A week in picturesque Canmore, Alberta hardly seems like work, but for a few dozen athletic directors from coast-to-coast that’s exactly what it was. From June 9-13, the sleepy mountain town played host to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport Annual General Meeting.
While a great deal of the meeting was focused on housekeeping matters and taking stock, there were a few changes and decisions of note.
One of the changes that bodes well for the Dinos is the expansion of the National Championships for both men’s and women’s soccer. The new format sees the total number of teams qualifying for nationals jump from six to eight as two at-large bids were added to the mix.
The Dinos have traditionally had strong squads in both disciplines, however they are often hard-pressed to win the very tough and competitive Canada West Conference. With the at-large format being introduced, a strong Dinos team that fails to bring home a conference title may still be rewarded with a trip to nationals.
The CIS also increased it’s overall membership from 49 to 50 schools as the Montreal-based Ecole de Technologie Superieure will join the organization, entering varsity squads in men’s and women’s track as well as men’s soccer.
Also of note, the CIS Presidency was passed from University of Waterloo’s Judy McRae to Drew Love, the Director of Athletics at Carelton University.