Blog

  • April Member Showcase – Nick Lacoste

    Tuesday, April 23, 2024 | By

    Background 

    Through my past work in Indigenous hockey spaces, I have executed research projects, conducted surveys, and uncovered significant statistical insights concerning the journeys of Indigenous hockey players. I plan to share these findings through the CSC’s platform, with the main goal being to inform the public about the inequities in some Indigenous youth hockey experiences as well as to promote under-scouted high-level Indigenous hockey players. My expertise in statistical analysis (both quantitative and qualitative) has led me to new conclusions about current Indigenous hockey players upon learning about their paths to junior or high school hockey. I plan to present these findings to demonstrate the differences between some Indigenous athletic journeys and some privileged athletic opportunities that co-exist in neighbouring cities/communities. In doing so, I hope to contribute to the growing collection of Indigenous athlete research pieces and publicize issues that are not currently being promoted in mainstream media.

    Current Projects 

    Many of my research projects concern Indigenous sport through a strong partnership with the Manitoba Aboriginal Sport & Recreation Council (MASRC). One project that I recently completed was preparing important documents for the 2025 Manitoba Indigenous Summer Games. This event will be held in two nations, Norway House Cree Nation and Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation serves as both an athletic and cultural celebration next summer. I also created the High-Level Indigenous Hockey Players Map. This has been a 5-month project to collect and organize Indigenous hockey players into a database to promote their achievements. I used my database management expertise to create database and map templates for volunteers to easily attach player info to their hometowns and eventual points on a map. The project began as a Google Doc of 80-ish names and has since become a full-fledged database with over 1000 high-level Indigenous hockey players. The Google My Map visual for this database has amassed over 32,000 views, which has completely surpassed my expectations. A special shoutout goes to Hockey Indigenous for their help throughout this process and for promoting the map on their website.

    What is your Favourite TV Show? 

    Prison Break or Bojack Horseman

    What are your current Hobbies and Interests? 

    Practically every day, I will watch, track, scout, research, or play hockey. When not focused on hockey, I like to read and play guitar or piano. I recently also started playing disc golf and I enjoy many outdoor activities like basketball and Spikeball.

    What’s your Favourite Sport? 

    My favourite sport is hockey, and my favourite team is the Dallas Stars. They don’t get much media attention in southern Ontario, but I have been following them closely since about 2014.

    Achievements/Memorable Moments 

    Being part of a panel at the Indigenous Hockey Research Network’s inaugural conference at McGill University in October 2023 was a proud personal moment. I was also selected to be a page in the Ontario Legislature when I was in Grade 7, which is a proud memory of moving to Toronto for 5 weeks in 2014 to work for the provincial government at Queen’s Park.

    Future Plans 

    During my Master’s, I plan to continue working/volunteering in my 5-6 positions if time allows. The main goal throughout my Master’s is to apply the Indigenous hockey organizational learning and knowledge from the Master’s research into a live environment. I hope to build relationships with Indigenous hockey organizations as part of working with Indigenous youth athletes. I also hope to work with non-Indigenous Junior and Professional hockey organizations over the next few years, both locally and potentially overseas. The end goal is to work in a meaningful management space within a professional hockey organization, and I will continue to work until that happens.

    Categories: Member Showcases

  • Taela Ritchie – Exit Blog, Event, Marketing, and Communications Assistant

    Friday, April 19, 2024 | By

    As I near the end of my internship at the Centre for Sport Capacity (CSC), I find myself looking back on the incredible journey of personal and professional growth I’ve experienced over the past eight months. From day one, I was welcomed into a welcoming environment that not only encouraged me to excel but also provided me with the tools and opportunities to do so. As I move on from this chapter of my life, I extend my gratitude to Grace Nelson and Dr. Julie Stevens. Throughout my time at the CSC, their constant support and willingness to offer guidance has been amazing and I appreciate them continuously presenting me with opportunities for growth and learning. This internship has exceeded all my expectations, and I couldn’t be more thankful for this opportunity.

