Vanier Cup Winners

Unlike it's American counterpart the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) has a Canada wide playoff to determine its season champion. Each of the four conferences determine their representative (Loney Bowl (AUS), Hardy Cup (Canada West), Dunsmore Cup (RSEQ), Yates Cup (OUA)) .and via a playoff (Uteck Bowl and the Mitchell Bowl), two teams meet to play for the Vanier Cup.
The Vanier Cup is named after Georges Vanier, the former Governor General of Canada and was first awarded in 1965 to the winner of an invitational event contested between two teams that were selected by a panel. In 1967, the trophy was declared the official "CIAU (now CIS) National Football Championship" and a playoff system was instituted. The game typically occurs in late November. In 1965 an invitational national championship was started by the Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union (CIAU), named the Canadian College Bowl. The winner received a new trophy donated by Georges Vanier, the Governor General of Canada, the Vanier Cup. The winners of the five university football conferences at the time, the AUFC, OSLAA, OIFC, OQAA and WIFL were eligible for selection as contestants in the championship game. In 1967 the Canadian College Bowl became a national championship game with the winners of the now four university football conferences the, AUFC, CCIFC, OQAA and WIFL meeting in two semi-final games, the Atlantic Bowl and what was to become the Churchill Bow, for the right to compete for the Vanier Cup. While an Atlantic Bowl game was played in 1967, the other bowl game did not take place. The Toronto Varsity who had won the Yates Cup winner were unable to participate, due to a league (SIFL) ruling preventing post-season play. This allowed the Hardy Trophy winner, Alberta to advance directly to the Vanier Cup game. In 1968 both of the semi-final bowl games were played, ensuring that the two best football teams in the country, Queen's, the Churchill Bowl champion and WLU, the Atlantic Bowl winner, participated in the Vanier Cup game. The name of the national championship game was changed from the Canadian College Bowl to the Vanier Cup, Canada's University Football Championship in 1982. In 1983 the Hardy Trophy winner, Calgary advanced directly to the Vanier Cup game because of a dispute between the CIAU and the AUAA over the location of the Atlantic Bowl. Although an Atlantic Bowl game was played, it featured two teams from the AUAA football conference. The Atlantic Bowl was re-established as a semi-final bowl game for the 1984 season. In 2001, the CIS voted to change the permanent site of the Atlantic Bowl in the interest of competitive fairness. In 2002, the Mitchell Bowl was first awarded, replacing the Atlantic Bowl. In 2003, the Uteck Bowl replaced the Churchill Bowl. The Bruce Coulter Award is presented to either an outstanding offensive or defensive player in the Vanier Cup Game. The selection is dependent on the selection of the Ted Morris Trophy, winner of the game MVP.

Website: https://en.usports.ca/championships/