Edmonton Elks

Franchise history and name evolution

The roots of elite football in Edmonton trace back to 1895 with the formation of the Alberta Rugby Football League. An early club adopted the name Esquimaux in 1908 and was officially named the Edmonton Eskimos by 1910. That early incarnation, which also briefly used the name Edmonton Elks in 1922, folded and reorganized several times before ceasing operations during the Second World War. The modern franchise was established in 1949 as the Edmonton Eskimos within the Western Interprovincial Football Union, a precursor to the CFL. The team quickly found success, winning its first Grey Cup in 1954 and securing two more consecutive championships by 1956.

Mounting public and corporate pressure in 2020 led the organization to retire the Eskimos name, a term historically placed on Inuit peoples. Key sponsors, including Belairdirect and the First Nations-owned Sports Interaction, advocated for the change, which was supported by groups like the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. The team operated temporarily as the Edmonton Football Team before announcing on June 1, 2021, that it would become the Edmonton Elks, reviving a name from the city's football past. This rebranding occurred alongside similar moves by major North American sports franchises and was met with understanding from franchise legends like Warren Moon, who acknowledged the need for cultural sensitivity while honouring the team's winning legacy under its former name.

Era of dominance and on-field records

The Edmonton franchise is defined by two extraordinary periods of championship success. The first was a three-peat from 1954 to 1956, led by stars like quarterback Jackie Parker and running back Johnny Bright. The second, and more dominant, era saw the team win an unprecedented five consecutive Grey Cups from 1978 to 1982. This dynasty was powered by quarterbacks Warren Moon and Tom Wilkinson under head coach Hugh Campbell, and it helped earn Edmonton the nickname "City of Champions" in the 1980s. The team appeared in nine Grey Cups in a ten-year span from 1973 to 1982, setting a standard of excellence that included six consecutive Grey Cup appearances from 1977 to 1982.

The club holds numerous CFL records that underscore its historic success and, more recently, its struggles. Its 34 consecutive playoff appearances from 1972 to 2005 set a North American professional sports record for postseason consistency. The team also recorded 12 consecutive home playoff victories from 1973 to 1987 and 13 consecutive seasons with 10 or more wins from 1985 to 1997. In stark contrast, the Elks later set an unfortunate North American record for the longest home losing and winless streaks, which reached 22 games from October 2019 until August 27, 2023, when the team finally secured its first home victory under the Elks name.

Branding, logos and community connection

The team's colours of green and gold have been a constant throughout its history. For decades, the primary branding centred on the interlocked double-E logo. Following the 2021 rebrand to the Elks, a new logo featuring a stylized elk head was introduced as the primary mark, with the EE logo becoming secondary. Fan sentiment favoured the traditional EE, leading to its return on helmets in 2022 and its reinstatement as the primary logo in 2025 under new private ownership, with the elk head retained as a secondary logo. The team has also engaged with Indigenous communities through special logos, such as one created in 2021 with Indigenous student artist Izaiah Masuskapoe, which was later used in CFL-wide commemorations for the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.

The mascots of the team have also evolved with its identity. Punter, an anthropomorphic football, was introduced in 2004. A polar bear mascot named Nanook was introduced in 1997 but was retired in 2021 during the rebrand and replaced by Spike, an elk. Following the change in ownership, Nanook was brought back in 2025 and Spike was retired. Beyond game-day entertainment, the Elks maintain a deep community connection through programs like the EE Selects, an elite development program for young football players in Northern Alberta that provides coaching, mentorship, and competitive tournament experience.

Stadium and fan culture

The Edmonton Elks have played their home games at Commonwealth Stadium since 1978, having previously played at Clarke Stadium. The massive open-air stadium in the heart of Edmonton has been the site of many of the franchise's greatest moments and has regularly led the CFL in average attendance. The team's Wall of Honour, displayed around the field level at Commonwealth, pays tribute to legendary players by listing their names, numbers, and seasons, though the team typically keeps numbers in circulation rather than retiring them. Exceptions include the numbers of all-time greats Warren Moon (1), Don Warrington (21), and Rollie Miles (98), which are no longer issued. The fan base is known for its loyalty and passion, enduring through both championship droughts and record losing streaks.

The Edmonton Elks have a rivalry with the Calgary Stampeders known as the Battle of Alberta. The team has a tradition of attracting and developing players who later become significant figures in Alberta public life. Past players include two former provincial premiers, Peter Lougheed and Donald Getty. Other notable alumni include a former mayor of Edmonton, Bill Smith, and a former lieutenant-governor, Norman Kwong.

Transition to private ownership

From its 1949 inception until midway through the 2024 CFL season, the Edmonton franchise operated as a community-owned team, governed by a board of directors and owned by local shareholders. This model changed when longtime fan and shareholder Larry Thompson purchased the team outright, becoming its first private owner. Thompson's tenure was brief, as he died on September 25, 2025. As of January 2026, the team is owned by his estate. This shift from community to private ownership marked a significant new chapter in the organization's history, influencing decisions such as the return of the EE primary logo and the Nanook mascot in 2025.