    Throughout my time at the Centre there were many opportunities to expand my professional portfolio and knowledge. One of the most rewarding experiences during my internship was leading the planning of a book launch event. Taking on the role of the main planner for this event allowed me to navigate through all the details of event management. From coordinating with AV and custodial to securing a venue to implementing social media marketing strategies, every aspect of the planning process refined my project management skills and deepened my understanding of event planning. My time at the CSC also afforded me the opportunity to learn how to develop a website. Crafting a website for a Sport Management Professor honed my skills in content creation and layout design. Collaborating closely with the professor, I tailored the website to meet his specific needs, honing my abilities in client communication and project management. This project enhanced my technical skills and gave me confidence to create more web development projects if needed. At the CSC, I embraced the role of crafting a magazine using Canva, a graphic design platform. Through this project, I honed my skills in graphic design, colours, and imagery to convey the magazines messages.

    I am immensely grateful for the opportunity I had at the CSC. It has been a transformative experience that has not only allowed me to grow both personally and professionally but has also equipped me with invaluable skills and knowledge that I will carry forward into my future careers. Working alongside a dedicated and supportive team like Grace Nelson and Dr. Julie Stevens has been a privilege, and their guidance and mentorship have played a significant role in shaping my journey during my time at the Centre for Sport Capacity. I am deeply thankful for the trust they placed in me and for the countless opportunities they provided for learning and development. This internship has truly been a cornerstone in my professional growth, and I am grateful for every moment spent at the CSC.

    Categories: Students

  • April Member Showcase – Lucas Rotondo

    Friday, April 05, 2024 | By

    Background 

    Given my experience and focus on working within the sport event space, particularly on Indigenous sport events, my area of expertise to this point in my academic and professional career has been focused on that unique intersection within the sport industry. As a result, I was approached by Stephane Friday of Hockey Indigenous to work on the upcoming National Indigenous Junior Hockey Championships (NIJHC), which has allowed me to expand on my interest for Indigenous sport and sport events by applying the knowledge and experience I’ve garnered throughout my studies and work. In discussing this role with Dr. Taylor McKee, we recognized an opportunity to leverage the volunteer capabilities of the CSC and it’s relationship with Brock’s driven Sport Management students. I plan to build out the volunteer-related logistics and access Brock’s Sport Management students on behalf of the CSC and Hockey Indigenous. Ultimately, this would allow the NIJHC to flourish through enhanced support and capacity, while also providing Brock Sport Management students the opportunity to gain hands-on event-related experience. 

    Current Projects 

    While wrapping up my fourth and final semester, I recently engaged in researching the topic of “women’s sport and representation of women’s sporting events in the media.” I learned plenty about the differences in sponsorship, media representation – both quality and quantity – and how these issues reinforce negative gender stereotypes both within sport and society.   

    My most recent project, which is ongoing, is my work on the NIJHC with Hockey Indigenous. We are a small team of volunteers which has allowed me to take on a very hands-on role. As a result, I’ve been afforded very meaningful and critical responsibilities and tasks that allow me the opportunity to apply the expertise I’ve gained from my previous work experiences and studies. For example, I’m currently working on selecting the venue for the event while being mindful of key logistical components, developing the event website and social media, facilitating the internal database and organizational materials, and related event management / administration tasks.   

    Industry work 

    Prior to my work on the NIJHC, I was tasked with creating the programming for the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) x Carnegie Initiative’s partnership, which was aimed at encouraging hockey participants to have conversations about racism within and the culture of the sport of hockey. I created synchronous and asynchronous programming so that all 60 CHL teams could participate on their own schedule, and this programming generally included a film viewing, participation in and viewing of a panel discussion, and proof of performance collection. I was also able to bring this programming to life at the 2024 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game by gathering nearly 200 high-school students, CHL players, delegates, and panel speakers together to watch the Carnegie Initiatives “Beyond Their Years” film as well as a panel discussion regarding both the film and concepts of race and racism within hockey.   

    What is your Favourite TV Show? 

    Survivor and Attack on Titan 

    What are your current Hobbies and Interests? 

