UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN
Hopson's USask legacy will live on

A strong community is one built by many hands, Jim Hopson firmly believed.

There are many reasons why he will be missed, but Hopson's ability to create community is one that will be admired and emulated for years to come.

It is that importance of community that Hopson, as a leader, a supporter, and a friend of the University of Saskatchewan (USask), will leave a lasting impression on Huskie Athletics for years to come.

Hopson died April 2 in Regina after a long battle with colon cancer. He was 73. Always the fighter, Hopson underwent more than 40 chemotherapy treatments and two surgeries.

A celebration of Hopson's life is scheduled for Friday at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina. Flags on the USask campus will fly at half-mast in his honour.

His leadership skills were on full display in 2005 when he took over a struggling Saskatchewan Roughriders organization as team president and CEO and quickly turned it into one of Canada's most recognizable brands in a decade.

It was that combination of a savvy business and work ethic and his football experience that spurred USask President Peter Stoicheff to ask him in 2019 to become a valued member of the Huskie Athletics Board of Trustees, comprised of key community and university leaders to engage community expertise to ensure Huskie Athletics maximizes its potential and capitalizes on its long history of success.

"Jim Hopson was an icon of the community and brought a wealth of experience, knowledge, and passion for sports to our Huskie Athletics program and we were honoured to have his help in elevating our program and expanding our connection to our supporters and our community, something he was known for throughout his career," said Stoicheff. "There are not enough accolades or superlatives to encapsulate exactly what his presence meant to our Huskie Athletics organization and its teams, coaches, and student-athletes. His guidance and leadership left a lasting impact that continues to this day."

The Board of Trustees is tasked with shepherding Huskie Athletics into being the best sports program on Canada's U SPORTS landscape, with many post-secondary institutions adopting similar growth strategies.

Shannon Chinn, USask's chief athletic officer, knew Hopson from her time working previously with the Riders and said Hopson's presence was invaluable.

"Huskie Athletics was so fortunate to have Jim as the chair of our Board of Trustees. He was the unicorn for us with the perfect combination of expertise between high performance athletics, the business of sport, and education," said Chinn. "I am grateful to have learned under Jim's leadership when I worked for the Riders early in my career. It was a full circle moment to have him here with the Huskies when I started at USask. What I'm going to miss most is his weekly texts about how our Huskie teams were doing. It just reminded me that he was always watching and that meant a lot."

Hopson was born and raised in Regina and graduated from the University of Regina with an education degree and went on to the University of Oregon to earn his master's degree. His commitment to youth development was evident as he spent many years as a teacher, principal, and school administrator in Regina.

Hopson cut an imposing figure, but his kindness and gentle manner with those on and off the field were his hallmarks that belied his stature.

His list of honours and plaudits is long. Hopson was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame as a builder in 2019 and added to the Roughriders Plaza of Honour in 2018.

The U of R alumni association presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. He also received the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal and the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal.

He served 10 years as president/CEO of the Riders from 2005-15, overseeing the Canadian Football League (CFL) club's rise to national prominence while setting a high bar for other franchises in merchandise and ticket sales. His efforts with the Riders are seen as a template for other CFL franchises to emulate.

Despite those many successes, Hopson was always quick to divert praise or accolades for himself and leave it at the feet of the communities that he built.

He will be missed.