The Terry Evanshen Trophy is an annual award presented by the Canadian Football League (CFL) to the player judged to be the Most Outstanding Canadian in the league’s West Division for a given season. The winner of the Terry Evanshen Trophy becomes the West Division’s nominee for the league‑wide CFL Most Outstanding Canadian Award.
Naming and Origin
The trophy is named in honour of Terry Evanshen, a former CFL wide receiver who played from 1965 to 1975 for the Calgary Stampeders, Montreal Alouettes and Toronto Argonauts. Evanshen’s playing career was distinguished by multiple All‑Star selections and a Grey Cup championship, and he is also remembered for his post‑career advocacy for concussion awareness after a severe automobile accident left him with traumatic brain injury.
Establishment
The award was instituted by the CFL in 1994, replacing earlier unnamed recognitions for the West Division’s top Canadian player. Since its inception, the trophy has been awarded each season, except for the league’s cancelled 2020 season due to the COVID‑19 pandemic.
Selection Process
Each West Division team nominates one Canadian player as its candidate for the award. A voting panel composed of CFL coaches, football reporters and league officials evaluates the nominees on the basis of on‑field performance, sportsmanship and contribution to the team. The player receiving the most votes is presented with the Terry Evanshen Trophy and advances to the CFL’s league‑wide Most Outstanding Canadian deliberations.
Relation to Other Divisional Awards
The West Division’s counterpart is the Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy, awarded to the East Division’s Most Outstanding Canadian. Together, the two divisional winners compete for the overall CFL Most Outstanding Canadian Award, which is presented at the league’s annual Awards Gala.
Notable Recipients
Winners of the Terry Evanshen Trophy have included a range of prominent Canadian players, such as wide receiver Geroy Simon (2005), defensive back Jalon Cox (2016) and running back Brandon Zylstra (2022). (The full list of recipients is maintained in the CFL’s official archives.)
Significance
The trophy underscores the CFL’s emphasis on promoting Canadian talent within a league that features both Canadian and international (predominantly American) players. By recognising excellence among Canadian athletes, the Terry Evanshen Trophy contributes to the league’s cultural identity and celebrates the contributions of domestic players to Canadian professional football.
