Named after John Bright (1930-1983), who was an award-winning football player, coach, and teacher. His Canadian Football League (CFL) career began in 1952 when he joined the Calgary Stampeders, two years later he played for the Edmonton Elks for eleven years winning three Grey Cups in the 1950s. He retired in 1964 and was inducted into the Edmonton Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Football league Hall of Fame. In 1969 he graduated from the University of Alberta and went on to work as a school teacher, administrator and football coach.