Every year, the University of Ottawa and Carleton University face off in an intense football competition known as the Panda Game. This cherished tradition in Ottawa is a highlight of the fall season, with fans packing the stands to cheer on their teams. Discover more about the origins and evolution of this historic rivalry at iottawa.net.
The Classic Canadian Panda Game
With over 50 games played to date, the Panda Game is a long-standing fall tradition in Ottawa. The winning team earns the coveted trophy, a panda bear named Pedro, along with bragging rights until the next match.
The fierce competition between these two universities has been passed down through generations, becoming one of the most enduring rivalries in Canadian university sports.
The annual matchup has seen its share of ups and downs, each adding a layer to the game’s storied history.
Pedro the Mascot: A Unique History
The tradition began in 1955 with a creative stunt involving a panda bear. Brian McA’Nulty, the assistant editor of the University of Ottawa’s student newspaper, convinced a local jeweler to display a panda bear named Pedro in their Sparks Street shop window to fuel the rivalry.
Carleton students soon stole the mascot, inadvertently starting a tradition that became the centrepiece of the annual fall football game. Over the years, Pedro was dropped from parachutes at Frank Clair Stadium, hidden beneath the field, and even transported to the game in an armoured truck.
Pedro became a symbol of the rivalry, with fans going to great lengths to secure or protect him. A historic photo captures the original Pedro, the beloved mascot of both university teams.
In 1956, Pedro ran (unsuccessfully) for Carleton’s student council president and later embarked on a world tour, visiting Europe and Peru after a 25-0 defeat of the Carleton Ravens by the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees.
Induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
In the 1960s, students from both universities regularly launched raids to claim Pedro, often causing significant damage. This led to the infamous “Hate Week” leading up to the game. Efforts to rebrand it as “Love Week” failed to reduce tensions.
By 1979, Pedro, now battered and heavily tattooed with autographs from players, was retired and inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. A bronze replica became the new trophy until the game was discontinued in 1998.
The Tragic Accident of 1987
The Panda Game took a dark turn in 1987 when a stadium railing at Frank Clair Stadium collapsed, causing 30 fans to fall from a five-metre height onto concrete. Injuries ranged from broken bones to concussions, with one fan suffering a neck fracture and spending 20 days in a coma.
The incident marked the decline of the Panda Game’s popularity, with attendance dropping from 20,000 in 1987 to just 3,000 the following year. By 1998, the rivalry ended as Carleton discontinued its football program.
The Triumphant Return
After a 15-year hiatus, the Panda Game returned in 2013, rekindling the historic rivalry. Local artist Dale Dunning designed a new trophy made of polished aluminum—Pedro’s third incarnation. The game quickly regained its popularity, attracting large crowds, including 24,600 fans at TD Place Stadium in 2019.
Although the game was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic, its revival remains a source of nostalgia and excitement for students, alumni, and Ottawa residents.
Fun Facts About the Panda Game Rivalry
- The 50th Panda Game took place on September 29, 2018, at TD Place Stadium in Ottawa.
- In 1955, Ottawa jeweler Jack Snow donated a three-foot stuffed panda to the game, establishing Pedro as the first trophy and mascot.
- The Panda Game is Canada’s longest-running and most anticipated university sports tradition, eagerly awaited by students, alumni, and fans.
The Panda Game has come a long way since its inception in 1955. It remains a cherished part of Canadian university culture, highlighting the passionate rivalry between Ottawa’s two major universities.