    I enjoy playing just about any sport. Right now and for the last year or so I’ve focused on volleyball and becoming a better player, though I also enjoy playing hockey, basketball, and soccer. As such, I keep up with all professional sports, following the NHL most closely. I’ve also developed an interest in working out and learning how to most efficiently train in the gym. I’ve always been interested in video games and esports, most notably Rocket League. Truthfully, I’m interested in just about anything I can compete in, whether it’s against others or myself. 

    What’s your Favourite Sport? 

    At the moment, my favourite sport to play is volleyball and my favourite sport to watch is basketball. Hockey is certainly my favourite sport in general simply because of my involvement in the sport years ago. My favourite sports teams are the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Raptors, but I always wrote “#8 Ovechkin” on my wooden street hockey sticks as a child. 

    Achievements/Memorable Moments 

    The 2023 North American Indigenous Games Opening Ceremonies was arguably my most memorable working experience so far in my career. To recount the event, I was already ecstatic to be in Halifax, Nova Scotia for the first time in my life as I love to travel and enjoy new experiences. My role throughout this event was to capture and disseminate social media content with the goal of archiving content, posting to social media channels, and creating a newsletter for the Manitoba Aboriginal Sports and Recreation Council and Team Manitoba. As such, it was my job to follow Team Manitoba throughout the street parade and into Scotiabank Centre. I can vividly remember entering the loud arena through the side door to get ahead of our athletes with the goal of recording them walking into the venue. Ironically and selfishly, I missed the first few athletes as I took a few seconds to soak in the experience; the music, the cheering, the atmosphere, the smiles on everyone’s face, the thousands of spectators already filling up and seated within the massive arena, being in a new city and province, the week I was about to have – I was thinking about all of these things over the span of just a few seconds, and I’m thankful it seemed to last so much longer. My immense effort, urgency to push myself beyond my comfort zone, desire to be excellent and stand out, and ability to adapt and excel in any task thrown my way had led me to that specific moment. As a culmination of all of my personal and professional qualities and drive, finding myself in that moment reflects as an achievement in and of itself. I’m incredibly proud and grateful for that moment as it most memorably presented me with the opportunity to reflect on why I work so hard, what’s important to me, and where I hope to take my career.  

    Future Plans 

    I hope to find myself working more closely within the sport event space, though I can truly see myself working in any role or department. I plan to return to Brock University in 2025 to study the intersection of Indigenous sport and sport events by researching the practices, execution, broader impact, and cultural significance of prominent Indigenous sporting events such as the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships, North American Indigenous Games, and National Indigenous Junior Hockey Championships. Ultimately, my personal goal is to continue pushing myself outside of my comfort zone to learn new skills, theory, and ultimately to have new experiences as a result. 

     

     

    Categories: Member Showcases

  • March Member Showcase – Joseph Dick

    Monday, March 04, 2024 | By

    Background

    As an undergraduate, I studied in the sport management program at Brock University. While I always planned to go into industry after I finished my degree, Dr. Craig Hyatt’s SPMA 4P85 class shifted my sights to the master’s program where I was fortunate enough to secure Dr. Hyatt as my supervisor.

    Currently, my work is focused on psychological and sociological antecedents to sport consumer behaviour within sport marketing. In this regard, my research currently focuses on how sport consumers navigate adverse events. Of importance here is how sport organization may leverage strategies for to garner and retain support. From a business perspective, I am fascinated by exploring what factors drive growth in fandom and consumption. Translated to application, this means to provide accurate and targeted marketing/communication practices for driving growth in revenue.

    I joined the Centre of Sport Capacity to assist in knowledge mobilization. I believe that my research could be used directly in industry.  I hope through membership, I will be able to contribute my expertise to relevant industry partners and receive support in mobilizing my knowledge.

    Current Projects

    Currently, I am working to complete my master’s thesis. This is a qualitative research project aiming to understand the impact of the upstart men’s professional golf league called LIV Golf, as it attempts to rival the traditional, historically dominant PGA Tour. Since the beginning of my thesis, the organizations have since announced a merger, meaning I am now examining the fan perspective on the events of LIV Golf through the announcement of the merger.

