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The mural Grace and Glory is the image of a Tag Kim painting commissioned by United Cycle to commemorate Alberta’s centennial and 100 years of sport in Edmonton. The mural captures the spirit of Alberta’s ‘dream team,’ the Edmonton grads. Between 1915 and 1940, this ladies basketball team amassed an unparalleled record of 502 victories in 522 games. The creator of basketball, Canadian Dr. James Naismith concluded, “The Grads have the greatest team that ever stepped on a basketball floor, one of the best records of any sporting team.”
In addition to celebrating the Grads’ success as a team, Grace and Glory also embodies the theme that “one can make a difference.” Percy Page and Margaret MacBurney are two individuals who have made a difference. In 1914, as a 25 year old teacher at The McDougall Commercial High School, Percy Page lost a coin toss and was relegated to coaching the girls’ basketball team. From the time they first stepped on
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the floor, he was the driving force behind each of the Edmonton Grads 25 years. Percy Page’s legacy of leadership and service to his community has had an indelible impact on Alberta’s history.
Margaret MacBurney, as a member of the Grads, represents an athlete who was the epitome of excellence in sports. As the longest serving player on the Edmonton Grads, playing from 1926-1936, Margaret MacBurney amassed a team leading total of 2079 points. This mural features a remarkable individual accomplishment. During a half time exhibition, Margaret completed 61 free throws to break the existing record of 56, held by a pro player. Margaret celebrated her 96th birthday this year, and her record likely still stands today.
The capacity to make a difference on a team or in a community lies within both the coach and the player who stands alone at the free throw line.
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