Bob Steadward (Builder)
- Canada West
- Jan 19
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 4
NAME: Dr. Bob Steadward
UNIVERSITY: Alberta
CATEGORY: Builder
CW Hall of Fame Class of 2025-26
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Joined the University of Alberta in 1963 as a student-athlete and became a foundational builder whose leadership helped shape the modern identity of Golden Bears and Pandas athletics
• Served in senior administrative roles at the University of Alberta, launching key legacy initiatives such as the Sports Wall of Fame Dinner and the Green and Gold Athletic Alumni Society
• Founded the Steadward Centre for Personal and Physical Achievement, establishing the University of Alberta as a national leader in inclusive, accessible, and adapted sport
• Recognized nationally and provincially for his contributions to sport, including appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada
BIOGRAPHY:
Dr. Bob Steadward leaves a legacy as one of the most influential builders in the history of University of Alberta athletics and a foundational figure in the development of university sport in Western Canada.
Steadward arrived at the University of Alberta in 1963 as a student-athlete, competing for the Golden Bears track and field team as a sprinter and long jumper. While studying physical education, he became deeply involved in the creation and operation of sport programs for athletes with disability, and this interest soon became a driving force in his career.
His administrative impact at the University of Alberta helped shape the modern identity of Golden Bears and Pandas athletics, strengthening the long-term foundation of the program. From 1983 to 1985, Dr. Steadward was the Associate Dean of the Faculty of Physical Education, during which time he inaugurated and chaired the Sports Wall of Fame Dinner program, an event that has earned the reputation as the most innovative in the nation. In 1983, he created and chaired the University’s Green and Gold Athletic Alumni Society. From 1985 to 1989, Bob served as the Chair of the Department of Athletics and as President of the Alberta Universities Athletic Association.
Beyond competition, Steadward’s vision expanded the role of the university as a leader in inclusive and accessible sport. He founded the Steadward Centre for Personal and Physical Achievement on the University of Alberta campus, a multi-disability sport, fitness, lifestyle, and research facility that remains a cornerstone of the university’s commitment to adapted physical activity.
While Steadward’s influence extended internationally through leadership roles in the Paralympic and Olympic movements, his contributions to Canada West and the University of Alberta remain central to his legacy. His work helped align athletic excellence with education, community engagement, and long-term institutional values.
In recognition of his service, Steadward has received numerous honours, including appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1999, the nation's highest civilian honour. He was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Edmonton Sports Hall of fame in 1996, and was added to the University of Alberta Sports Wall of Fame in 2002.