    I am currently writing my findings for my thesis, focusing specifically at how golf becomes “sacred” to participants, and how that influences their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours toward LIV Golf and the announcement of the merger. With the sacred elements of golf, it seems as though the sport operates as a sort of quasi-religion entity in the modern industrialized world, encompassing a variety of reactions of fans. With this, I hope to contribute to relevant literature of how sport can indeed carry “sacred” elements, which must be considered in the marketing of a sport object.

    Industry work

    Last summer, I completed a research project with the Niagara River Lions to help achieve their organizational goal surrounding increasing attendance. To utilize my consumer expertise and research skills, I drew from academic literature in consumer behaviour, psychology, and marketing to create and conduct a survey. With the findings, meaningful recommendations were made to stakeholders on how they could utilize marketing dollars more effectively to increase attendance.

    I hope to do more industry research this coming summer.

    Are you involved in any clubs/associations?

    Throughout my undergraduate and master’s degrees, I have been a member of the Brock University cross country and track and field teams.

    What is your Favourite TV Show?

    The Office.

    What are your current Hobbies and Interests?

    I am very into the research right now. Running is my other major hobby. More minor hobbies include watching professional sport, hiking, and biking.

    What’s your Favourite Sport?

    Running is my favourite participatory sport while American football is my preferred spectator sport.

    Achievements/Memorable Moments

    I would say that in my personal life, running my final collegiate OUA cross country race comes to mind as the most significant. I had been training for many years to that point and seen the team improve significantly over my tenure. This race was our last chance to qualify for the USports (Nationals) or my cross-country running career for Brock would be over. My parents and other significant people in my life came to watch and it was a highly emotional day to finally qualify for USports after 5 years on the team.

    In terms of research, the day I was accepted to the MA program is not a day I will forget soon. Dr. Hyatt called me down from my hometown of Guelph to meet him in his office and informed me that he would take me on as his grad student. That was pretty surreal, and I could not wipe the grin off my face after.

    Future Plans

    In the future, I plan to pursue my PhD and become a university professor and researcher. I have enjoyed the research journey so far, and I hope to continue down this path, while also leveraging my work to help industry.

    Categories: Member Showcases

  • Matthew Amos – Entry Blog, Marketing, Communications, and Event Coordinator

    Tuesday, January 23, 2024 | By

    Sports have been the focal point of my life since a very young age. Growing up I played various sports ranging from hockey to basketball and it was my experience participating and watching these that made me want to work within the sport industry. Sports can be used as a tremendous outlet for positive change in the world by promoting physical activity, teamwork, and creating growth within communities. Being a part of that culture is a huge reason why I am excited to intern at the Centre for Sport Capacity (CSC). 

    Hi, my name is Matthew Amos, and I am from Wawa, Ontario. In case you haven’t heard of it, it is a small town just north of Sault Ste. Marie. I love watching and participating in most sports; however, I am most interested in hockey by far. I grew up playing in the Wawa Minor Hockey Association throughout elementary school and high school and have recently got back into playing this year in Brock’s intramural league. I am currently in my fourth year at Brock University studying Sport Management and graduating in the spring of 2024. This winter I will be interning in the CSC’s Marketing, Communications, and Event Coordinator position. Most of my professional experience has been blue collar labor work, so I am very excited to finally get my foot in the door of the sport industry and work closely with a variety of organizations. 

    Since I have always been interested in sports and business, enrolling in Sport Management was an easy decision. I have learned so much in the last four years of my program that will help me in my future career. Some of my favorite courses were Professional Engagement for the Sport Industry, Sport Marketing, and Sport Management Ethics. These three courses have really helped me to discover my interests and taught me many useful skills that will help me in my career such as proper professional communication, research, and critical thinking skills. Another course that supported my learning was Quantitative Analysis for Sport Management. It was difficult learning about data analysis and the many different formulas that come along with it; however, I did have a lot of fun with the challenge and it made me want to learn more about data management. My love and passion for sport and business will guide me while working for the CSC. I cannot wait to learn various technical and interpersonal skills that will help me develop as a professional such as: 

