By Ben Matchett
University of Calgary

The life and legacy of John Forzani have been recognized with the largest single gift in the history of the University of Calgary Dinos.

The Dinos 5th Quarter Association, together with the Forzani Group Foundation, the Flames Foundation for Life, and the View West Foundation, announced Thursday a gift of $1.5 million to create the John Forzani Memorial Athletic Awards, which will provide scholarships for student-athletes on the Dinos football team.

It’s a fitting tribute for Forzani, a legendary Calgary athlete, entrepreneur, and sportsman who passed away suddenly last October. A great champion of sport, athletics, and personal wellness, he advocated for his vision through the philanthropic efforts of the Forzani Group Foundation by investing in programs supporting physical fitness, health and wellness, and sport participation.

The awards will fund tuition and mandatory fees for eligible Dinos football players in perpetuity, relieving the financial burden of attending university.

“The John Forzani Memorial Athletic Awards will enable our Dinos football players to build the foundational leadership skills needed for their future success, on and off the field, and to learn from the many examples that John Forzani provided as a great champion of athletics, personal wellness and community,” said University President Elizabeth Cannon. “We are proud of our partnership with the Dinos 5th Quarter Association, the Forzani Group Foundation, and the Flames Foundation for Life and appreciate their generous investment to create a new endowed student award; it will be a great testament to John Forzani’s legacy for many years to come.”

“On behalf of my family and the Forzani Group Foundation, it is our pleasure to present this endowment to the Dinos,” said John’s wife, Linda Forzani. “This gift is in keeping with his vision and passion for sports, education, and health and wellness. I know that John would be pleased with the decision that our Board has made in his absence.”

The 5th Quarter Association, made up of Dinos football alumni who provide significant support to the program, spearheaded the initiative to bring the community partners together to honour Forzani’s memory and support the endeavours of Dinos football student-athletes.

“The mission of the 5th Quarter is to contribute to the pursuit of excellence on and off the field and enhance the experience of student-athletes at the University of Calgary,” said 5th Quarter President Greg Vavra. “We are extremely proud of our association with John Forzani and the University of Calgary and thank all of the community leaders that came together to create this endowment to pay tribute to the memory of John.”

A Calgary native, Forzani spent a lifetime in and around the game of football, including a seven-year stint as an offensive lineman for the Calgary Stampeders. In 2005, he was part of a group of local businessmen that purchased the Stampeders, and he retained a minority stake in the club after it was purchased by the Calgary Flames in 2012.

Thanks to the generosity of the donors, and in honour of Forzani’s legacy, future Dinos football players will be able to excel in their sport while building the key skills that will enable them to become the leaders of tomorrow.