Canadian Football Hall of Fame

The Canadian Football Hall of Fame (CFHOF) is a not-for-profit corporation, located in Hamilton, Ontario, that celebrates achievements in Canadian football. It is maintained by the Canadian Football League (CFL). It includes displays about the CFL, Canadian university football and Canadian junior football history.[1]

Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Museum
The old venue for the Hall of Fame and Museum in 2007
Map
Established1972
LocationTim Hortons Field
64 Melrose Avenue North, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
TypeCanadian football museum
Executive directorEric Noivo
Websitewww.cfhof.ca

The Hall previously had a main feature in the central portion of the museum where the metal busts of inducted members were displayed prior to the physical building being closed. There were also featured displays that highlight each CFL team's history, and an interactive field goal kicking exhibit. The CFHOF is currently changing to a de-centralized model, which does not include a main museum building.

Once during every CFL season, the Hall sponsors the induction ceremony of former players. Included in the "Hall of Fame Weekend" is a regular season game, usually (but not always) affiliated with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Traditionally, the inducted players will come to the Hall and make an acceptance speech in front of the building where their newly sculpted bust is unveiled. A player must be retired from the game for at least three years before being eligible for consideration.[2] A Hall of Fame voting committee is composed of sports writers, selected CFL executives and inducted members.[3]

History

edit

The Canadian Football Hall of Fame officially opened on November 28, 1972. Originally located in downtown Hamilton, it moved to Tim Hortons Field, home of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, in 2016. The Canadian Football Hall of Fame was awarded to the City of Hamilton in June 1963 following the invitation of Mayor Lloyd Douglas Jackson. The Hamilton Parks Board offered a space near Civic Stadium. Ivan Miller, former sports editor of The Hamilton Spectator, was named the first curator. Soon after, the Board of Education purchased the land and building. The Hall moved to its new location in 1972 and closed on September 19, 2015. In 2015, responsibility for the museum moved from the City of Hamilton to the CFL.[4]

 
Touchdown sculpture was located outside the Hall of Fame until 2018

The old Canadian Football Hall of Fame building was easily identified by the slightly-larger-than-life metal sculpture Touchdown, featuring a successful receiver being tackled. The sculpture has since been moved to Tim Hortons Field Gate 3.[5] Tim Hortons Field also has 3 display areas – the Grey Cup display at Gate 3, the Media Hall of Fame Wing in the press box area, and the main display area in the premium level concourse. The main display area will feature all 296 busts (as of March 2018) and rotating displays of various artifacts. The displays are accessible during Hamilton Tiger-Cats home games (club-level display open to all ticket holders 15 minutes after the end of the game), as well as Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings to the public at no charge.[6] The CFHOF also has travelling displays for different CFL team home fields, the Grey Cup, and other events.[7]

Canadian Football Hall of Famers

edit

*denotes deceased

 
Grover Covington
 
Rocky DiPietro
 
Hugh Gall
 
Albert Grey, 4th Earl Grey
 
Ron Lancaster,
Canadian Football Hall of Fame
 
Hal Patterson
 
Piffles Taylor

Football reporters of Canada

edit

In addition to builders of the sport, and players, the Hall of Fame also has a section dedicated towards broadcasters and reporters of the sport.

Inductees

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Museum" Archived 2023-06-03 at the Wayback Machine. The Canadian Encyclopedia
  2. ^ Canadian Football Hall of Fame Nomination Form Archived 2017-02-14 at the Wayback Machine, April 12, 2010
  3. ^ Canadian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee Archived 2017-02-14 at the Wayback Machine, Accessed February 2011
  4. ^ Urciuoli, Anthony (July 10, 2015). "Canadian Football Hall of Fame will relocate in 2016". AM900 CHML | Hamilton News. Archived from the original on 2015-08-07. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  5. ^ "CANADIAN FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM TO OFFICIALLY RELAUNCH ON CLUB LEVEL AT TIM HORTONS FIELD IN 2018 – Hamilton Tiger-Cats". ticats.ca. Archived from the original on 2018-03-23. Retrieved 2018-03-22.
  6. ^ "CANADIAN FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM TO OFFICIALLY RELAUNCH ON CLUB LEVEL AT TIM HORTONS FIELD IN 2018 – Hamilton Tiger-Cats". ticats.ca. Archived from the original on 2018-03-23. Retrieved 2018-03-22.
  7. ^ "Canadian Football Hall of Fame closes for the last time Saturday". The Hamilton Spectator. 2015-09-18. Archived from the original on 2016-08-18. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  8. ^ "R. Harold Bailey". Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Museum. Archived from the original on 23 December 2009. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  9. ^ Ken Preston, 73, managed Saskatchewan Roughriders: [City Edition] Kitchener - Waterloo Record [Kitchener, Ont] 06 Aug 1991: A10.
edit