Judy Owen, Paul Friesen inducted into media wing of Canadian Football Hall of Fame

WINNIPEG — Judy Owen, a longtime contributor to The Canadian Press, and Winnipeg Sun columnist Paul Friesen were inducted into the media wing of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame on Sunday.

Both were formally enshrined during the Football Reporters of Canada’s annual Grey Cup breakfast.

Owen has been covering a number of sports, including football, for The Canadian Press since 2002. After serving as the Winnipeg Sun’s assistant city editor in 1991, Owen joined the paper’s sports department a year later.

Owen became the Winnipeg Blue Bombers beat reporter in 1997, a rare accomplishment at the time for a female sports reporter in Canada.

Friesen’s tenure with the Winnipeg Sun began in 1997 and he was promoted to columnist in 2001.

The veteran journalist has long covered both the Blue Bombers and CFL but also provided first-hand accounts from Olympic and Pan Am Games as well as curling, hockey (NHL and world stage) and golf championships for the Sun.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 16, 2025.