Gee-Gees History

The Garnet and Grey has been proudly worn by uOttawa students for generations. When you join a Gee-Gees team or support from the stands, you are a part of a proud tradition within the Nation's Capital.

The University of Ottawa was founded in 1848 and is home to the third oldest university football team in Canada. The early success of both the football program, established in 1881, and the men's hockey program which followed in 1890, ensured that sport would always have a special place in the hearts of uOttawa students.

Annual sports days which featured contests for students in track and field, lacrosse and football games among students were special traditions starting in the 1870s. The first gymnasium facility on campus was opened in 1880 and a new gymnasium, specially built for strength training, was opened in 1886.

Student intramural leagues in hockey date back to 1888, and in 1904 the first intramural basketball league champions were crowned from a six-team league. Women's intramural leagues flourished in the 1960s, with the first athletic award for outstanding performance in women's intramurals presented in 1959-60.

In 2024, three of Canada's largest university sport events are held in Ottawa; the Panda Game, Capital Hoops Classic, and Colonel By Classic reaffirm each year that university sport deserves the big stage. Ottawa was the location of the first women's hockey game played in Canada and the first IIHF women's world championship, and the Gee-Gees celebrate that heritage with the Alerts Cup.

The University of Ottawa has seen students compete at the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games, and at World Cup matches in soccer and rugby.

The Gee-Gees have played an integral in the development of sport in Ottawa, and continue to step forward into our community as a place where sport and academics are combined in the pursuit of excellence.

For a complete history of Gee-Gees varsity team championships, click here for national championships and here for conference championships. Individual gold medallists at the national level are highlighted here. Athletes of the Year are celebrated each year, along with other significant annual awards highlighting outstanding achievements by student-athletes.

Below are some of our most recent varsity team accomplishments:

2023-2024 Men's Basketball U SPORTS National Bronze Medal

Team photo of the men's basketball team players and staff with their bronze medals at the University of Laval gym.

2023-2024 RSEQ Women's Rugby Champions

2023-2024 RSEQ Men's Rugby Champions

2023-2024 OUA Women's Soccer Champions

Gee-Gees women's soccer team players and coaches with the OUA Championship banner at Matt Anthony Field.

2022-2023 Men's Swimming U SPORTS National Bronze Medal

Gee-Gees men's swimming team with their national championship bronze medals.

2022-2023 Women's Soccer U SPORTS National Bronze Medal

Gee-Gees women's soccer team players and coaches with their bronze medals from the National Championship at the University of Laval.

2022-2023 Women's Rugby U SPORTS National Bronze Medal

Gee-Gees women's rugby team players and coaches with their national bronze medals.

2018-2019 Women's Basketball U SPORTS National Bronze Medal

Gee-Gees women's basketball team players and coaches celebrate bronze medals at Ryerson.

2018-2019 Women's Soccer U SPORTS National Championship

Gee-Gees women's soccer team players and coaches celebrate the national championship victory at Gee-Gees Field.

2017-2018 Women's Rugby U SPORTS National Championship

Team picture with championship banner on snowy field.