{"id":13657,"date":"2024-12-13T06:53:28","date_gmt":"2024-12-13T13:53:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iedmonton.net\/?p=13657"},"modified":"2024-12-13T06:53:31","modified_gmt":"2024-12-13T13:53:31","slug":"how-the-eskimos-of-edmonton-conquered-canada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iedmonton.net\/en\/eternal-how-the-eskimos-of-edmonton-conquered-canada","title":{"rendered":"How the \u201cEskimos\u201d of Edmonton Conquered Canada"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Edmonton, the center of Alberta, is a region rich in culture and history. Our city has given the world many remarkable individuals, including Michael J. Fox, Eric Johnson, Alphonso Davies, and many others. However, it\u2019s one thing to talk about individual achievements and another to celebrate the legacy of an entire team. Building a team and maintaining it for nearly a century is a monumental task, akin to a complex machine where every member is a vital part. Teams like this have written their own chapters in Edmonton\u2019s history. More on <a href=\"https:\/\/iedmonton.net\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/iedmonton.net\/\">iedmonton.net<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3655e69e304\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3655e69e304\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/iedmonton.net\/en\/eternal-how-the-eskimos-of-edmonton-conquered-canada\/#The_History_of_the_%E2%80%9CEskimos%E2%80%9D\" >The History of the \u201cEskimos\u201d<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/iedmonton.net\/en\/eternal-how-the-eskimos-of-edmonton-conquered-canada\/#The_Rise_of_the_Team\" >The Rise of the Team<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/iedmonton.net\/en\/eternal-how-the-eskimos-of-edmonton-conquered-canada\/#Celebrating_Legends\" >Celebrating Legends<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/iedmonton.net\/en\/eternal-how-the-eskimos-of-edmonton-conquered-canada\/#Records_and_Controversies\" >Records and Controversies<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/iedmonton.net\/en\/eternal-how-the-eskimos-of-edmonton-conquered-canada\/#A_Legacy_Worth_Celebrating\" >A Legacy Worth Celebrating<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_History_of_the_%E2%80%9CEskimos%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>The History of the \u201cEskimos\u201d<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"638\" height=\"322\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.iedmonton.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/12\/17092509\/1-33.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13658\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.iedmonton.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/12\/17092509\/1-33.jpg 638w, https:\/\/cdn.iedmonton.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/12\/17092509\/1-33-300x151.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 638px) 100vw, 638px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many residents of Edmonton have likely walked along 112 Avenue or Stadium Road and witnessed the grandeur of Commonwealth Stadium, the 56,000-seat arena that served as the home of the \u201cEskimos\u201d for decades. Long before the team\u2019s formation in 1949, Canada had already embraced rugby in the 1860s, a sport that rapidly gained popularity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1949, Edmonton welcomed the creation of a new team, adorned in green and gold, dedicated to Canadian football\u2014a sport in which two teams of 12 players compete to carry an oval ball into the opposing team\u2019s end zone or through the goalposts. Initially named the &#8220;Eskimos,&#8221; historical accounts suggest that a similar team with the same name existed in Edmonton as early as 1895.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Four years before the official establishment of the \u201cEskimos,\u201d another team, the Calgary Stampeders, was formed in 1945. Over time, these two teams would develop one of the most intense rivalries in Canadian sports history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Rise_of_the_Team\"><\/span>The Rise of the Team<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just five years after its formation, the \u201cEskimos\u201d achieved their first significant successes, setting the tone for decades of dominance. From 1954 to 1956, the team won the prestigious Grey Cup three years in a row, firmly establishing its ambitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.iedmonton.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/12\/17092508\/2-17.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13661\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.iedmonton.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/12\/17092508\/2-17.jpg 780w, https:\/\/cdn.iedmonton.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/12\/17092508\/2-17-300x156.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.iedmonton.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/12\/17092508\/2-17-768x399.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.iedmonton.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/12\/17092508\/2-17-696x361.jpg 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A second golden era followed between 1978 and 1982, during which the team claimed five consecutive championships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the 20th century, the \u201cEskimos\u201d collected numerous other victories, including a notable Grey Cup win in 2015. By then, they were second only to the Toronto Argonauts in total championships, with 14 titles compared to Toronto\u2019s 17.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Celebrating_Legends\"><\/span>Celebrating Legends<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The team\u2019s most legendary players are honored in a unique way: their names, numbers, and years of service are etched into the concrete barrier separating the playing field from the stadium&#8217;s seating. This enduring tribute ensures that their legacies remain part of Commonwealth Stadium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable players and figures connected to the team include individuals like Norman Kwong, Bill Smith, Donald Getty, and Peter Lougheed. These figures not only excelled in sports but also played significant roles in Alberta\u2019s political landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Initially, the \u201cEskimos\u201d played their home games at Clarke Stadium, but in 1978 they moved to Commonwealth Stadium, where they remain to this day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Records_and_Controversies\"><\/span>Records and Controversies<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The \u201cEskimos\u201d hold a North American record for consecutive playoff appearances, making it to the postseason 34 times in a row. This remarkable feat, unmatched as of the early 2000s, reflects the consistency and dominance of the team over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, the team\u2019s original name, \u201cEskimos,\u201d sparked controversy in the 21st century. Many considered the name offensive to the Inuit people of Canada and beyond. After considerable debate and growing pressure, the team rebranded itself in 2020 as the Edmonton Football Team, also known as \u201cEE.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Legacy_Worth_Celebrating\"><\/span>A Legacy Worth Celebrating<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite the controversies, the legacy of the \u201cEskimos\u201d remains a significant part of Edmonton\u2019s history. With a devoted fanbase and a history of championship victories, the team continues to inspire future generations. One can only hope that new chapters in this storied legacy will be written in the years to come.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Edmonton, the center of Alberta, is a region rich in culture and history. Our city has given the world many remarkable individuals, including Michael J. Fox, Eric Johnson, Alphonso Davies, and many others. However, it\u2019s one thing to talk about individual achievements and another to celebrate the legacy of an entire team. Building a team [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":520,"featured_media":13664,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4820],"tags":[6300,6292,6294,6301,6293,6297,6302,6291,6289,6299,6298,6290,6296,6295,6288],"moimportance":[32,35],"motype":[4825],"moformat":[88],"class_list":["post-13657","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sporty","tag-calgary-stampeders-rivalry","tag-canadian-football-team","tag-canadian-sports-traditions","tag-cfl-records","tag-commonwealth-stadium","tag-edmonton-eskimos-history","tag-edmonton-football-legends","tag-edmonton-football-team","tag-edmonton-grey-cup-wins","tag-edmonton-rivalries","tag-edmonton-sports-legacy","tag-ee-football-team-2","tag-eskimos-rebranding","tag-grey-cup-champions","tag-norman-kwong","moimportance-golovna-novyna","moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatory","motype-eternal","moformat-copywriting"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iedmonton.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13657","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iedmonton.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iedmonton.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iedmonton.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/520"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iedmonton.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13657"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/iedmonton.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13657\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13667,"href":"https:\/\/iedmonton.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13657\/revisions\/13667"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iedmonton.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13664"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iedmonton.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13657"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iedmonton.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13657"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iedmonton.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13657"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iedmonton.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=13657"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iedmonton.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=13657"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iedmonton.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=13657"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}