The Canadian Major Football League (CMFL) is the national governing body for semi-professional Canadian football (formally known as the Canadian Senior Football League), dedicated to advocating for the promotion of Canadian senior football.
The CMFL was formed in 1999 by the Alberta Football League (AFL) and Manitoba Football League (MFL) in an attempt to crown the amateur national champion of Canada, and replaced the Canadian Senior Intermediate championship game. From 2002 to 2025 the game was played between the AFL and Northern Football Conference (NFC) league champions. The two leagues cooperated but remained legally separate entities.
In 2024 the two leagues reaffirmed the agreement, after several teams split from the NFC and founded the Ontario Power 5 Football League (P5FL). In 2026, following the NFC's collapse, the P5FL reached an agreement to take the NFC's place in the championship.
Trophy The participating teams compete for the Sid Forster Memorial Trophy, emblematic of the Canadian Major Football Championship. The permanent trophy was provided by the NFC in memory of long-time Sudbury Spartans head coach and Canadian Football Hall of Fame member Sid Forester, who died in 1994. The trophy stays in possession of the game winner for the year following their victory.
Rules CMFL games are played under the host conference Canadian amateur rules.
When the AFL hosts Three downs One yard line of restraint Cut block rule to include running backs only, within the tackle box, 5 yards deep, on blitzing players though A and B gap, no engaged blitzing player may be cut.
When the NFC hosts Four downs Zero yard line of restraint Cut block rule to include: The Canadian Amateur Rule Book for Tackle Football, which is blocking below the waist is allowed anywhere within the close line play area, which by rule is 2 yards on either side of the line of scrimmage and between the tackles.
Forster Memorial Trophy games YearAFL teamScoreNFC team1999Calgary Wolfpack 36–28 Thunder Bay Storm () 2000Winnipeg Mustangs () 14–42 Oakville Longhorns 2001^Calgary Thunder0–25 Winnipeg Mustangs ()Calgary Wolfpack 0–41 Oakville Longhorns2002Calgary Wolfpack 46–54 Oakville Longhorns 2003Calgary Wolfpack 39–28 Oakville Longhorns2004Calgary Wolfpack 27–40 Milton Marauders 2005Calgary Wolfpack 20–14 Tri-City Outlaws 2006Calgary Wolfpack 29–43 Oshawa Hawkeyes 2007Edmonton Stallions 10–59 Sault Ste. Marie Steelers2008Calgary Wolfpack 35–7 Tri-City Outlaws2009Edmonton Stallions 6–65 Sault Ste. Marie Steelers2010Lloydminster Vandals 0–32 Sault Ste. Marie Steelers 2011Calgary Wolfpack 14–31 Tri-City Outlaws2012Lloydminster Vandals 25–19 Toronto Titans2013Calgary Gators 28–50 Montreal Transit 2014Calgary Wolfpack 26–49 Montreal Transit 2015Calgary Gators 38–39 GTA All-Stars 2016Fort McMurray Monarchs 59–45 GTA All-Stars2017Calgary Gators 17–18 GTA All-Stars 2018Fort McMurray Monarchs 22–17 GTA All-Stars 2019Calgary Wolfpack 0–28 GTA All-Stars 2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in Canada20212022Cold Lake Fighter Jets 35–18GTA All-Stars 2023Cold Lake Fighter Jets 7–11GTA All-Stars 2024 Calgary Gators 35–0GTA All-Stars 2025 Calgary Gators 39-1GTA All-Stars
Champions + Forster Memorial Trophy appearances Team League Wins Losses Total Last won Calgary Wolfpack AFL 4 7 11 2008 GTA All Stars NFC 4 5 9 2023 Oakville Longhorns NFC 3 1 4 2002 Sault Ste. Marie Steelers NFC 3 0 3 2010 Calgary Gators AFL 3 3 5 2026 Cold Lake Fighter Jets AFL 2 2 4 2022 Montreal Transit NFC 2 0 2 2014 Fort McMurray Monarchs AFL 2 0 2 2018 Tri-City Outlaws NFC 1 2 3 2011 Winnipeg Mustangs MFL 1 1 2 2001 Milton Marauders NFC 1 0 1 2004 Oshawa Hawkeyes NFC 1 0 1 2006 Edmonton Stallions AFL 0 2 2 Calgary Thunder AFL 0 1 1 Thunder Bay Storm MFL 0 1 1 Active franchise in bold.
See also Football Canada Alberta Football League Maritime Football League Northern Football Conference
References