    This position was recommended to me by our experiential education coordinator at Brock. Upon reviewing the CSC’s website and the description of the internship position, I immediately knew that this was an experience I did not want to pass up. A few past events that immediately stood out to me were the 2023 Club Development Workshop and the CSC’s involvement at the 2023 Grand Slam of Curling. I thought that the CSC’s work with various organizations and the topic of both events were extremely compelling and something that I would be interested in engaging in. From there, I applied for the position and conducted an interview shortly afterwards with the CSC’s Director Dr. Julie Stevens and the Centre Coordinator Grace Nelson. Both Dr. Stevens and Grace did a tremendous job introducing the CSC and giving me a better idea of what the internship would entail. The marketing and event management aspect of the position stood out to me and the chance to learn more about valuable digital programs used at the Centre such as WordPress, Canva, and Google Analytics. After just a few days here I was given the opportunity to explore both the CSC’s Instagram and LinkedIn accounts and got familiar with both WordPress and Canva. I look forward to utilizing my data management and Canva skills throughout this position. 

    I am still unsure of what I want to do with my professional career path; however, the CSC is giving me a lot of opportunities to explore the sport industry and find the career path that I would like to pursue. I am extremely excited to learn more about project management, marketing, and data analytics. I have always been interested in data analytics, especially when it comes to hockey and evaluating a player’s ability. I am hoping the Centre’s engagement with data analytics will help me grow my understanding of using data and data management in the workplace. 

    Overall, I am very excited to be a part of the Centre for Sport Capacity team, I am so thankful to finally be working within the sport industry and with sport organizations. Sport is a huge passion of mine; I wholeheartedly believe that sports can change people’s lives for the better and have a very big impact within people’s communities. I am confident that the CSC will teach me valuable skills that I can then utilize to make a difference in the sport industry. I encourage all students to get out of their comfort zones and to try to learn as much as possible throughout university to try and make a difference in the world. 

    Categories: Students

  • Jonathan Pinnington – Exit Blog, Marketing, Communications, and Event Coordinator

    Thursday, December 14, 2023 | By

    Only three months ago, I entered my internship at the Centre for Sport Capacity (CSC) as the Marketing, Communications and Event Intern. How fast time has flown, as I near the end of my internship. I can now look back at my four months at the Centre and see how much I have grown both as a person and a professional. 

    To begin, I would first like to thank Dr. Julie Stevens, Director of the CSC, and Grace Nelson, Coordinator at the CSC for granting me this internship opportunity. From the beginning, Dr. Stevens and Grace asked me what I wanted to get out of my placement so that they could tailor the internship to my interests and goals. From then on, I knew the CSC was the place I wanted to intern. The team’s openness and enthusiasm for my interests would ensure that this internship would both meet and exceed my expectations and anticipated outcomes, which it did. 

    During my time at the CSC, I was constantly given opportunities to not only develop new skills, but also to strengthen my pre-existing skills through various tasks. Being a visual and hands-on learner, I was encouraged to dive right in and experiment with my creativity on Canva when making content. This allowed me to gain experience in independent work while also experimenting with new ideas for different designs and styles on social media, and website layouts. Grace encouraged me to let my creative mind flow which made me feel that my creativity was encouraged and not being stifled.  Additionally, this encouragement to work artistically allowed me to create some of my most original content to date. As part of my daily tasks, I was able to showcase my content through the CSC’s X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and Instagram accounts, for which I posted over 70 pieces of content combined and created over 100 pieces total. One of the designs I am most proud of is my Women’s History Month Post highlighting Dr. Stevens’ co-authored book titled “Too Many Men On The Ice: Women’s Hockey in North America.” 

    My most memorable experience at the CSC was having the opportunity to attend, plan, manage, and host various events. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend the Grand Slam of Curling in Niagara to conduct an event impact analysis. At this event, I was tasked with asking spectators, vendors, and volunteers to complete an event impact analysis survey, to determine what impact this event had on the Niagara region. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to meet employees at Sportsnet who gave my colleagues and me a behind-the-scenes tour of the Grand Slam, and we got to learn about the broadcasting and management of a large-scale event.  

