Between 1915 to 1940, the Edmonton Commercial Graduates Basketball Club ("the Grads") went from a small-city, girl's high school team to world champs with an unparalleled winning record. Sports journalist Richard Brignall tells the story of this talented upstart team, whose sportsmanship and unwavering determination inspired generations of female athletes.

[Fry Reading Level - 4.6

Richard Brignall is a freelance writer, former newspaper sport reporter, based in Kenora, Ontario. He has over 130 articles published in magazines like Cottage Life and Outdoor Canada. He helped originate the Recordbooks series at James Lorimer and Company. This series focuses on Canadian sports history and issues like race, gender, disability, and poverty. He has written seven books for this series. Titles include Small Town Glory about the Kenora Thistles winning the Stanley Cup, Forever Champions about the Edmonton Grads women’s basketball team, Big League Dreams about black baseball player Fergie Jenkins, and China Clipper about Chinese-Canadian football player Norm Kwong. 

Richard Brignall's profile page

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From 1915 to 1940, the Edmonton Grads women's basketball team ruled the world of female athletes. In truth, there were few female athletes in the early years of this team's history, and those that made the effort had little support. That would change, and the Grads would be instrumental in making this change happen. With the flip of a coin, J. Percy Page became the coach of what started off as a girl's high school basketball team. Though they had little competition at home, over the years, women's teams began to form in eastern Canada and the United States. The Edmonton grads won nearly all of their games throughout the years including many championships. The Underwoood Trophy, donated for the World Championship, became theirs to defend.

This history of an amazing basketball team, who truly brought women's sports into the public interest is well written and interesting. Several black & white photographs punctuate the chapters showing the team and J. Percy Page from 1919 to 1936. Children will delight in the difference of uniform from then to present day, and those who remember the team will think fondly of the excitement these courageous individuals brought as women's sports came of age. Not only will it entertain and educate the age group for which it is intended, but it will also be enjoyed by those adults who are fascinated with the history of Edmonton, AB.

Highly Recommended.

Elaine Fuhr, a retired teacher of elementary and middle school, lives in Alberta.

Canadian Review of Materials, Volume 14, No. 4

Canadian Review of Materials - Volume 14, No. 4

Forever Champions: The Enduring Legacy of the Record-Setting Edmonton Grads (Recordbooks)