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Ottawa Gee-Gees

Four standout players to join Gee-Gees Football Hall of Fame

Roster photos of Ibrahim Tounkara, Dan Boivin, Mike Reid, Cheelor Lindor, with the Gee-Gees Football Hall of Fame logo overlayed in the centre of the graphic.
May 15, 2024

The 2024 induction class for the Gee-Gees Football Hall of Fame will feature a pair of all-star offensive linemen, an All-Canadian inside receiver, and a highly respected middle linebacker.

Dan Boivin, Mike Reid, Ibrahim Tounkara, and Cheeler Lindor will be inducted on October 5, recognizing their outstanding careers in Garnet and Grey.

All four were members of championship-winning teams in Garnet and Grey and represent four different decades of excellence.

Dan Boivin was inducted to the Gee-Gees Football Hall of Fame in 2018 as a member of the undefeated 1965 team and is now being inducted as an individual. He earned OIFC All-Star status at right guard in that storied 1965 campaign, helping the Gee-Gees to the OIFC Conference and the St. Lawrence Conference Championships.

Boivin's Gee-Gees playing career spanned from 1961-1966, a time which saw the Garnet and Grey capture five OSLAA Championships and also post an undefeated record in 1961. A team co-captain during the 1965 and 1966 seasons, he was named the team's Most Valuable Player in 1966. Before joining the intercollegiate varsity ranks Boivin also played for the U of O in high school, earning the Optimist Club lineman award in 1960, when he co-captained the team to the intermediate city championship.

Mike Reid was a two-time OQIFC All-Star at centre, earning the conference awards in the 1979 and 1980 seasons. He was a member of the star-studded offensive line which was credited with the team's Atlantic Bowl victory in 1980. An influential teammate, Reid was voted the team's Ken Ferren Award winner for leadership in 1979 and the team's top offensive lineman award winner for 1980.

Reid began his Gee-Gees career (which covered 1978-1980) at linebacker and also played fullback in his first season. Following the team's Dunsmore Cup victory and Atlantic Bowl win in 1980, Reid was drafted 18th overall by Edmonton in the 1981 CFL draft. Originally from Sudbury, Ont., Reid is also a member of the Sudbury Spartan Hall of Fame and was previously inducted into the Gee-Gees Football Hall of Fame as a member of the 1980 team.

Ibrahim Tounkara was named a First Team All-Canadian in 1999, capping off his impressive Gee-Gees career which included the 1997-1999 football seasons. An impressive returner and receiver, he was among the conference leaders in both categories throughout his career. His career total of 15 receiving touchdowns is tied for fifth in Gee-Gees history and his league-leading 511 punt return yards in 1998 ranks fourth in Gee-Gees history. In 1999 he led the undefeated Gee-Gees in receiving with 730 yards and was the conference leader with seven receiving touchdowns, adding one on the ground.

Originally from Montreal but playing high school sports in Ottawa, Tounkara played three seasons with the Gee-Gees men's basketball team before joining the football team. His first touchdown in Garnet and Grey won the 1997 Panda Game. Tounkara was drafted fifth overall in 2000 CFL Draft, and played seven CFL seasons, totaling 117 games and seven touchdowns. He was a Grey Cup champion in 2001 with Calgary. 

Cheeler Lindor was twice named an OUA All-Star at middle linebacker. He began his five-year career (2003-2007) in Garnet and Grey as a starter on a young team in 2003 and quickly made an impression. The Ottawa product was a team captain starting in 2004 and earned his first all-star nomination in 2005. A member of the 2006 Yates Cup Champions, Lindor was sidelined with injury midway through that season after setting the tone early, contributing to the nation's stingiest defence known for its hard-hitting linebacking corps. He returned with another all-star calibre season in 2007, recording 35 tackles and two sacks as the Gee-Gees went undefeated in regular season play.

Lindor also showcased his physical, disciplined play on the special teams unit throughout his career, and he memorably returned an interception for a 71-yard touchdown against Queen's in 2005. His leadership and football IQ were pillars of the team's defensive success.