Kamau Peterson excelled in three sports over the course of his high school and university years but it was ultimately football that carried him to a solid 10-year career in the Canadian Football League.

The Calgary Stampeders made Peterson a first-round draft pick (sixth overall) in 2001 out of the University of New Hampshire. Success came quickly with the Stampeders winning the Grey Cup that same season.

A six-foot-one, 195-pound wide receiver, Peterson also played for CFL teams in Winnipeg, Hamilton, Edmonton and Vancouver. In 2008, he was honoured as the league’s Outstanding Canadian Player. He caught 101 passes for 1,317 yards and four touchdowns for the Edmonton Eskimos that season and ranked second in the league in completions and third in receiving yards. Peterson was twice named a West Division All-star. He finished his pro career with 536 receptions for 6,902 yards and 29 touchdowns.

At the University of New Hampshire, Peterson lettered in track, basketball and football. His school record for indoor triple jump set in 1999 still stands.

Several more records bear his name from an outstanding track career at Sandwich Secondary. Peterson’s gold-medal jump of 14.17 metres in 1994 is still the OFSAA record for midget boys’ triple jump. His name also appears in the record book for OFSAA West Regionals and SWOSSAA.

Since retiring from football, Peterson has shared his knowledge as a coach with Team Canada U19 and Team Ontario U16. He was on staff when Team Canada won World Championships in 2012 and 2016, including a historic win over the USA.

Peterson now joins another winning team as a member in the athlete’s category of the Windsor-Essex County Sports Hall of Fame.