Canadian Football Hall of Fame

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

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]

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

The Canadian Football Hall of Fame officially opened on November 28, 1972. The building was designed by Munro Ploen & Associates of Hamilton. 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. In 1963, 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).[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

*denotes deceased

A

B

C

Grover Covington
  • Grover Covington – player (DE), 2000 (Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1981–91).
  • Chip Coxplayer (LB), 2022 (Montreal Alouettes 2006–18).
  • Ernie Cox – player (C), 1963 (Hamilton Tigers 1921–31).*
  • Larry Crawford - player (DE), 2023
  • Ross Craig – player (RB), 1964 (Hamilton Alerts 1911–12; Hamilton Tigers 1913–15, 1919–20).*
  • Hec Crighton – builder, 1985 (served on CRU rules committee in 1947; instrumental in creation of university championship game).*
  • Carl Cronin – player (QB/LB/K), 1967 (Winnipeg 'Pegs 1932–33; Calgary Bronks 1935–39 as coach).*
  • Andrew Currie – builder, 1974 (officiating and rules committee 1935–70).*
  • Gord Currie – builder, 2005 (amateur football coach, notably with the Regina Rams 1965–76).*
  • Bernie Custis – builder, 1998 (amateur and college football coach 1958–88, notably with McMaster in the 1980s).*
  • Dave Cutlerplayer (K), 1998 (Edmonton Eskimos 1969–84).
  • Wes Cutler – player (T/E/R), 1968 (University of Toronto 1931–32; Toronto Argonauts 1933–38).*

D

  • Peter Dalla Rivaplayer (TE), 1993 (Montreal Alouettes 1968–81).
  • Andrew P. Davies – builder, 1969 (Ottawa Rough Riders as player/coach 1920s, executive officer, and team physician until 1948).*
  • Eddie Davis - player (DB), 2015.
  • John DeGruchy – builder, 1963 (president of the CRU 1925, 1930, 1935; president of the ORFU for 25 years).*
  • Dave Dickensonplayer (QB), 2015.
Rocky DiPietro

E

F

G

Hugh Gall
Albert Grey, 4th Earl Grey

H

I

  • Hank Ilesicplayer (P), 2018.
  • Jake Ireland – builder, 2013 (Referee 1979–2008).
  • Bob Isbister – player (FW), 1965 (Hamilton Tigers 1906–15, 1919).*

