Reflections of the 1969 Blues
The compelling story of the 1969 North Glenora Blues lacrosse team shows why sports matter.
Through personal narratives, our documentary will showcase the relationship of the 1969 Blues
lacrosse team with the game, with each other, and with their communities while serving as
inspiration for current athletes, coaches, parents, and all of those who care about sports.
When I look back on it, the 1966-1970 years were the best of my life. What a fulfilling way to mature as a young man from the age of 17 to 21. Our target of the Halifax Summer Games drove me to improve in order to achieve a sporting goal. At the time it became a life investment …….day to day, week to week, month to month and year to year. This quest of a group of individuals also led to a lifetime of lasting friendships to this day. At the age of 72 I am still in contact with the majority of the group of which I cherish! And of course it became an engrained…..for the love of the game of lacrosse.
This is an ageless example of the will of Community spirit and the determination of a group of individuals towards achieving a goal. It’s a story of leadership, perseverance, and success. It grew into the love of a game that developed individual character and molded future leaders and contributors to society.
Doug Parsons, 1969 North Glenora Blues Team Captain
There was ‘love of the game’ for sure but that came gradually as we developed our skills and learned more about the game. There was a sense of pride in what we accomplished. We had a sense of responsibility with the task that Coach John Tayler had trusted us with to impart the skills we’d been taught to the younger ones which helped to build a sense of belonging to something special. Lacrosse was a niche sport with deep Indigenous/ spiritual/ historical roots that very few in our city played.
There was a sense of brotherhood with our team-mates/friends that shared our journey, a series of great memories and experiences that took us through our most formative years of our late teens/early 20’s and in the end – a wealth of undying friendships, grateful kids and parents, that in my case, are scattered over three distinct communities. There is nothing quite like seeing your own kids or the kids and grand-kids of your former players joining the game we all learned to love and to watch them develop that love, in their turn.
I often think back with gratitude on what John gave us and the opportunities that we each had to develop as athletes but more importantly into decent young, now old men, with a sense of needing to share this great game.
Dave Smith, 1969 North Glenora Blues player
Other Blues Voices
I believe the story of the ‘69 Blues should be told because it’s part of the history of lacrosse in
Brenna, 24 year old former Blues player
Alberta. To be able to look back and see how the actions of a few people created something so
beneficial to the community, and get the perspective of the people who put all of this in motion is
invaluable to the story. The creation of the club shows the love of the game and tight-knit
attitude of the lacrosse community, and those actions have continued to impact the lives of so many today. As lacrosse continues to grow in Canada, and around the world, I think it’s
important to showcase the values that make lacrosse such a unique sport and community.
My life would be so different if I didn’t play lacrosse.
In lacrosse, it takes a lot to be a good team. The story of the 1969 Blues team will help to tell how lacrosse came to Edmonton and help others come into the game. It will let people know the background and hopefully attract them to the game.
— Callum, 13 year-old Blues lacrosse player
We know that sports have been, and continue to be, an important way to engage youth in the community. Learning about the history of the North Glenora Blues would be an inspiration to our youth, their families and all members of the community. It is a story about lacrosse, but it is also an important story about what can be accomplished by a dedicated and passionate group of community members and this would be an inspiration to us all.
— Melissa Cambell – President, North Glenora Community League
North Glenora Blues History Project 