Bernie Brennan (born October 1, 1927) is a

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a ci ...

player. Coming straight out of St. Patrick's High School and at the age of 19, Brennan joined the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1946 and won the first Gruen Trophy for best rookie in the eastern Big Four. After one more season with the Riders he returned to school, studying veterinary medicine at Ontario Veterinarian College at the

Ontario Agricultural College The Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) originated at the agricultural laboratories of the Toronto Normal School, and was officially founded in 1874 as an associate agricultural college of the University of Toronto. Since 1964, it has become affili ...

. He was a star with their football team, enshrined in the Guelph Gryphons Sports Hall of Fame in 1991. He then returned to the Rough Riders in 1951, helping them win a Grey Cup championship. Brennan was also a skilled hockey player, playing for the 1947-48 Kemptville Royals, a championship senior men's hockey team in the St. Lawrence League and the Ottawa District Hockey Association, and the Brockville Magedomas in 1951. After his playing days he became director of

Rideau Carleton Raceway Rideau Carleton Raceway is a Canadian horse racing and gambling complex located at 4837 Albion Road in Ottawa, Ontario. The facility began operation in 1962 and specialises in Standardbred harness racing. In 2000, the venue introduced slot mac ...

, where he was appointed track veterinarian. Dr. Brennan is a member of the

Ontario Racing Commission Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

. He has been elected into the

North Grenville North Grenville is a township in eastern Ontario, Canada, in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville on the Rideau River. It is located just south of Ottawa in Canada's National Capital Region. It was established on January 1, 1998, through ...

Sports Hall of Fame.
''Inaugural North Grenville Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Thursday'' by Dale Elliott, BNTV Brock News, 25 October 2010

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brennan, Bernie 1927 births Living people Ottawa Rough Riders players Players of Canadian football from Ontario Canadian Football League Rookie of the Year Award winners