Western Canadian Championship (Gaelic football)
The Western Canadian Championship, is a Gaelic football championship tournament of the Western Divisional Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association, played every year in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. The championship includes Men's and Ladies' Gaelic football, two of the sports which make up Gaelic games.
The Trophy for the men's division is called the Tom Butler Cup, and the corresponding women's trophy is the Tim Gibbon Cup. Information on the internet about the championships post 2018 is scarce.
History
In 2004, the first formal GAA sanctioned Western Canadian Championships were played. The Divisional Board, in order to facilitate tournaments that include unaffiliated teams (i.e. not in the Western Divisional Board), and to allow each teams host critical games (understanding the travel distances between venues), agreed that the Championship would be played out in a League format. Each member team would play each other team twice, over two tournaments. The venue for Championship games would be rotated so that each team is required to cross the Rockies only once each year. Only the 5 member clubs (5 men's & 3 ladies' teams) compete in this Championship.[1]
The Edmonton Wolf Tones would win the first 3 ladies championships, whilst the Calgary Chieftains won the 2004 men's title, and the Vancouver Harps won the 2005 and 06 men's titles. These three clubs would split the championships amongst themselves for the next 10 or so years, before a 4th club won their first cup, with the Fraser Valley Gaels winning the men's cup in 2016 and 2018.[2]
Roll of honour
| # | Team | Mens wins | Ladies wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vancouver Harps/ISSC | 6 | 7 |
| 2 | Edmonton Wolfe Tones | 4 | 4 |
| 3 | Calgary Chieftains | 2 | 1 |
| 4 | Fraser Valley Gaels | 2 | 0 |
By year
| Season | Ladies | Men's |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Fraser Valley Gaels | |
| 2017 | ||
| 2016 | Chieftains | Fraser Valley Gaels |
| 2015 | Harps | Harps |
| 2014 | Harps | Wolfe Tones |
| 2013 | Harps | Wolfe Tones |
| 2012 | Harps | Wolfe Tones |
| 2011 | Wolfe Tones | Harps |
| 2010 | Harps | Harps |
| 2009 | Harps | Wolfe Tones |
| 2008 | Harps | Harps |
| 2007 | Harps | Chieftains |
| 2006 | Wolfe Tones | Harps |
| 2005 | Wolfe Tones | Harps |
| 2004[3] | Wolfe Tones | Chieftains |
| Source[4] | ||
References
- ^ O'Flynn, John; Ainsley Baldwin (2008). The History of the Gaelic Athletic Association in Canada. Trafford Publishing. p. 169. ISBN 9781425163778. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
- ^ "Canada GAA – GAA.World". Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ^ "Canada GAA – GAA.World". Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ^ O'Flynn, John; Ainsley Baldwin (2008). The History of the Gaelic Athletic Association in Canada. Trafford Publishing. p. 172. ISBN 9781425163778. Retrieved 9 February 2012.