Burlington, Ont. – With the unanimous passing of the Private Member’s Bill 22, the first full week of October each year has officially been proclaimed as Ontario University Athletics Week.

With the inaugural edition to be celebrated from October 3 to October 11, 2026, Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its Member schools will use this unique and first-of-its-kind recognition to celebrate the long and impactful legacy of varsity sport in the province – one that has created unforgettable moments, helped shape leaders on and off the field, and strengthened communities well beyond the sidelines.

“There’s something incredibly exciting about celebrating the first ever OUA Week,” said OUA President & CEO Gord Grace. “It’s a chance to shine a spotlight on the student-athletes, coaches, schools, and communities who have made and continue to make university sport in Ontario so special, so meaningful, and so impactful across the province.”

To reinforce and anchor the collective efforts of the OUA and its Members, the theme of the inaugural OUA Week will be ‘Our Legacy. Our Moment. Our Rise.’

Honouring the past, present, and future of the OUA, this unified message will help in celebrating the people, moments, and traditions that built OUA sport; recognizing the student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and communities shaping the OUA today; and looking ahead to the next generation and continued impact of university sport in Ontario.

“This week represents just one of the many ways in which the OUA is on the rise,” added Grace. “It represents a special moment for university sport in the province, and we are honoured to celebrate this inaugural year and build upon it for many more to come.”

Stay tuned to the OUA channels for more information leading up to and during the inaugural OUA Week in Ontario.