This is the time of year when the colours of fall show Edmonton as the land of green and gold. The picturesque contrast is not limited to the yellows, reds, and browns of poplars, birch, and maples with spruce and pine, but is also evident in the harvesting of grain fields, with golden hay bales spreading along the panoramic view amongst splashes of green foliage.
The colours green and gold are proudly displayed and represented by Edmonton based institutions. The University of Alberta colours are green and gold. Over the years, many U of A Golden Bears and Pandas teams have won national championships. As well, the colours of Canadian Football’s Edmonton Eskimos are green and gold, and the numerous championships that the Eskimos have won contribute to Edmonton being known as the City of Champions.
Of course Edmonton’s claim to the colours green and gold is not unique. Other prominent professional sport teams and successful national sport teams don the green and gold label. The current American Professional Football champion is the Green Bay Packers, known for a tradition of excellence. The original colours of World Football (Soccer) perennial powerhouse and current England champion Manchester United is green and gold, as attested by the green and gold campaign.
As well, green and gold are the national team colours of Australia and South Africa, which are proudly worn in international competitions such as Rugby Union and Football (Soccer). The movie Invictus documents the success of the green and gold South Africa Springboks, as they win Rugby Union’s World Cup. Although a more debatable connection with green and gold, the jerseys of Brazil’s national teams are well known to be yellow with green trim, and Brazil’s success in World Football (Soccer) is not a matter of debate.
The worldwide brotherhood of Green and Gold to which Edmonton belongs is strong and proud. Not only does green and gold display picturesque natural beauty, it unites Edmonton amongst the world elite, bearing a tradition of excellence, perseverance, and success.
