harold Roozen, President & CEO, CCI Thermal, to a second three-year term. His understanding of the Edmonton sports market is second to none. In 2015, Canada's national Inuit organization had said it was time for a change. In 2020, right when COVID was hitting, I moved back to Edmonton basically to put my family first. That was the early 1990s when Obed had little power to change a team name. May 10, 2022 EDMONTON The Edmonton Elks are set for their 2022 Annual General Meeting of shareholders on Thursday, May 12. He avoids making any commitments about what his . It isnt a term we use to describe ourselves in our language, he says. Wally is unrivalled as a winner in this league and we have every confidence that with his help we will find the general manager that will lead this team back to excellence, Murray said. Edmonton Elks board of directors chair Ian Murray addresses the firing of president and CEO Chris Presson, general manager and vice president of football operations Brock Sunderland and head. To wit: his high school hockey team. EDMONTON - The Edmonton Elks have signed National kicker Michael Domagala, American linebacker Tobi Antigha and American quarterback Felix Harper. As a member of the team, Obed had to wear their logo: a red face, skin painted, hair braided. Want to discuss? So, in 1940, they introduced an identification system in which Inuit wore numbered leather discs around their necks to access social services. Administrators and elected officials now have to decide what to do with offensive team names and mascots, statues of slaveholders, and schools named after dead colonizers. Barrett has found a home in the Canadian Football League, signing with the Edmonton Elks on Friday. Some never have. Days after the murder of George Floyd, the team posted a statement on social media. The Global News The Edmonton Elks have announced Chris Jones is the new head coach and general manager in a. The origins of the E-word are unclear. At home games, fans in headdresses bellowed faux-Indigenous chants, and the mascots costume was a stereotype of a First Nations chief. He said the three were informed of their terminations earlier Monday morning. 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4. A large fire near Abbotsford International Airport sent a plume of smoke billowing into the air Monday morning. 1 ELKS PRESIDENT & CEO VICTOR CUI Walmart and Target had stopped selling their gear. Domagala joins the Green and Gold after two. A Winnipeg woman is shaken after a close call with two coyotes and is now calling on the city to put up warning signs. At the end of it all, money talks, she says. In order for us to move forward and continue on with our partnership.we will need to see concrete action in the near future including a name change, the insurer stated. A section of Queen Street is closing for construction of the Ontario Line subway on Monday for nearly five years. Within a couple of months, some 1,600 unmarked graves were found across the country, and many Canadians began re-examining the countrys relationship with Indigenous people. Lions coach and general manager Wally Buono will serve in a transitional role until a new general manager is in place. The power to change the team's name ultimately rested with them. Terms Of Use Privacy Policy. [28] Nanook, a polar bear, was introduced in 1997, but was retired and replaced with Spike in 2021, coinciding with the rebranding. I had been working at an insane pace. They also had the CFL's worst COVID-19 outbreak of the season when more than a dozen team members tested positive for the disease. When Natan Obed was a teenager, he played on a high school hockey team called the Indians. Read more about cookies here. After a five-year stay, he joined ONE Championship, a mixed-martial arts property also based in Singapore. Details for the event can be found below. PSAC ends strike as union reaches tentative deal with Treasury Board, PSAC strike: No word on working from home for deal with feds, Weekly grocery bill has increased by over $100 say 1 in 5 Canadians: poll. Toronto Argonauts. The mayor of Tuktoyaktuk, a longtime fan of the team, said he didnt mind the name. The issue will not go away. EDMONTON - The Edmonton Elks cleaned house on Monday after a tumultuous season with issues on and off the field. They were introduced in 2004 and 2021, respectively. The Elks keep the numbers in circulation rather than retire them from use. Media are welcome to arrive beginning at 11 a.m. MDT, with lunch provided. To those with the power to change them, Natan Obed offers the same advice he gave to Edmontons CFL