In 1922 Edmonton's football team was called the Elks.
James MacGregor in Edmonton A History wrote that it was called that because it was under the banner of that lodge.
In 1922 they were in the finals for the Grey Cup but lost to Queen's University.
Formed by local sports leader Deacon White who had formed city's earlier rugby football team in 1907.
After its 1922 loss, Edmonton did not have a city football team until 1949. In 1954, 1955, and 1956 the Eskimos won the Grey Cups. Starting a pattern of importing excellent athletes from the U.S., Johnny Bright was among the team luminaries at this time. He had been the victim of a vicious racist attack on the playing field in the U.S. and found Canada more friendly. He stayed the rest of his life, serving for many years as phys. ed. teacher at Bonnie Doon High School, as described in the book Memories of Bonnie Doon.
Earl Grey's Cup was established by Earl Grey, himself a great proponent of proportional representation (see other blogs for info on this )
The Edmonton Elks could work as a new name for the team -- or the Edmonton Earls!
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