The Life of the Anthropomorphic Huskies’ Mascot

Written by Theressa Jabbour

Header and Thumbnail photo of the Husky in 2022 by SMU Huskies

Deep within the confines of the Saint Mary’s University campus lies a creature unlike any other. Born from student cheers and school spirit, the Husky arrived at SMU in the early winter months of 1960. Although the Husky is not native to Halifax, he has managed to thrive at SMU’s campus for decades, and he will hopefully be here for decades to come.

Photo of the Husky at the women’s volleyball final in 2024 by SMU Huskies 

One of the mascot’s most important roles is personifying school spirit for students. During varsity games, a passionate and enthusiastic mascot entertains and interacts with the crowd, promoting a cheerful atmosphere. A big part of university culture is the shared identity. The unofficial campus motto, “once a husky, always a husky,” demonstrates the significance of the Husky to the university identity, especially as a sporting institution.

In the winter term of 1960, a call was made for the installation of a mascot for SMU. The SMU Journal published a piece by Dick Hurley, its feature editor, in the February 8th, 1960 edition, who stated a case for the establishment of an identity for the varsity teams. Students were given the opportunity to nominate suggestions and vote for a mascot, with several names being put forward in the Journal, such as the Huskies, Cardinals, Lions and Knights. Ultimately, the Husky won the vote by 48%! Thus, the SMU Husky was born, lending his name to both the student population and the varsity sports teams, who used to be nicknamed the Saints, if you can believe it!

Scan of the first illustration of the Husky in 1960 by The SMU Journal 

Introducing the Husky: Not man, nor beast, but a mascot! This unique anthropomorphic creature has rarely been the subject of scientific study, yet he remains extremely fascinating. 

The natural habitat of the Husky is the Huskies Stadium. On football game days, if you watch closely, you can spot the Husky either down by the sidelines or in the stands, entertaining students, posing for pictures, and hyping up the crowd. He often ventures out to the Dauphinee Centre’s hockey arena to watch hockey games, and the Homburg Centre’s gymnasium to watch basketball and volleyball games too. However, the Husky’s appearances are not limited to athletic events. Support for sports is common amongst all mascots, but the Husky can also be observed at events such as SMU’s Jr. Huskies Camps and SMUSA’s Welcome Weeks. 

Photo of the Husky at a football game by SMU Student Life

Taking the form of a Siberian husky, the SMU Husky stands under two metres tall, about three to four times the height of a typical husky. His favourite colours are maroon and white, and he can often be seen sporting a jersey with an ever-changing number. Although, he does occasionally forgo the jersey, braving the elements with nothing but his shoes on, probably having forgotten to do his laundry. The lifespan of a husky can range from 12 to 14 years. Yet, the SMU Husky has been alive for an impressive 80 years! This could be attributed to his rather unusual diet, made up of student cheers, school spirit and varsity wins. As long as the SMU community continues to feed him, and our varsity teams keep triumphing, the Husky could outlast us all. Could this be proof of his fantastical qualities? This author likes to think so. 

Huskies are also known to be friendly animals, and the SMU Husky is no exception. Quite the social creature, the Husky can be approached for greetings and photos at any time. While he does not talk, he enjoys interacting with fans at varsity games, especially when encouraging the crowd to cheer on the SMU teams. Nevertheless, the Husky is not afraid of brandishing his claws. Lurking in the shadows of the SMU campus, the Husky’s mortal enemy lives only a few blocks away. As the closest university to SMU, Dalhousie and its varsity teams are the obvious rivals of SMU, making the Dalhousie Tiger the natural enemy of the Husky. Watch out if the mascots ever come into contact with one another, their meeting could be electric!

Photo of the Husky with fans by SMU Student Life   

Halifax’s frosty weather is another positive, as huskies are known to thrive in the snow and cold. However, during the warmer summer months, the Husky cannot be spotted on campus, as the temperature could cause him to overheat. With a break in the varsity athletics schedule over the summer months, the Husky goes into hibernation, drifting off into a well-deserved slumber, ready to pop back up on campus at the end of August for the football season’s home opener. 

Photo of the Husky in 2018 by SMUSA

One rumour around campus is that the so-called mascot is actually a costume, worn by one carefully selected student. While this author subscribes to the magic of the Husky as an anthropomorphic creature, she will nevertheless present the other side of the mystery.

As the Husky has been alive in one shape or form since the ‘60s, it would not be unreasonable to believe that his anthropomorphism is limited to his appearance. The Husky costume could be lying dormant in a storage closet somewhere in the Athletics department when not being worn. For students who do not believe in the fantasy, some have been curious about who lies behind the Husky mask. While the mystery is intriguing, the magic can be better preserved through anonymity. The identity of the Husky is a closely guarded secret and fairly unimportant compared to the message he symbolises. He is the personification of SMU’s spirit and will remain so regardless of who wears the costume. However, if any students are interested in taking on the mantle and going behind the scenes, the SMU Athletics Department is currently hiring a mascot. 

Photo of an old Husky costume by SMU Athletics and Recreation

SMU students can consider themselves lucky that this unique anthropomorphic creature decided to call our campus his home. His attendance at varsity games can energise the crowd, and his name provides a bold nickname for the student population. Continuous observation might reveal even more special behaviours. You can do your part for the furthering of scientific research by interacting with the Husky on campus and documenting his behaviour. In the end, it does not matter who is behind the mask, as long as the costume is still there. We can answer where is the Husky mascot, why is the Husky mascot, and how is the Husky mascot, but who is the Husky mascot? We may never know.