    Further, during my four months at the CSC we hosted; a Safe Sport Hybrid Forum titled “Can Sport Regulate Itself?”, a Book Launch and Author Reading, and lastly a Club Development Workshop on emotional labour in coaching. I was very fortunate to experience being the lead event planner and manager for 3 of these 4 events, for which I gained many valuable skills such as leadership, working collaboratively with others, and communications. These skills can be applied to my future career as I will always be working with others to collaborate on various projects, tasks, and/or events. 

    Moreover, the CSC allowed me to develop and strengthen my skills in communications, decision-making, social media proficiency, and competency in digital softwares. Developing these skills were learning objectives I set out for myself at the beginning of the internship. I gained experience in communications through writing emails and social media captions. This along with Grace’s comments about tone, consistency and cohesion, audience, and message, has allowed me to become a much more competent and stronger writer. Regarding decision-making, this is something I found quite challenging at the beginning of my internship as I was new to the CSC and was not yet familiar with their brand. I now feel I am much more confident in making decisions regarding administrative communications, social media designs, event planning and execution.  

    Moving into social media proficiency, while I had experience with Instagram prior to my placement, LinkedIn and X were new to me. Having the opportunity to use and interact with these platforms daily has allowed me to become much more proficient with social media. Lastly, prior to my time at the CSC, my competency in digital softwares was an area I was eager to expand my skills in. At the CSC, we use softwares such as Canva, Google Analytics, and WordPress among others. These softwares were new to me and I can now say I am much more competent in using these platforms to create designs for social media, to collect analytics, and to design websites. 

    Overall, my internship placement at the CSC has both met and exceeded my expectations. The skills and knowledge I gained were crucial to my personal and professional development. I am forever grateful for the opportunities the CSC provided me and would highly recommend an internship at the CSC to any fourth year Sport Management Student. I look forward to a future career in the sports world using what I have learned during my time at the CSC. 

    Categories: Students

  • Devan O’Connor – Entry Blog, Project Assistant

    Monday, November 27, 2023 | By

    My passion and joy for sport and recreation was established at a very young age. Sport has been a constant that has not only driven foreword in life but also connected my family together for as long as I can remember. Participating in sports like soccer, basketball, and volleyball fueled the passion I have for this industry, and the opportunity to play five years of varsity volleyball reinforced this passion. The benefits volleyball has provided me in my life, the way it has challenged and helped my grow as a person, and the opportunity it presented to give back to my community (coaching the young athletes of tomorrow), is something I deeply cherish. So rarely do we get the opportunity to do what we love, so when the opportunity to work with the Centre for Sport Capacity (CSC) came up, I knew I had to chase the chance to contribute to such an amazing organization.

    Hi! My name is Devan O’Connor, and I am from Milton, Ontario. I am currently in my fourth year of study as an Honours Environment and Tourism Management Student, with a minor in Geography and Environmental Sustainability at Brock University. In the fall of 2023, I had the opportunity to interview with the CSC for their Project Assistant position. A graduating requirement of the Geography and Tourism department is the completion of our TOUR 4F99 Internship course, and it was here that I came across a job posting that made me so excited I knew I had to apply. In the first moments that I met Grace Nelson and listened to her talk about the Centre, I knew this was where I wanted to be. The passionate way she spoke about the Centre inspired me, and it was in those first moments I knew what a special opportunity I had in front of me. As of now, it has only been a month of working with the CSC, but every person I have met and every meeting we have, fills me with so much joy and promise and I look forward to the eight months that I will get to spend here. Since beginning I have had the wonderful opportunity to begin work on our project within the Centre, generating research for the “State of Sport in Niagara Report.” The opportunity to learn from individuals like Grace Nelson, along with CSC Director Dr. Julie Stevens, and many other members of the CSC team has been an amazing opportunity.

    The CSC’s driving force is knowledge mobilization. Knowledge mobilization works to understand and expand the capacity of sports organizations while acknowledging the challenges faced by these organizations and collaborating to create new initiatives and solutions. The opportunity to expand my knowledge past the practical experience I am familiar with, and step into a new role that focuses on research-based learning to create solutions is what most excited me about working with the CSC. The ability to better understand how to translate my own internal and practiced knowledge within sport organizations, support it with conducted research, and create practical solutions within that process is a skill I was actively looking to practice and love the challenge this process has since presented for me. A balance between constant learning and individual progress, combined with a chance to be surrounded by like-minded individuals who challenge me to think outside of my own experience is truly what makes working with the CSC unique and special.

