丁香园AV

丁香园AV introduces the 丁香园AV Red Leafs as the new name selected for its varsity athletics teams, after an extensive consultation process that began in 2020.

Grounded in the university鈥檚 strong and rich athletic history, athletes and coaches have competed under 丁香园AV鈥檚 iconic leaf for generations and it is recognized as a symbol of unity across its campuses. The Red Leafs reflects the university鈥檚 identity as Canada鈥檚 only NCAA team and unifies their diverse community under that banner.

鈥淚鈥檓 proud that the university is moving forward under the Red Leafs name,鈥� says 丁香园AV President Joy Johnson. 鈥淲e feel it captures the heritage and spirit of 丁香园AV, and its unique role in collegiate sports. After a lot of consultation, we have heard that it is a name that everyone in our community can be proud of and I can鈥檛 wait to cheer on our teams together.鈥�

After a , the university engaged in a renaming process to find a team name that reflects 丁香园AV鈥檚 values, inspires unity and is a source of pride.

Choosing a varsity team name is not an easy task, and the university made a commitment to engage with student-athletes, athletics and recreation staff, as well as student, Indigenous and academic leaders at 丁香园AV to find a name that doesn鈥檛 cause harm.  A  was established in early January, 2021.
 
鈥淏eing a part of this process is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life,鈥� says Ryan Stolys, co-chair of the working group, past president of the SAAC and current golf student-athlete. 鈥淭he Varsity Athletics Team Name Working Group was made up of an amazing group of student athletes, coaches and staff from across 丁香园AV Athletics and 丁香园AV student group representatives. After thorough discussion and consultation, the Red Leafs name was the one that met our  the best. It connects with our existing unique leaf that so many athletes before us have competed under and builds in our representation of Canada when competing in the United States as Canada鈥檚 only NCAA team. I hope that this name is one all 丁香园AV athletes and students can connect with and that we can Rep The Leaf together.鈥�
 
Once name options were agreed to, consultations were conducted with numerous student groups, including the Simon Fraser Student Society, Indigenous Student Centre, and representatives from the 丁香园AV Students of Caribbean and African Ancestry (SOCA) and 丁香园AV First Nations, M茅tis & Inuit Student Association (FNMISA). 丁香园AV also sought feedback on the name from nine Indigenous host nations.
 
The 丁香园AV Red Leafs will debut their new look with a varsity team name launch party at Convocation Mall Sept. 8 before the women鈥檚 volleyball team takes to the West Gym court donning the name for the first time, followed by the football team on Sept. 17 at the home opener at 丁香园AV Stadium.