The football operations and coaching staff have seen recent changes as the new ownership looks to build a competitive team. For the 2026 season, Mark Kilam was named head coach, with Jordan Maksymic serving as offensive coordinator and assistant head coach and J.C. Sherritt as defensive coordinator. The organization also announced new additions to the coaching staff, including Jabari Arthur as running backs coach and Cedric Gagne-Marcoux in a football operations role. These appointments are part of a broader effort to revitalize the team's on-field performance and operational structure following the end of the record home losing streak.

Elks Selects youth development program

The Edmonton Elks Selects program is a major element of the team's community investment, designed to develop elite football talent from across Northern Alberta. Players are selected through a competitive tryout process for teams at various age levels, with the season typically running from December through February. The program provides high-level coaching from a combination of CFL players, Elks staff, and U SPORTS coaches, focusing on skill development, film study, and off-field education. Selects teams participate in travel tournaments against competition from across Canada and the United States, with the 2025-26 varsity team winning gold in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and bronze in Monterrey, Mexico.

The Edmonton Elks Selects program develops elite football players from across Northern Alberta. The program offers off-field development seminars on academics, recruiting, strength and conditioning, nutrition, leadership, and mental conditioning. It provides financial aid through a scholarship application process based on need and merit, with a deadline of November 1, 2026. Players receive pro mentorship from experienced coaches and players, medical support from athletic therapists, and elite competition in tournaments.

Recent performance and 2026 outlook

The Elks entered the 2026 season looking to build on the momentum from the end of their record home losing streak in 2023. The team's 2026 schedule featured various promotional game themes announced to engage fans. Following training camp, head coach Mark Kilam expressed optimism about the roster's preparation for the regular season. In a notable regular season achievement, a game recap from October 16, 2026, highlighted a 35-27 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. This result contributed to the Elks clinching first place in the West Division, earning the right to host the West Final on November 7, 2026, at Commonwealth Stadium.

The Edmonton Elks play their home games at Commonwealth Stadium. The franchise has won the Grey Cup championship 14 times, which is the most of any CFL club in Western Canada. This includes a record five consecutive Grey Cup wins from 1978 to 1982. The team's most recent Grey Cup win was in 2015.

Questions about Edmonton Elks

Why did the Edmonton Eskimos change their name to the Elks?

The team changed its name in response to sustained pressure from corporate sponsors and Indigenous groups who stated the term Eskimo was offensive and a colonialist term placed on Inuit peoples. Sponsors like Belairdirect and the First Nations-owned Sports Interaction advocated for the change, which was supported by the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. The organization officially stopped using the Eskimos name in July 2020, operated temporarily as the Edmonton Football Team, and announced the new name, Edmonton Elks, on June 1, 2021. The name Elks was chosen to maintain an "E" initial for branding continuity and had historical precedent from a 1922 Edmonton football club.

What is the Battle of Alberta rivalry?

The Battle of Alberta is the intense and longstanding rivalry between the Edmonton Elks and the Calgary Stampeders. It is one of the most famous rivalries in the CFL, reflecting the broader provincial competition between Alberta's two major cities across sports, culture, and economy. The football games between these two West Division opponents are typically high-stakes, passionate affairs that often have significant implications for playoff positioning and division titles. The rivalry adds a major layer of excitement to the CFL season for fans in both cities and across the country.

Who owns the Edmonton Elks?

The ownership structure of the Edmonton Elks changed significantly in 2024. From 1949 until midway through the 2024 season, the team was community-owned by a group of local shareholders. Longtime fan and shareholder Larry Thompson then purchased the team, becoming its first private owner. Following Thompson's death on September 25, 2025, the team's ownership transferred to his estate. As of January 2026, the estate of Larry Thompson is the current owner of the Edmonton Elks Football Club.

What is the EE Selects program?

The EE Selects program is an elite football development initiative run by the Edmonton Elks for young athletes across Northern Alberta. Players are chosen through a tryout process to join teams that train from December to February. The program provides high-level coaching from CFL and U SPORTS personnel, participation in national and international tournaments, and comprehensive off-field development in areas like academics and nutrition. It also offers financial aid scholarships based on need and merit. The program aims to develop the next generation of football talent while emphasizing character and community support.

What are the team's colours and current logos?

The Edmonton Elks' team colours are green and gold, a combination that has been used throughout the franchise's history. The primary logo as of 2025 is the traditional interlocked "EE" design, which was reinstated after new private ownership took over. A secondary logo features a stylized image of an elk's head. This followed a period from 2021 to 2024 where the elk logo was primary and the EE logo was secondary, a change made during the rebrand from Eskimos to Elks. The team's helmet design has alternated between featuring the EE logo and antler designs in recent seasons.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-21.