A Timeline of Tradition
1963-64
Red Deer College established by Order-in-Council and housed at Lindsay Thurber Composite High School. Margaret Parsons, Harold Dawe, Lil Scott and Bob Jewell are key to its inception. Wayne Lalor head of physical education. First meeting to discuss formation of the Western Inter-College Conference (WICC). Camrose, Lethbridge, Mount Royal, NAIT and SAIT at meeting.
1964-65
Red Deer Junior College begins first Kings and Queens athletic teams. WICC begins competition in basketball. Hockey, volleyball, cross-country running, curling and badminton were exhibition sports. Wayne Lalor is named the first Athletic Director. Volleyball and curling participated in intramural competition and the badminton club formed.
1965-66
RDJC admitted into WICC. Hockey, wrestling, golf and volleyball added to basketball as competitive sports.
1966-67
First year for ACAC canoeing, RDC wins WAR canoe. First year women’s cross-country running, RDC first.
1967-68
RDJC officially opened new campus. College First year for men’s and women’s canoeing, RDC first in both.
1968-69
WICC changes name to Alberta College Athletic Conference.
1969-70
RDJC changed to Red Deer College (RDC). RDC wins their first of 15 ACAC Supremacy Awards. Win next nine years in a row. Also 1982-83 to 1986-987 and in 1988-89.
1970-71
ACAC enters into affiliation with three other Western provinces to form 4-West Conference. First 4-West championships held in men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball and men’s hockey.
1972-73
Badminton and curling added to 4-West championships.
1978-79
Laurel Goodacre replaces Wayne Lalor as Athletic Director. Alberta College Athletic Conference officially changes name to Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference.
1979-80
ACAC elects to permanently abandon the 4-West Conference to send champions directly to the CCAA championships. RDC hosts men’s and women’s CCAA volleyball championship and men’s hockey championship, winning men’s hockey. First year ACAC cross-country skiing, RDC wins women’s title.
1982-83
Cor Ouwerkerk takes over some Director and Athletic duties. Kings hockey tours Finland and Russia over Christmas break. Kings soccer exhibition sport.
1983-84
Kings soccer in ACAC. Queens volleyball becomes first team outside of Quebec to win national title, beating Quebec champion in final in Quebec.
1985-86
Cor Ouwerkerk and Queens volleyball begins exchange with Hokkaido Women’s University in Ebestu, Japan, a suburb of Sapporo.
1986-87
Cor Ouwerkerk takes over as full time Athletic Director, July 1, 1986. RDC hosts men’s and women’s CCAA volleyball championship.
1987-88
Al Ferchuk named Athletic Director.
1988-89
Last year for ACAC racquetball, RDC win’s team title. RDC wins last of their 15 ACAC Supremacy Awards. Award no longer presented.
1994-95
Kings volleyball wins first of 13 CCAA championships.
1995-96
Keith Hansen wins CCAA coaching excellence award.
1996-97
Rob Gravells wins CCAA coaching excellence award.
1998-99
Keith Hansen interim Athletic Director.
1999-2000
Al Ferchuk returns as Athletic Director. Volleyball Kings wins first of eight straight CCAA championships.
2000-01
Women’s hockey begins in ACAC, RDC wins inaugural title.
2002-03
RDC hosts first CCAA cross-country running championship.
2004-05
Cor Ouwerkerk elected to Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in May, 2005.
2007-08
Keith Hansen named Athletic Director.
2009-10
Gord Inglis named interim Athletic Director.
2010-11
ACAC badminton suspended after 2010-11 season until 2014-15. RDC’s last season of badminton.
2013-14
RDC receives the CCAA Innovation Award for “Captain’s Council” Leadership program. ACAC introduces indoor track. Cor Ouwerkerk, Al Ferchuk, Wayne Lalor, Brock Davidiuk inducted into the ACAC Hall of Fame.
2015-16
Diane St-Denis named Athletic Director. Brian Stackhouse wins CCAA coaching excellence award. Eight time CCAA men’s volleyball champion – 2000-07, RDC Kings, inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame.
2016-17
Gavin Schmitt and eight-time consecutive CCAA champion RDC Kings volleyball team, 2000-07, selected to ACAC Hall of Fame.
2018-19
Cor Ouwerkerk, Al Ferchuk, and Brock Davidiuk inducted into the CCAA Hall of Fame. RDC hosts CCAA men’s volleyball championships in new Gary W. Harris building. RDC suspends the Golf program indefinitely.
2020-21
Randy Stewart name interim Athletic Director. ACAC season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.
2021-22
Randy Stewart named Manager of Athletics and Student Life.