Jordan Canham named U SPORTS Top 8 Academic All-Canadian

OTTAWA, ON. – Chosen for his remarkable accomplishments on the court and in the classroom, Golden Bears Volleyball alumni Jordan Canham was selected as a 2022/23 U SPORTS Top 8 Academic All-Canadian.
 
Canham, who was the Canada West Male Athlete of the Year in 2022/23, is the 13th University of Alberta student-athlete to earn this recognition and first since Ed Ilnicki (Golden Bears Football) in 2017/18.
 
The University of Alberta leads the nation with 3,764 all-time U SPORTS Academic All-Canadians, with only McGill (22) having more Top 8 selections.
 
“The dedication and sustained effort necessary to earn the recognition as the top university men’s volleyball athlete in the country and Academic All-Canadian status in the same year is exceptional,” said Interim Director of Athletics Katie Spriggs. “We are very fortunate that Jordan brought his talents to the University of Alberta and it is very fitting that he ends his time as a U SPORTS student-athlete with one final award as a Top 8 Academic All-Canadian.”
 
In his final season with the Bears, volleyball player Jordan Canham reached the summit in personal accomplishments. The former Canadian National Junior Team member was the U SPORTS Men’s Volleyball Player of the Year, leading his Bears squad to a 22-2 conference record, en route to the program’s 14th Canada West conference title.
 
He was the nation’s leading outside hitter with 49 aces in 2023, setting a new Golden Bears single-season record. Canham finished third in the country with a .361 attack percentage, seventh with 363.0 points, 11th with 282 kills, and 12th with 142 digs. Canham’s excellence extended beyond the court, as he finished his studies with a pair of degrees in Education and Kinesiology with distinction.
 
“Jordan’s growth as both a student and an athlete were exceptional during his time as a Golden Bear,” said Bears Volleyball head coach Brock Davidiuk. “He developed a very impressive work ethic, growth mindset and understanding of high performance habits whether it was on the court or in the classroom.
 
His ability to manage a challenging dual degree in our prestigious Kinesiology / Education faculties while achieving top honours over and over again on the court exemplifies what student-athletes can accomplish if they are willing to put in the work, grind and adapt.”

In the 30th anniversary of the U SPORTS Top 8 awards, Canham was joined by Acadia University’s Haley McDonald, Aidan Goslett of Dalhousie University, Emmy Fecteau from Concordia University, Yoan David of the University of Sherbrooke, Queen’s University’s Ashton Miller-Melancon, University of Waterloo’s Hannah Blair, and Madisson Lawrence of the University of Manitoba.
 
The eight honorees were selected from the 4,900 student-athletes who achieved U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian status in the 2022-23 season.
 
U SPORTS student-athletes achieve Academic All-Canadian status for maintaining an average of 80 percent or better over the academic year while competing for one – or more – of their university’s teams that participate within U SPORTS.
 
In recognition of their achievements, a ceremony will be held in Ottawa later today to present the student-athletes with the Governor General’s Medal for Academic Excellence. They will be honoured Thursday in a reception on Parliament Hill hosted by The Honourable Greg Fergus, P.C., M.P, Speaker of the House of Commons.
 
All-Time UofA Top 8 Academic All-Canadians