team six years ago: They can defend their institutions history, consult Indigenous people, form task forces, hire PR firms and conduct online surveys, or they can save time, money and heartache and simply act. Ask a Recruiter: How Do I Push Past My Imposter Syndrome and Get the Job Done? In addition to the Lyme disease carrying blacklegged tick, scientists are also concerned about the lone star tick which is being spotted north of its home in the southern United States and Mexico. Theyd live at our house until they got jobs and acclimatized. I was the recipient of the Johnny Bright Scholarship based on community, leadership, academics and sports. The board said it has contracted long-time CFL player, coach, GM and executive Wally Buono to consult and advise the club in hiring a new general manager expected to be named before the end of 2021 so the team is well prepared for the beginning of free agency in February. It got to the point where it made sense to put this behind us and not have our stakeholders deal with this, says Richards. It touches so many personal heartstrings for me.. Allan has a long history with our organization and the community. Media invited to attend the AGM at The Brick Field on May 12. I guess this is an indication that I was ignorant, but I just hadnt thought about it, she says. Founded in 1949, the team, known for their Green and Gold colours, are 14-time Grey Cup champions, including the historic five-in-a-row from 1978 to 1982. Get the latest Oilers news delivered to your inbox every weekday, JONES: Victor Cui to be named Edmonton Elks president and CEO, DEAR ABBY: Ex-girlfriend believes she wasn't cheating, Cracked goalie stick to blame for Stuart Skinner's gaffe, but Oilers prevailed, Edmonton police shoot stabbing suspect outside Oilers watch party, ASIRT investigating. Meanwhile, Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, the director of the seal-hunt documentary Angry Inuk, implored them to drop it. Employee Recognition Programs Can Fix That, This Marketing Pro Increased Their Salary by $100K by Moving From Sports to Start-Ups. Vaunaveys-la-Rochette is situated nearby to the village La Rochette-sur-Crest and the locality Les Massonnes. That's not representative of our community, he said. Foam antlers are set to become part of the green and gold fan dress code, as Edmonton's CFL team has adopted a new name: the Edmonton Elks. 2023 Edmonton Elks. He will be reunited with QB Trevor Harris who was named the Elks Most . In 2014, Michael Lewis, the author of Moneyball and The Big Short, studied several American colleges that changed their team names because they were considered offensive. . Its like, What the fuck are you guys doing here? he says. Since its founding, the club has been [10][11][12][13] In 2020 pressure mounted for Eskimo be removed from the team by sponsors Belairdirect and Boston Pizza,[14] as well as potential sponsor, Sports Interaction, a self referred to "First Nationsowned" betting company. Tom Richards, a board member who played for the club in the 1980s, fielded complaints from former players. We felt a responsibility to do the right thing, probably more so than anyone else, says Dean Montour, CEO of Mohawk Online, the parent company of Sports Interaction. As of 2017, the board of directors included chairman Brad Sparrow, treasurer Janice Agrios, secretary Murray Scambler, directors Douglas Cox, Rob Heron, Ian Murray, Harold Roozen, Marshall Sadd, Lindsay Dodd and Tom Richards. Please try again. Cui then managed the election campaign of ex-Eskimo Bill Smith for mayor. Cui was announced as the Club's president on January 25, 2022 and brings a wealth of global sports experience to the hometown team he grew up cheering for. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). #GOELKS | The Edmonton Elks are the most successful franchise of the Canadian Football League's modern era. In February 2020, the franchise announced it was keeping the name after a yearlong research period that involved Inuit leaders and community members across Canada. The team played home games at Clarke Stadium and quickly saw success under quarterback Jackie Parker and running back Johnny Bright, winning the Grey Cup three years in a row from 1954 to 1956. Between 2018 and 2020, team management and a handful of players took several trips to Iqaluit, Inuvik, Ottawa and Yellowknife. After one of their worst seasons in decades, the Edmonton Elks have fired the head coach and top office bosses. We like it a lot.