Ottawa boasts a rich sporting history, and in this ongoing series, we will highlight key moments and figures from our local sports past. The Ottawa Sport History Highlight series is brought to you by the Ottawa Sport Hall of Fame, which has welcomed nearly 300 inductees since it began in 1968. Discover more at Ottawa Sport Hall. ca.
This year marks the 70th anniversary since Pedro the Panda was first awarded to the winners of the matchup between the national capital’s university football teams on Oct. 10, 1955. The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees will take on the Carleton University Ravens in this year’s game on Sunday, Oct. 5 at noon. The Gee-Gees have claimed victory in six consecutive Panda Games after the Ravens held onto Pedro for four straight years prior. In this installment of the Ottawa Sport History Highlight Series, we reflect on the story behind Pedro the Panda.
Standing three feet tall, Pedro is a stuffed panda bear that originally served as a mascot for Ottawa University’s varsity football team (which would be commonly referred to as “Gee-Gees” later).
A couple of students helped elevate Pedro’s status as they aimed to boost excitement around the rivalry game between Ottawa and Carleton. Thomas White and Bryan Mc Nulty, an editor with U of O’s student newspaper The Fulcrum, worked with jeweller Jack Snow to donate the panda and showcase it in his downtown shop.
In the days leading up to the match, Pedro was taken. Whether this theft actually happened or was just a prank remains unclear; however, played along with it by publishing a story titled College ‘Pandanappers’ Object of City Search. It stated:
A city-wide search kicked off today after upset University of Ottawa students reported their football mascot “Pedro the Panda” had been brazenly kidnapped during lunch hour.
The stuffed panda was set up as a challenge trophy for Thanksgiving Day’s game against Carleton College at Lansdowne Park and had been showcased at Jack Snow’s store on Sparks Street.
Just after noon – when Sparks Street was bustling with lunchtime crowds – three young men pulled up outside in a car.
While one stayed back in what appeared to be a “look-out” role at the wheel, two others casually walked into Snow’s store, snatched Pedro from where he sat on display, and sped away before anyone realized what happened.
Furious about this “pandanapping”, U of O students quickly blamed their counterparts from Carleton for pulling off this “crime.”
Peter Tanguay, president of U of O Student Federation told The Citizen: “This is one of the dirtiest tricks we have ever had perpetrated on us, and it had to happen almost on the eve of our big game with Carleton next Monday.
“When Mr. Snow donated the panda as our team’s mascot, Carleton wiseacres immediately hurled insults at Pedro. That’s why we made him a trophy for whoever wins our game.
“Apparently they thought they couldn’t win him fairly on the field so they decided to swipe him beforehand.”
Carleton students were quick to assert that they had nothing to do with this midday abduction. Elaine Dawson from Student Council said: “What? A dusty old stuffed bear? We wouldn’t even want it.”
Meanwhile, efforts were fully underway to locate Pedro; while city police or RCMP weren’t involved yet, u Ottawa warned drastic measures if their prized panda wasn’t returned soon.
The mystery surrounding his disappearance never got resolved; however, Pedro made an unforgettable comeback during halftime as reported by The Ottawa Journal after that match:
Midway through the final quarter of that Carleton-Ottawa-U football showdown at Lansdowne Park, Pedro descended parachuting from above. Apparently he’d been hiding out in press box since disappearing earlier that week.
The inaugural Panda Bear Game took place between u Ottawa and Carleton College on Oct. 10, 1955 at Lansdowne Park-recently established as Ottawa’s home stadium after over 70 years at Varsity Oval.
That location is now home to u Ottawa’s engineering building while across from there sits Matt Anthony Field named after coach who led Gee-Gees during that first Panda Game encounter.
It was actually Carleton who triumphed in that Thanksgiving Monday contest back in ’55 against their local rivals from St-Lawrence Football Conference with a scoreline reading 14-6; they presented Pedro proudly to captains Graydon Harrison and Doug Duclos afterwards.
“The cheerleaders from Carleton quickly put Pedro into action,” noted The Ottawa Journal then. “They lifted him onto their shoulders leading victory parade down Bank street back towards campus.”
Thanks largely due all hype surrounding him helped draw around 1,500 fans-the largest crowd ever seen at any past event involving Carleton according estimates given by The Ottawa Journal!
Since those early days though quite clearly defined traditions associated with pandas grew exponentially thereafter! Attendance rose dramatically reaching over 20 thousand by ’87 while records show staggering figures like 24 thousand plus showing up back again just last year-setting standard attendance levels every time events run smoothly over TD Place grounds too!
P pandanapping became commonplace throughout festivities centered around these games following initial disappearance incidents whereby within few occurrences Uottawastudents even displayed fake pandas instead real ones just avoid potential theft concerns arising nearby venues.
T hese stories transcended borders beyond Ontario ; once upon Queen ’ s engineering students actually abducted poor little guy holding ransom until funds raised get allocated African famine relief work fund ! On another occasion he mistakenly left behind Hamilton but staff La Rotonde (u Ottuwa French student newspaper ) eventually rescued beloved fellow again safely.
Wh ile belonging under U ottawas care , he traveled nationally serving duties ambassador representing university everywhere reached returning home finally end party celebrations post completion job well done.
C arlton folks unfortunately handled poorly during halftime break against rivaled team causing incident resulting losing head-a silly accident but did manage reattach without complaints afterward! In fact , former candidate President Council seemed fit enough not shy away running campaigns himself winning hearts classmates alike while also donating blood drives supporting charitable causes through schools initiatives !
K idnapped multiple times along way forged wild adventurous tales exist surrounding life however some may seem exaggerated fun nonetheless add charm legend itself very much alive still today !
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