The Calgary Stampeders and Stampeders Foundation along with Lois Mitchell are honoured to announce the creation of Doug Mitchell Football Awards.

The athletic scholarships, created in memory of Doug Mitchell, will be directed to the University of Calgary and the University of British Columbia football programs. The program will award $5,000 per year to deserving members of each school’s football program based on athletics, academics and community involvement.

Doug Mitchell’s contributions to athletics over the years and his influence on the world of Canadian sports were extensive. From playing football at UBC to becoming the commissioner of the Canadian Football League and then a part-owner of the Calgary Stampeders, Mitchell was a life-long participant and advocate of sport for all.

He had a passion for football and for helping grow the game at all levels. His contribution to Canadian sports was recognized through his induction onto the Frank Gnup UBC Football Wall of Honour, the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, the British Columbia Hall of Fame, the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. He was also awarded the Order of Canada.

“Doug was a very important figure in the Canadian Football League and he was a passionate supporter of university sports,” said Stampeders president John Hufnagel. “These awards are a fitting legacy for everything he accomplished during his lifetime.”

Mitchell always emphasized the importance of kindness and respect in the classroom as a priority in conjunction with athletic pursuits. He believed university football created a variety of opportunities for young athletes.

“My family and I extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Stampeders Foundation for this meaningful tribute to Doug,” said the Honourable Lois Mitchell, Doug’s widow. “He was a passionate advocate for young athletes and was extremely proud of the USPORTS Athlete of the Year Awards he started for Canadian student athletes over 30 years ago. These scholarships represent his enduring commitment to nurturing the talents and dreams of our future sports stars. Through this initiative, we hope to empower and uplift the next generation of athletes, just as Doug did.”

The Stampeders Foundation is centred upon the support of amateur and grassroots football in Calgary and southern Alberta communities. Since 2012, the Stampeders Foundation has donated more than $4 million to football projects, which has been used to purchase equipment, provide post-secondary scholarships and assist with registration fees for youth. This also includes a $600,000 commitment to the Shouldice Athletic Fields Seasonal Shelter.