Simon Fraser University, based in British Columbia, has decided to seek U Sports membership after 15 years of competing in the NCAA against American schools. The university made this announcement to rejoin the Canada West conference in the Canadian collegiate system, aiming to ensure the sustainability of its sports programs and revive traditional rivalries.
Situated in Burnaby, Metro Vancouver, SFU has been the sole Canadian institution at the NCAA Division II level since its acceptance into the American organization in 2009. The university cited financial and logistical challenges as reasons for the decision that competing in the U.S. is no longer viable.
Recently, SFU’s football team, established in 1965, was disbanded in 2023 following the Lone Star conference’s decision not to renew its association. Despite efforts by players and alumni to halt the program’s termination through a Supreme Court injunction, their application was rejected.
SFU has also mentioned that its softball, golf, and outdoor track and field teams will no longer exist as varsity sports upon transitioning to U Sports due to the absence of Canadian championships in those sports. The fate of indoor track is currently being deliberated, with track being one of the sports recently discontinued by McGill University.