Part of Student Affairs, the Department of Athletics has existed at MacEwan since its early days and has encompassed a variety of club sports, recreational activities and interscholastic team sports. In 1974 MacEwan joined the Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference (ACAC). One year later, the Board of Governors approved the adoption of the “Griffin” as the college’s mascot. In 2013 MacEwan University became the 17th member of Canada West Universities Athletics Association as a probationary member, and in 2014 began competing in Canada West in basketball, cross country running, soccer and volleyball.