Canadian Ringette Championships

The event is organized by Canada's national sporting organization for the sport of ringette called Ringette Canada.^[2] It should not be confused with the Canada Winter Games which is a separate national multi-sport event, though ringette is a part of the Canada Winter Games program.

The tournament serves two main important functions. The first is to organize several competitions for the best ringette teams from each of the different Canadian provinces from various competitive levels and determine the national ringette champions of Canada for the season. The second is to organize the final elite competition between qualifying teams from Canada's National Ringette League, (the highest level of the sport in Canada) and determine which elite ringette team is the best in Canada overall. The tournament also serves as ground for those scouting for Canadian ringette talent, especially for those in the National Ringette League and those scouting for talent for both the junior and senior Canadian national ringette teams.^[3]

There are three classes in this championship:

U16 AA (Under 16 AA)
U19 AA (Under 19 AA)
National Ringette League (Semi-professional/showcase league)

The Agnes Jacks True Sport Award for sportsmanship is given in each of the three divisions at the end of the championships.

The Ringette Canada Trophy is awarded to the Canadian U16 AA champions.^[4]

The Sam Jacks Memorial Trophy is awarded to the Canadian U19 AA champions in memory of Sam Jacks.^[5][4] It was first awarded to the winning team at the Canadian Ringette Championships in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1979 and was donated by the city of North Bay, Ontario, the birthplace of ringette. It should not be confused with the Sam Jacks Trophy which is awarded to the world senior champions at the World Ringette Championships.

The Jeanne Sauvé Memorial Cup is awarded to the National Ringette League champions in memory of the late Governor General of Canada.^[4][6] In December 1984, the trophy was first initiated as the Jeanne Sauvé Cup, then was first presented at the 1985 Canadian Ringette Championships in Dollard des Ormeaux, Québec. The Jeanne Sauvé Cup was established in 1985 by the then President of Ringette Canada, Betty Shields. After Sauvé's death in 1993, it was renamed the Jeanne Sauvé Memorial Cup.

The first championship was held in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The event was held at the Keewatin Arena on Keewatin St. and Manitoba Avenue, from April 12 to 15, 1979. The first championship was commended by the then Prime Minister of Canada, Pierre Elliot Trudeau, in a letter from the Prime Minister's office which was included in the event pamphlet.

I am delighted to send my greetings to all those participating in the first National Championship of Ringette Canada being held in Winnipeg.

The active participation of female athletes across Canada has contributed not only to the changing of outdated public perception of the role of women in our society, but also the awakening of all Canadians to the importance of physical fitness.

Je tiens à vous féliciter et vous offre mes meilleurs voeux de succès lors de ces compétitions.

The elite National Ringette League (NRL) champions compete annually at the Canadian Ringette Championships at the end of the NRL season, an event which first began in 2004.