J

K

L

Ron Lancaster,
Canadian Football Hall of Fame

M

N

O

P

Hal Patterson

Q

R

S

T

Piffles Taylor

U

V

W

Y

Z

Football reporters of Canada

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

  • Ernie Afaganis, 1988
  • Tony Allen, 1981
  • Perc Allen, 1991
  • Ralph Allen, 1990
  • Jeff Avery, 2017
  • John Badham, 1995
  • Mike Beamish, 2014
  • Eric Bishop, 1987
  • Bob Bratina, 1998
  • Rheaume Brisebois, 1982
  • Stephen Brunt, 2007
  • Ernie Calcutt, 2017*
  • Dink Carroll, 1986
  • Tom Casey, 2004
  • Don Chevrier, 2016*
  • Rick Cluff, 1999
  • Cam Cole, 2002
  • Jim Coleman, 1980
  • Jim Cox, 1997
  • Gordon Craig, 1996
  • Chris Cuthbert, 2014
  • Steve Daniel, 2024
  • Darrell Davis, 2006
  • Vern DeGeer, 1981
  • Dave Dryburgh, 1981
  • Pierre Dufault, 2001
  • Milt Dunnell, 1986
  • Johnny Esaw, 1984
  • Trent Frayne, 1987
  • Bob Frewin, 1990
  • Kent Gilchrist, 2005
  • Bill Good, Sr., 1982
  • Paul Graham, 2018
  • Bryan Hall, 1989
  • Vicki Hall, 2023
  • Bob Hanley, 1992
  • Bob Hooper, 2021
  • Bob Hughes, 1990
  • Jim Hunt, 1987
  • Gorde Hunter, 1983
  • Jon Hynes, 2023
  • Bob Irving, 1997
  • Dale Isaac, 2003
  • Mal Isaac, 2003
  • Terry Jones, 2002
  • Jim Kearney, 1993
  • Graham Kelly, 2002
  • George Kent, 1988
  • Terry Kielty, 1991
  • Farhan Lalji, 2024
  • Eddie MacCabe, 1985
  • Al Maki, 2006
  • Pat Marsden, 1989
  • Norm Marshall, 1989
  • Peter Martin, 2000
  • Jack Matheson, 1986
  • Rick Matsumoto, 1994
  • Al McCann, 1993
  • J. P. McConnell, 1996
  • Wes McKnight, 1985
  • Paul McLean, 2009
  • Tom Melville, 1988
  • Ivan Miller, 1979
  • Steve Milton, 2012
  • Bob Moir, 1985
  • Dave Naylor, 2015
  • Ken Newans, 1991
  • Andy O'Brien, 1980
  • Basil O'Meara, 1979
  • Bernie Pascall, 2021
  • Joe Pascucci, 2015
  • Hal Pawson, 1983
  • Bob Picken, 1992
  • Jim Proudfoot, 1992
  • Tony Proudfoot, 2008
  • Pierre Proulx, 1985
  • Gillis Purcell, 1987
  • Dan Ralph, 2012
  • Ted Reeve, 1979
  • Al Ruckaber, 2005
  • Lloyd Saunders, 1986
  • Chris Schultz, 2023
  • Bill Selnes, 2013
  • Fred Sgambati, 1989
  • Hal Sigurdson, 1994
  • Steve Simmons, 2019
  • Doug Smith, 1983
  • Maurice Smith, 1982
  • Mark Stephen, 2013
  • Bill Stephenson, 1988
  • Annis Stukus, 1980
  • Glen Suitor, 2022
  • Jack Sullivan, 1994
  • Erwin Swangard, 1984
  • Ed Tait, 2011
  • Jim Taylor, 1989
  • Larry Tucker, 2019
  • Lowell Ullrich, 2014
  • Henry Viney, 1980
  • Gord Walker, 1982
  • Hal Walker, 1979
  • Jack Wells, 1981
  • John Wells, 1995
  • Bill Westwick, 1984
  • Ed Willes, 2022
  • Brian Williams, 2010
  • Don Wittman, 1990
  • Herb Zurkowsky, 2008

Hall of Fame Game

Season Date Road Team Score Home Team Score Television
2003 September 14 Winnipeg 19 Calgary 21 TSN
2004 October 1 Edmonton 27 Hamilton 30 TSN
2005 September 30 Edmonton 14 Hamilton 40 TSN
2006 September 30 BC 28 Hamilton 8 TSN
2007 September 15 Winnipeg 34 Hamilton 4 TSN
2008 September 19 Winnipeg 25 Hamilton 23 TSN
2009 September 26 Toronto 24 Winnipeg 29 TSN
2010 August 12 BC 13 Saskatchewan 37 TSN
2011 September 17 BC 32 Calgary 19 TSN
2012 November 3 Montreal 11 Winnipeg 19 TSN
2013 October 5 Montreal 47 Edmonton 24 TSN/RDS/ESPN3
2014[10] September 21 Calgary 15 Montreal 31 TSN/RDS/ESPN2
2015 August 22 Calgary 34 Saskatchewan 31 TSN
2016 September 16 Montreal 17 Hamilton 20 TSN/RDS
2017 September 15 Saskatchewan 27 Hamilton 19 TSN/RDS
2018 September 15 Calgary 43 Hamilton 28 TSN/RDS
2019 August 10 BC 34 Hamilton 35 TSN/RDS
2020[11] & 2021[11] June 18, 2022 Calgary 33 Hamilton 30 OT TSN
2022[11] September 17 Winnipeg 31 Hamilton 48 TSN/RDS
2023 September 16 Winnipeg 23 Hamilton 29 TSN
2024 September 14 Ottawa 21 Hamilton 37 CTV/RDS2
2025[12] September 20 Edmonton Hamilton TSN/RDS2

See also

References

  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.
  10. ^ "Week 13 Pre-Game: #CGYvsMTL". Montreal Alouettes. 2014-09-18. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
  11. ^ a b c Fame, Canadian Football Hall Of (2022-02-24). "'20, '21 CFHOF classes to be inducted in June". Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
  12. ^ "Tiger-cats Unveil 2025 Schedule". Hamilton Tiger-Cats. 2025-01-16. Retrieved 2025-07-26.