Capilano Receives CCAA Innovation Award

Story courtesy of the CCAA

The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) is proud to announce that Capilano University has been named the recipient of the 2025 CCAA Innovation Award for its exceptional and forward-thinking execution of the 2024 CCAA Women’s Soccer National Championship.

Capilano University redefined the national championship experience by hosting the event at their newly acquired Squamish campus, nestled along the iconic Sea-to-Sky Highway. The tournament, which brought together Canada’s top women’s soccer programs, was praised for its unparalleled athlete experience, groundbreaking use of technology, and deep engagement with community and culture.

The Capilano team introduced an RFID wristband system, replacing traditional room keys and accreditation passes with customized access bands specific to each team hotel. Coaches were equipped with QR-coded lanyards linking to a digital tournament manual, an environmentally conscious alternative to printed binders.

Social media engagement set new CCAA benchmarks with 94 content pieces published on Instagram with over 1M video views and 350,000 post impressions. This content included match highlight reels, goal clips, and post-game interviews in both official languages and was done using Student-produced visuals and coverage from CapU’s Motion Picture Arts program.

The host committee partnered with the Squamish Nation to incorporate Indigenous culture meaningfully into the event. The tournament opened and closed with traditional blessing ceremonies, and Player of the Game awards were presented jointly by Indigenous leaders and local youth soccer representatives. A Squamish Nation artist was also commissioned to create a tournament logo reflective of Indigenous perspectives, which appeared on posters and merchandise.

CapU extended the athlete experience off the pitch with a championship banquet held at the Railway Museum of British Columbia, featuring keynote speaker Rachel Orris of the Northern Super League. The event also spotlighted equity in sports through an all-female officiating crew selected in collaboration with Canada Soccer.

Capilano’s approach to hosting emphasized sustainability, with digital infrastructure replacing printed material, and student engagement at the heart of operations. Motion Picture Arts students managed content production, gaining real-world experience and opening doors to professional opportunities in sports media.

Feedback from participants, administrators, and community members has been overwhelmingly positive.

The CCAA congratulates Capilano University on this outstanding achievement and for setting a new standard in collegiate sport innovation.