Former Stingers standout tackles key role with Canadian Football League – Concordia University

As executive director of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, Eric Noivo, BA 14, helps to celebrate and preserve the rich heritage of Canadian football.

Appointed by the museum in 2023, Noivo juggles his role at the Hall with a crucial mandate as associate vice-president of Health and Safety and Football Operations with the Canadian Football League (CFL).

That mandate includes the advancement of state-of-the-art safety protocols as well as constant collaboration with CFL franchises, personnel and stakeholders to refine and improve operational excellence.

“I’ve always seen football as more than just a game,” says Noivo, who studied psychology at Concordia. “It’s about community, teamwork and the opportunity to inspire others through the sport that we love.”

Much of this coalesces at the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Located on the fourth floor of Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ontario, the Hall, which operates as a non-profit registered charity, commemorates the achievements of players, coaches, builders and more.

Noivo points out that the Hall does much more than pay homage to the legends of the game — it also chronicles an important piece of Canadian history and culture.

“I believe in honouring our past while building for the future,” he says. “It’s about recognizing the contributions of those who came before us and setting a solid foundation for those who follow.

“We’re also trying to find a way to modernize, digitize and gamify the experience to make it even more appealing to families.”

‘I’m very appreciative of my time at Concordia’

As a kid in Kirkland, a West Island suburb of Montreal, Noivo developed a deep-rooted appreciation for team sports. Soccer was the family’s first love — Noivo’s parents are from Portugal — but football soon took hold.

“My brother signed up to play one year and I initially said no,” says Noivo. “Then the next day I made my father go back to sign me up. He still gives me a hard time about that.”

Noivo went on to excel with the Lakeshore Cougars and as an athlete at St. Thomas High School and John Abbott College.

“That West Island pipeline has been a reliable path to Concordia,” he notes. “I root for all Stingers, but especially for those who share that journey.”

As a Stinger, Noivo distinguished himself as a defensive end and, off the field, as a dedicated student. His commitment to excellence culminated in being selected as the Stingers men’s valedictorian in 2015.

“My mom [Ofelia Crispim, BFA 83] actually went to Concordia and graduated with a fine-arts degree,” says Noivo. “So I had an affinity for the university out of CEGEP. “I can’t imagine what my life would look like if I had gone somewhere else or made different decisions.”

Indeed, Noivo credits his time as a member of the Stingers with the opportunity that ultimately landed him a job with the CFL.

“The league used to host a combine at Loyola that I volunteered for after a referral from assistant coach Pat Donovan, [BA 07],” he recalls. “Without that, I don’t make the connections that I make, and I don’t end up in this associate vice-president role with the CFL.

“I’m very appreciative of my time at Concordia and I’m a very proud alumnus. I was excited to come back for Homecoming this year because it had been too long.”

‘The game is in a really good place’

As a close observer of Canadian football, how does the former Stingers standout feel about the state of the game?

“It’s a really exciting time for the Canadian Football League,” reflects Noivo. “Our games are as close and exciting as they’ve ever been. That’s a testament to where the product stands right now.”

There are other positive trends to take encouragement from, he adds.

“From a business perspective, we’ve made a lot of inroads in some of the more challenging markets like Vancouver and Montreal,” Noivo says.

“The atmosphere in Montreal earlier this year for the Alouettes game versus Calgary was electric. The crowd was rocking — there aren’t many better places to be on a Saturday night in Montreal.”

Beyond the CFL, Noivo emphasizes the broader impact of football in Canada.

“There are very exciting times ahead with the addition of flag football to the Olympics in 2028. There’s lots of work going on behind the scenes by stakeholders like Football Canada and the CFL to showcase the incredible talent we have here at home.”

Post-COVID-19, Noivo stresses the positive surge in youth participation.

“It’s really exciting for us at the league office that kids are choosing to play more and more football,” he says. “It’s a sport that teaches kids a lot of critical skills. So we’re thrilled about the state of the game at the professional and amateur levels right now.”