Ivan Livingstone was a product of the Montreal High School  interscholastic athletic program and the Quebec Rugby Football  Union (QRFU), who together produced a number of excellent athletes in the  1940s and 1950s.  Livingstone was a star athlete in track and field, competing in the high and low hurdles, as well as the 100, 220 and 440 yard sprints. Ivan graduated from Verdun High School in 1948 and under scholarship went on to compete for the faculty of agriculture of McGill university, earning  letters in both football and track and field.  Livingstone was offered a full athletic scholarship at the University Dubuque in the United States where he ran the quarter mile, the 220 yard and 100 yard races. In his second yearn Livingstone was named captain of the track team  and was eventually inducted into the hall of fame of the university.  Livingstone was to sit out a semester to maintain his ellegibility and returned home to Montreal and played football for the Verdun Bulldogs of  the  QRFU. Livingstone was scouted by the Ottawa Rough Riders and the Calgary Stampeders. He elected to sign with the Stamps for the 1954season where he was named one of the top rookies of the Western League with 250 yards rushing. Livingstone played one season for Calgary and was  traded to the BC Lions where he played two seasons.  After the 1956 season, Livingstone elected to return to Montreal where he was recruited by the Alouettes and where he ended up playing four seasons. Livingstone was reknowned for his  speed, being named the top athlete in the 220 and 100 dashes on  the All Canada team in 1953.  Livingstone's career numbers may have been hampered by the reluctance of CFL coaches in his era to rely on Canadian talent, and in the case of Montreal Head Coach Peahead Walker to make use of the 12th man or  "flying wing."   There was some concern about the sure handedness of Livingstone, but in spite of that, he could claim  success according to the Montreal Gazette (October 5, 1965). You can see a sample of Ivan's speed in his receiving stats for 1958 and 1959 when he averaged 21.7 and 24,7 yards per catch with some long receptions.  One of Livingstone's catches covered 67 yards in the air.  Livingstone could also fill in as defensive halfback recording three career interceptions.

[Biography by Wes Cross with modifications by Ivan Livingstone]

Livingstone With the Verdun Bulldogs of the QRFU in 1953

Livingstone May Be Fastest Back In The CFL - July 31, 1958

Livingstone Played Flying Wing and Filled In at Linebacker in 1958 East Semi-Final

Livingstone and Peahead Walker - October 5, 1965

The East did not keep official game participation stats until 1960 and the West in 1964.  The games played stats given above before 1960 are unofficial and come from the 2006 Montreal Media Guide.