According to the Calgary Sun, the Canada West Conference of USports has cancelled its 2020 fall sports season because of coronavirus. The sports impacted at this time the most are soccer, football, rugby, and women’s field hockey as they only run in the fall. Sports such as hockey, volleyball, and basketball are set to begin in January on a shortened schedule. Meanwhile, decisions regarding golf, cross country running and swimming will be made by July 15.
Due to the decision made by the Canada West Conference, this means the University of Calgary Dinos will not have a chance to defend their Vanier Cup title in 2020 from a year ago. The Dinos defeated the University of Montreal Carabins 27-13 at the 55th Vanier Cup in Quebec City, Quebec this past November.
It has not yet been reported if university athletics in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes will go forward or not. One major reason why university sport has been cancelled throughout western Canada is because interprovincial travel between British Columbia and Alberta remains strongly discouraged.
The overall coronavirus statistics in western Canada have been significantly lower than eastern Canada. In Quebec and Ontario, there are a combined 83,709 cases, and 7428 deaths. In Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia combined, there are 10,720 cases, and only 331 deaths.
