MEDIA RELEASE | Elks to host Northern Alberta Flag Football Summit
The collaborative event with Football Alberta aims to continue developing the rising sport within the province.
EDMONTON - The Edmonton Elks and Football Alberta are proud to host the inaugural Northern Alberta Flag Football Summit on Thursday, Dec. 11 at Commonwealth Stadium. The event will bring together leaders in Flag Football from across Northern Alberta to build towards the most successful, standardized, and sustainable flag football system in Canada.
"The Edmonton Elks are truly excited to work alongside Football Alberta and so many other valued partners as we work to grow flag football in our region," Elks President and CEO Chris Morris said. "This is a meaningful chance for us to come together with our community and build a plan that will help the sport thrive across our province for years to come."
"Our hope is that, one day, young people in our community will look back on the pathway and opportunities created through this work as a key part of their journey — perhaps even as a stepping stone to representing Canada on the Olympic stage."
Flag Football participation has seen rapid growth, including the inclusion of the sport in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The summit will serve as a collaborative forum to discuss alignment, development, and long-term vision for the sport in Alberta. Football Alberta will also hold a similar summit in Southern Alberta at a later date.
"As flag football evolves, we are bringing partners together to build a unified foundation for sustainable growth," Football Alberta Flag Football Director Danny Boily said. "This ensures that as participation rises, we provide pathways for athletes to thrive, while keeping Alberta at the forefront of the game."
The announcement comes on the heels of the launch of the EE Selects program, an elite level travel team where Canadian athletes aged 12-18 can get high-level coaching and education from the Elks organization. The initiatives are all a part of a broader strategy by the Elks to engage with Amateur Football within the province, and continue their commitment toward high-level community service.
For all Media inquiries, please contact Elks Manager, Football Communications Michael Arcuri.
NORTHERN ALBERTA FLAG FOOTBALL SUMMIT DETAILS:
MEETING DATE/TIME:
- Thursday, Dec. 11 at 7:00 p.m.
- Commonwealth Stadium Alumni Room
POINTS OF DISCUSSION:
- National standards
- Infrastructure for growth
- Female athlete development
- The future of Flag Football in Alberta
- Expansion of Team Alberta programs
- Club provincials
- School league growth
- Elementary school tournaments
- Female high school provincials
- Pathways towards competition
KEY ATTENDEES:
- Chris Morris - Elks President and CEO
- Ed Hervey - Elks VP of Football Operations & General Manager
- Danny Boily - Football Alberta Flag Football Director
- Taylor Stiles - Football Alberta Technical Director
- Rick Walters - EE Alumni/Director, Government of Alberta
- Scott Woloshin - Manager, Football Officials Development at Football Canada
- Lori Ekdahl - League Organizer, NFL Flag
- Darryl Draudson - Program Director, NFL Flag
- Ryan Schulha - Executive Director, CDMFA
EDMONTON ELKS
The Edmonton Elks are proud members of the Canadian Football League, playing their home games at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta.
The club, officially renamed the Elks in June of 2021, has a tradition of excellence having won 14 Grey Cup championships (1954-56, 1975, 1978-82, 1987, 1993, 2003, 2005, 2015). Since its founding, the club remains focused on providing outstanding football memories for Edmonton and all of Northern Alberta.
Elks Football… Always Edmonton
Michael Arcuri