ABOUT THE ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

MISSION

The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is the governing body for intercollegiate sports offering quality programs in the pursuit of athletic excellence. The Association contributes to the learning process by creating an environment which promotes academic success, provides a forum for personal development, complements the educational experience, and enhances student life.

VALUES

The OCAA believes in:

  • Being student-focused
  • Academic and athletic excellence
  • Leadership and personal development
  • Promoting an active and healthy lifestyle
  • Integrity, respect and fair play
  • Equity of opportunity
  • Teamwork

OPERATING PRINCIPLES

  • Progressive organization
  • Co-operative and collaboration stance
  • Accept responsibility and accountability
  • Ensure a safe environment
  • High quality standards of practice and play
  • Simple, non-bureaucratic decision-making and communication

HISTORY OF THE OCAA

For over 50 seasons the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association has been dedicated to being a leader in amateur athletics in the development of sport, fitness and recreational opportunities at the collegiate level.

Founded on June 9, 1967, 49 varsity teams competed in eight OCAA-sanctioned sports in its inaugural season. By 1971, the OCAA was an athletic conference with 30 members. The largest percentage of growth in participation occurred in 1982-83 when the OCAA initiated a tiered system in some of its league sports. This system enabled colleges to participate and develop within a league structure.

Nineteen seventy-one also brought about the beginning of inter-provincial competitions, with Ontario and Quebec schools squaring off in seven sports. Later in the decade, East met West as the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) was founded.

In 1983, the OCAA hosted national championships in Toronto and North Bay where more than 700 athletes competed in six events. Today, members of the OCAA remain active in hosting various national championships on behalf of the CCAA.

In May, 1984, in response to the need to enhance women's programs offered in the OCAA the Association, with Seneca College's Bonnie Bacvar as Chairperson, established the Women's Sport Development Committee. During its mandate, this committee undertook a number of innovative projects promoting OCAA women's sports to secondary students and launched an ongoing professional development seminar for administrators and coaches for women's athletic programs. In 1993-94, the Committee was honoured with a national award from the CCAA in recognition of its leadership and innovation.

The OCAA's growth and development has not been limited solely to membership and varsity success. In an effort to increase activity and healthy living within the student population, the OCAA and the Ontario Colleges Committee on Campus Recreation (predecessor to Ontario Collegiate Recreation) developed the Active Living Challenge. This program was created to enable a greater portion of the student body to receive the health benefits which recreational and competitive activity can provide.

Today, the OCAA has 26 members with the most-recent addition being Lakehead University Orillia in 2013. OCAA members currently compete in 10 league and five tournament sports. In 10 of these, OCAA champions go on to compete nationally at CCAA championships.

Notable accomplishments in OCAA history include the Humber College men's basketball team earning three consecutive national championships (1991 to 1993); the Humber College women's volleyball team (2008 to 2018) surpassing Seneca College's record for consecutive provincial championships (1990 to 1996) with 11; the Sheridan College men's volleyball team for their unprecedented six consecutive gold medals at OCAA championships (1989 to 1994); the Algonquin College men's soccer team winning six straight OCAA titles (2004 to 2009); and in 1997, Durham College and Humber College advancing to the first all-Ontario final at the CCAA national men's basketball championship, a feat repeated again in 2001 when Humber College and Sheridan College met for the national crown and 2025, when Durham College clashed again with Humber Polytechnic.

In 2003, the OCAA enhanced its lifetime of tradition with the formation of its Hall of Fame. The OCAA Hall of Fame recognizes the accomplishments of the athletes, coaches and builders who have made positive contributions to the association. On April 30, 2003 in Toronto, 265 people attended the inaugural induction ceremony to pay tribute to the first 103 inductees and celebrate the OCAA's rich history. The members of the Hall of Fame and their achievements are highlighted on the OCAA Hall of Fame website, which can be viewed at www.OCAA.com/HallofFame.