#ElksCharge pic.twitter.com/5nkcDi46rV. After winning the Grey Cup in both 2003 and 2005, under quarterback Ricky Ray, who is Edmonton's all-time leader in passing yards, the team missed the playoffs the following year, for the first time in 34 years, a North American professional sport record. But irate fans rarely follow through on such threats. One of the team's sponsors, national car-and-home insurance provider Belairdirect, had announced it was rethinking its relationship with the team because of the name. Working with the non-profit Progress Alberta, she created a webpage where, with one click, people could send a blanket email demanding change to 36 of the teams major sponsors. At Rhodes request, the board set aside funds to consult Inuit about the name. Murray said that there was a lot of negative stuff that the board is very concerned about but also that it would be inappropriate to pick one reason for the front office overhaul. Obed insisted he wasnt out to shame the team or chastise their fans; rather, he wanted to instigate change. mass killer Myles Sanderson, 'One fatality is way too many': Sask. The city of Toronto recently voted to rename Dundas Street, which honours an anti-abolitionist politician. In July of 2020, after years of controversy, Washingtons NFL team promised a thorough review of their name. Canadas tax deadline has arrived. Were a community-owned team, and corporations are happy to support us. For the first time in their life they experienced minus-40 degrees. We are the Edmonton Elks", "EDMONTON OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES TEAM NAME AS ELKS", "CHRIS PRESSON NAMED ESKIMOS PRESIDENT AND CEO", "Elks announce sweeping organizational changes". Edmonton dropped its longtime name, Eskimos, last year after a similar decision by the NFL's Washington team amid pressure on franchises to eliminate racist or stereotypical names. This five-year dynasty, followed by the dominance of the city's NHL team the Edmonton Oilers, led the city to be nicknamed the "City of Champions" in the 1980s. More than three decades after Obed first laced up his skates, his former hockey team is now known as the Coyotes. It all starts at 11:30 a.m. MDT as the Club presents its financial results for the year ending Dec. 31, 2021. We want kids to want that logo on their pyjamas, he says. Watt will lead a proactive customer service engagement process that will see the club reaching out to fans and key stakeholders. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. This past May, the Tkemlps te Secwpemc First Nation announced that 215 childrens remains had been located at the Kamloops Indian Residential School. This weekend came to a violent conclusion in Surrey after a stabbing and shooting just hours apart. More than 10,000 people signed a petition asking for a name change. Then their sponsors threatened to drop them. In addition to celebrating his birthday on Nov. 14, King Charles III will maintain the long-standing royal tradition of marking the occasion in June as well. The Edmonton Elks spent nearly $2 million on their rebranding, which included an overhaul of the Commonwealth Stadium, seen here during a game in September. Then they hired the advertising agency DDB to create a logo. Now they are starting a new season with former REDBLACKS coordinator Jaime Elizondo as Head Coach. Scammers Are Posing as Recruiters on LinkedIn and Swindling Job Seekers, Fed-up Workers Are Rage-applying Their Way to Better Jobs. [7] [8] History David Beard, a player who visited Inuvik as part of the teams outreach, was pleased with the new moniker. So, why would he leave that job to take the EE job? A Kitchener mother is petitioning for a change she feels could have saved her daughters life. Effective immediately, the contracts have been terminated for president and CEO Chris Presson, general manager and vice president of football operations Brock Sunderland and head coach Jaime Elizondo, the board of directors of the Edmonton Elks Football Club announced Monday. T5H 4E2. Edmonton Football Team extends contract of GM Brock Sunderland. More than anything, it had to be cool. We have a structural, long-term trend that is problematic.. Im at this intersection of faith and luck that have put me here for this opportunity. Heres what you need to know, Second suspect arrested in connection with Leonardo Rizutto shooting, Rain and wind knock out power for nearly 70K Quebecers, more wet weather on the way, An 'aggressive biter': There's a new tick to worry about in Quebec and Ontario, What you need to know about the agreement that ended the PSAC strike, Grand River Transit workers reject deal, strike underway, OPP charge driver in crash that injured CTV reporter Stephanie Villella, Kitchener mother calls for psychotropic drugs safety waiver following daughters suicide, Major announcement on Canadas most wanted list in Toronto this morning, Tim Bachman, a founding member of BTO, dies, Two men plead guilty to shooting moose standing in northern Ont. According to a 2017 Insights West poll, only 12 per cent of Albertans took offense to the team name. