Pennant, circa 1930 [1980-16-199]
In Edmonton, the Grads were household names. Throughout their 25 years of play, they had greater recognition and a wider fan base than any other Edmonton sports team, including men’s hockey teams.
“The Grads” The Girls of Whom Edmonton is so Justly Proud” The Edmonton Journal, June 4, 1936
Jump to: Edmonton Fans | Edmonton Arena | Supporting the Grads | Civic Recognition
Edmonton Fans
Thousands of fans at the train station welcoming the Grads back from the Berlin Olympics, 1936. [Provincial Archives of Alberta, A11424]
Right from when the Grads played for their first Underwood Trophy, Edmonton fans filled the seats in the Arena and avidly followed the games. The city rallied, coming together as a community with a buzz of excitement and pride.
Fan support was most evident when the Grads returned from each of their Olympic trips. For instance, when they returned from the 1924 Paris Olympics, the Grads were escorted by police and two marching bands in decorated cars to downtown Market (Churchill) Square. They were greeted by 20 000 spectators shouting, “We want the Grads!” and were welcomed by the mayor and premier.
The Edmonton Arena - Home of the Grads
![Basketball hoop from the Edmonton Arena [1980-16-202]](/sites/default/files/public-files/Grads_1980-16-202.jpg)
![Edmonton Arena seats, circa 1930 [1992-54-2]](/sites/default/files/public-files/Grads_1992-54-2.jpg)
Supporting the Grads
“They are the finest advertising any city could obtain. They’ll be a credit to Edmonton and Canada wherever they play. “ Edmonton Journal, June 4 1936
Edmonton Businesses
The iconic Mike’s News Stand sign, now hanging at the Edmonton Neon Sign Museum [1984-8-1]
Metropolitan Stores advertisement, The Edmonton Journal, April 16, 1930
From the beginning, many businesses such as Woodward’s, Johnstone Cafe, Trudeau’s Dry Cleaning, the Edmonton Dairy and countless others promoted the games and the successes of the Grads. Mike’s News Stand, sold tickets for the games and a telegraph wire at the store allowed for up-to-the-moment scores of away games. Some businesses even offered the players discounts and gifts in appreciation for their effort and the notoriety that Edmonton received because of the Grads accomplishments. The businesses that employed Grad players also allowed their Grad employees time off to play in tournaments outside of Edmonton and to travel to Europe for the Olympics
Vogue Shoe Shop advertisement, The Edmonton Journal, June 15, 1923
Media
In Edmonton, regular news coverage of the games was provided in the Edmonton Bulletin, Edmonton Journal and the Edmonton Capital. The Grads were often a front page feature of the sports pages. With detailed play-by-play accounts and commentary about each player, Edmontonians became well-versed in basketball and the Grads became local celebrities. Fan mail, letters to the editor and personal news about the players was also printed for the public. As the popularity of radio grew, the games were broadcast over the airwaves of CJCA, and later CFRN, and reached thousands of excited fans.
Percy and Maude’s daughter Patricia Page became a feature reporter for the Edmonton Journal from 1935-1945. Her column “Feminine Flashes'' provided insider commentary on the Grads and offered opinions on the game and opponents. Edmontonians wanted to know more and never seemed to grow bored of their winning team.
Civic Recognition
One of the signs added to the Edmonton city limits welcome signs, 1988 [2016-38-1]
The Edmonton Grads were the first sports team to bring a world champion title to Edmonton. They first received this title in 1923 with winning the Underwood Trophy and then received further acclaim with their success at the 1924 Olympic exhibition games. Until they disbanded in 1940, their world championship title went undisputed.
The Grads make up one of 5 sports teams represented by the City of Champions sign. The other teams are: The Oilers, Eskimos, Northern Lights (wheelchair basketball team) and the NAIT Ookpiks hockey team.
Game advertisement, The Edmonton Journal, June 11, 1923
The Edmonton Journal, June 5, 1940
From the inception of the Grads to present day, the City of Edmonton proudly recognizes the amazing success of the Grads and their contribution to the Edmonton community. In 1989, the City created the Edmonton Grads Park at 12103 109 Avenue, complete with a basketball hoop, commemorative plaque and interpretative panels.
The Grads have also been recognized by being inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 1974, the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Canada Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.