A Bison at the Centre of Canadian Football
As a kid, Randy Ambrosie [BComm(Hons)/87] was, in his own words, the “rottenest kid in class”—the sort who left his mother in tears after parent-teacher conferences.
“I was probably, in some respects, an improbable Bison,” says the UM alum.
It wasn’t until high school, once his first season in the Winnipeg Bantam Football League ignited a passion for the game, that he saw himself getting serious about academics. He was already thinking about playing football professionally and knew that meant university.
Guided by his older brother Rod—also a University of Manitoba grad—he set his sights on playing at the next level.
“I was a student at Kildonan-East Collegiate, and I had to beg my way into math and English classes,” Ambrosie says.
Getting into university was just the first hurdle. Once at UM, he juggled a new interest in business with the demands of Bison football. Initially struggling, he was inspired by the idea that he could earn his way to belonging, alongside his more academically inclined classmates. He fondly remembers many professors but credits a business policy course taught by Ross Henderson, who used a Socratic approach, for cultivating a love of learning.
“Dr. Henderson would walk into class and ask various people to start a conversation about a case study. And I just absolutely loved it,” Ambrosie says.
By the time he graduated, Ambrosie had transformed into a strong student while becoming an All-Canadian guard on the field. That success propelled him to the second overall pick in the 1985 CFL draft. He spent nine seasons in the league with Calgary, Toronto and Edmonton, earning a Grey Cup ring in 1993.
The common DNA between sports and finance is high performers. It was the same animal, only instead of shoulder pads, you wore a suit.
When he retired from football, Ambrosie transitioned to finance, taking on leadership roles at HSBC Securities and AGF Funds Inc. before becoming CEO of MacDougall, MacDougall & MacTier.
“The common DNA between sports and finance is high performers. It was the same animal, only instead of shoulder pads, you wore a suit,” Ambrosie says.
In 2017, his path came full circle with an unexpected call to serve as CFL commissioner.
“I hadn’t been involved in football for so long, but the idea of leading the CFL was incredibly compelling. Eight years later, I can safely say that it has been the honour of my life.”
Leading the league required a unique kind of teamwork, a lesson Ambrosie had carried with him since his playing days.
“When you’re playing on a team, you never know when a person is going to become the most important person in the moment,” he says, recalling a lesson from legendary coach Ron Lancaster. “[Lancaster] made sure every player felt valued because, in the right moment, any one of them could be the difference-maker.”
During his tenure, Ambrosie and his executive team played a key role in bringing in committed new ownership groups, strengthening the league’s foundation and growing league-wide revenue. And a focus on fan engagement contributed to rising TV ratings and attendance. Through it all, collaboration remained at the heart of his approach.
“It’s a lot less of a command-and-control job. You’re more of a chief collaborator because you’ve got nine team owners and nine team presidents, and you’ve got to pull them together to move the league forward.”
Ambrosie will step down as Commissioner sometime in 2025.
“I’m extremely proud of the many successes we’ve had. More than anything though, I couldn’t imagine loving a job more than I have loved being Commissioner of the CFL, and I hope that my passion for the role and for the league shone through in my efforts.”
Point of View // RANDY AMBROSIE ON SURROUNDING YOURSELF WITH GREATNESS
“I’ve been very lucky to find my way to the game of football, and it really did transform my life. But if football was the driver, then education was in the sidecar right alongside it.”
Ambrosie credits his time at UM for teaching him the value of hard work and of surrounding himself with people who pushed him to be better.
“You have the good fortune of being around people who are almost always smarter than you are, which means you have to try really hard and pedal even harder to keep up.”
That mindset carried him through football, business, and his tenure as Commissioner—always striving to earn his place in the room and applauding those who’ve done the same.
“If I’ve learned one important lesson, it’s that for any of us to reach our full potential in our chosen pursuits, we have to celebrate those who pursue and achieve greatness in theirs,” Ambrosie says. “There is something honorable about scraping and clawing one’s way to the top of his or her field, and there is value to all of us in celebrating those who do so.”
At the University of Manitoba, Bisons are at the centre of Canadian football, financial journalism, zero-emission transit and so much more. Wherever there’s a challenge, you’ll find UM alumni leading the charge. Explore the Bisons at the Centre campaign and meet other alumni who—like Randy Ambrosie—are shaping Manitoba and beyond.