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. A local sports reporter even told Rhodes that fans would run him out of town if he rebranded the team. I was very clear all the way through The name, as a construct, is problematic, says Obed. There were just so many people saying how they felt, she says. To them, it seemed like the right thing to do, both morally and financially. The Edmonton born and raised Cui took a job with the Edmonton 2001 World Championships in Athletics and became key in building ONE Championship, an Asian-based multi-billion dollar sports entertainment business. In this story: Former Ohio State star quarterback J.T. The Vaunaveys-la-Rochette surface is 21.93 km . Financial details, as well as the Chairs Report, Treasurers Report, and President's Reportwill be on the agenda. Mounties on Vancouver Island are appealing to the public to help find a missing 40-year-old woman. Its namesake, Egerton Ryerson, influenced the creation of the residential school system, created legislation that segregated Black kids into their own institutions, and believed that girls should not advance beyond elementary instruction. Then the childrens bodies were recovered, and the university could no longer rationalize the Ryerson name. In September of 2020, the team let go equipment manager Dwayne Mandrusiak in his 49th season with the team, a move that drew ire from fans. The board said the search has begun for permanent replacements of the CEO and general manager. In August, the schools task force recommended changing it, among other actions aimed at respecting Indigenous people and history. It was incredibly hurtful, says Obed. ", Panthers restrict ticket sales to U.S. residents for home games against Maple Leafs, Mariners top Blue Jays 10-8 in extra innings, Canadians are worried about shrinkflation and if its here to stay: poll, Body of missing 8-year-old girl found in Maskwacis, 3rd suspect charged. The Edmonton Elks have a policy of honouring the players who have best represented the team on the field. Lions on Friday and finished the season with three wins and 11 losses, and went winless at home. I was traveling four days a week and on a plane 10 to 12 times a week. For Edmonton, Elks was selected among a shortlist that included Elkhounds, Eagles, Evergreens, Evergolds, Eclipse, and Elements. PSAC strike: Feds say final offer to union has enhanced wage package, Elks look back on a season which fell way short of expectations, Edmonton Football Team extends contract of GM Brock Sunderland, Edmonton Elks mauled 43-10 by B.C. The Edmonton Elks kick off their 74th regular season on Sunday, June 11, when the Green and Gold host the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Commonwealth Stadium. 11000 Stadium Road We stand with those who are outraged, who is hurt, and who hope for a better tomorrow. On Twitter, then-Nunavut MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq slapped back, If you really seek to understand start by changing your team name. She told APTN News that the team had no right to make money off a derogatory term. This move was supported by multiple indigenous groups, including the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, a group representing over 60,000 Inuit across Canada. Whether it's a mental health day or a reduced workload, there are a number of ways that employers and employees can deal with workplace stress to the benefit of everyone, a Toronto-based psychologist says. The team played its first organized games with the formation of the Alberta Rugby Football League in 1895. The next day, the team announced they would accelerate their name review process. Hamilton Tiger-Cats. By that point, Edmontons football team had already dropped its old name. In 1908 the name Esquimaux was adopted. And the Saskatchewan. Edmonton Elks board chair on decline of football team, Reading the room: Edmonton Elks board chair on fan disappointment with football team, Click to share quote on Twitter: "We want to hear all the complaints and we want to hear suggestions. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. 1 in the world with the most viewed video content on Facebook.. She was reported missing to the Comox Valley RCMP on April 27.