Competition History

We’re striving to maintain better historical record keeping of the competition, if you have any information that can help fill in the gaps, please contact us.

The GNCTR started in 1972 when a University of Alberta Professor, Dr. S. H. Simmonds, and Chair of the Alberta Chapter of the American Concrete Institute developed racing concrete sleds as Canadian equivalent to the “Concrete Canoe Race” which is popular in the USA. An original race was held in 1972 but was considered a failure by the Alberta ACI chapter and the event was not renewed for next year.

The initial race was held in Red Deer, Alberta at Canyon Ski Hill. This location was perfect as it was a middle meeting point for the Original 4 Schools of GNCTR:

  • University of Alberta

  • University of Calgary

  • Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)

  • Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)

The original competitors from 1972 were disappointed in the decision to not renew GNCTR going forward. Instead of letting GNCTR be laid to rest for good, the alumni of the original race decided to plan the event themselves. In 1974, the original Four Schools created their school clubs and organizing committees to meet once again for another concrete toboggan race.

In 1975; UAlberta, UofC, NAIT, & SAIT met once again to race concrete toboggans at Canyon Ski Hill. Luckily this race was considered a success and ever since has been a yearly tradition in Canada.

Past Hosts & Winners

Year Host School Overall Champion Race Champion Spirit Champion
2026 Western University University of Alberta University of British Columbia - Okanagan Concordia University
2025 Concordia University University of Toronto Western University University of Calgary
2024 Memorial University of Newfoundland University of British Columbia - Okanagan University of Toronto McMaster University
2023 University of British Columbia – Okanagan Western University University of Toronto McMaster University
2022 Southern Alberta Institute of Technology & the University of Calgary [1] Not Awarded [2] Not Awarded [3] University of Calgary
2021 Southern Alberta Institute of Technology & the University of Calgary [1] Not Awarded [2] Not Awarded [3] Ryerson University
2020 University of Toronto University of Toronto University of Toronto Concordia University
2019 University of Alberta Ryerson University Ryerson University University of Calgary
2018 University of Waterloo Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Lawrence Technological University University of British Columbia Okanagan
2017 University of Manitoba Queen's University Southern Alberta Institute of Technology University of Calgary
2016 University of Ottawa Western University Lawrence Technological University University of Calgary
2015 University of British Columbia – Okanagan University of Calgary University of Calgary University of Calgary
2014 University of Western Ontario University of Alberta University of British Columbia Okanagan University of Toronto
2013 University of British Columbia Western University University of Toronto McMaster University
2012 University of Calgary Ryerson University Ryerson University Queen's University
2011 University of Alberta University of Calgary University of Saskatchewan McMaster University
2010 McMaster University University of Alberta University of Calgary Queen's University
2009 University of Calgary University of Manitoba Unknown Unknown
2008 Université de Sherbrooke University of Waterloo Unknown Unknown
2007 University of Montreal Université de Sherbrooke Unknown University of Alberta
2006 École de Technologie Supérieure & Concordia University Royal Military College of Canada University of Western Ontario Unknown
2005 University of Calgary Carleton University Unknown McMaster University
2004 Carleton University University of Calgary Unknown McMaster University
2003 University of Alberta University of Manitoba Unknown McMaster University
2002 University of Manitoba University of Waterloo Unknown Carleton University
2001 Queen’s University & Royal Military College of Canada University of British Columbia Unknown McMaster University
2000 University of Regina University of Calgary Carleton University University of Manitoba
1999 University of Waterloo University of Manitoba Carleton University University of Manitoba
1998 University of Calgary University of Waterloo Unknown University of Manitoba
1997 Carleton University University of Waterloo Unknown Unknown
1996 University of Manitoba École Polytechnique de Montréal Unknown Unknown
1995 École de Technologie Supérieure University of Waterloo University of Waterloo Unknown
1994 University of Alberta Universität Stuttgart Universität Stuttgart Unknown
1993 Université de Sherbrooke University of Alberta University of Alberta University of Manitoba
1992 École de Technologie Supérieure Universite de Sherbrooke Universite de Sherbrooke Unknown
1991 École Polytechnique de Montréal École de Technologie Supérieure École de Technologie Supérieure Unknown
1990 University of Calgary École Polytechnique de Montréal École Polytechnique de Montréal Unknown
1989 University of British Columbia University of Calgary University of Calgary University of Waterloo
1988 University of British Columbia University of British Columbia University of British Columbia Unknown
1987 Southern Alberta Institute of Technology University of British Columbia University of British Columbia University of Waterloo
1986 Univeristy of Calgary Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Southern Alberta Institute of Technology University of Waterloo
1985 University of Manitoba University of Calgary University of Calgary University of Waterloo
1984 Northern Alberta Institute of Technology University of Manitoba University of Manitoba University of Waterloo
1983 University of British Columbia Northern Alberta Institute of Technology Northern Alberta Institute of Technology Not Awarded
1982 University of Manitoba University of British Columbia University of British Columbia Not Awarded
1981 University of British Columbia University of Manitoba University of Manitoba Not Awarded
1980 Northern Alberta Institute of Technology University of British Columbia University of British Columbia Not Awarded
1979 Souther Alberta Institute of Technology Northern Alberta Institute of Technology Northern Alberta Institute of Technology Not Awarded
1978 University of British Columbia Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Not Awarded
1977 Southern Alberta Institute of Technology University of British Columbia University of British Columbia Not Awarded
1976 Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Not Awarded
1975 University of Calgary, University of Alberta, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Not Awarded

[1] Competition was held virtually as travel restrictions and gathering limitations due to the COVID-19 Pandemic prohibited the competition from taking place in person.

[2] No Overall Champion awarded due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

[3] No Race Champion awarded due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.