    As a mature student who has actively worked in the sport industry in multiple veins, I want to push myself to be a force of good within the Centre and use my experience to offer creative and new perspectives and insights on the projects we complete during my time. My current experience working within the Halton and Peel regions as a youth mentor, athlete development officer, and volleyball coach all support what I am looking to accomplish with the Centre. In everything I do I look to see how I can align my own goals for personal growth with the organizations I represent. Being a varsity athlete has taught me to act with the upmost respect and care, as everything we do reflects on those we represent. I am proud to be a new member working with the CSC and am excited to represent and support them. The ability to uplift a community is a unique and beautiful experience, and it is a challenge that I am so excited to tackle.

    Categories: Students

  • Antonia Miksic – Entry Blog, Project Assistant

    Thursday, November 23, 2023 | By

    Throughout my time at Brock University, I always knew I wanted to get involved in one way or another. As the COVID-19 pandemic caused the university to shut down and move to online learning, it impacted the opportunities available to students. As these restrictions were lifted, I was eager to get involved and find opportunities to engage and connect with others.

    Hi! My name is Antonia Miksic, and I am from Oakville, Ontario. I am a fourth-year Concurrent Education student with teachable’s in Geography and History and a minor in Urban and Planning Studies. I am currently enrolled in a full-year internship course (GEOG 4F99) which corresponds with my position at the Centre for Sport Capacity (CSC). Until the end of the 2023-2024 school year, I will be working with the CSC as a project assistant generating a “State of Sport and Recreation in Niagara” Report where I am interested in exploring the relationship of nature and outdoor tourism as well as gender inclusivity in sport.

    Throughout my university experience, I have completed a handful of research projects where I have gained knowledge and learned new skills to help prepare me for future opportunities in the workplace. As I found an interest in research, I knew I wanted to find an internship opportunity related to this field. When applying to different internship opportunities, the CSC stood out to me the most. As a geography student, I was eager to contribute my knowledge of tourism and relate it directly to the “State of Sport and Recreation in Niagara Report”. In addition to the hands-on and real-world learning experience this project includes, the final report will be distributed across the Niagara region. I mean, who could pass up on an opportunity like that!

    Growing up I always participated in some form of sport. My experiences in sports such as soccer, hockey, dance, and gymnastics provided me with opportunities to engage with others and learn from many role models. Given my background in sport and educational interests in geography/tourism, I believe I can provide the CSC with ongoing knowledge and connections with personal experiences as well as an open mind willing to learn something new every day! My positive attitude and dedication to the position will be a great asset to the team!

    Within the past month during the beginning stages of my internship, I have had the opportunity to meet and begin research with the CSC Director Dr. Julie Stevens, Coordinator Grace Nelson and classmate Devan O’Connor generating research for the “State of Sport and Recreation in Niagara Report”. The CSC is full of welcoming and supportive individuals which has made starting this role a great experience so far and I am eager to continue and learn from the whole team!

    During my time working with the CSC, I hope to be a valuable asset to the team and incorporate new ideas with a positive attitude and an open mind. Something so unique about this experience is the various perspectives team members will incorporate to generate this report. It is a new opportunity that has been great so far and hope to thrive as my experience with the CSC continues. As the pandemic impacted many opportunities to get involved, I knew I needed to put myself out there and be a part of a team which is what I envision while working with the CSC!

    Categories: Students

  • Taela Ritchie – Entry Blog, Event, Marketing, and Communications Assistant

    Wednesday, October 04, 2023 | By

    Hi! My name is Taela Ritchie. I am a fourth-year student in Business Communications at Brock University from the city of Barrie, Ontario. I am very enthusiastic about starting my placement as the Event, Marketing, and Communications Assistant at the Centre for Sport Capacity (CSC) at Brock. 

    With assistance from my academic advisor, I was introduced to the internship course (Internship in Communication, Popular Culture or Film, COMM 4F00). In wanting to weigh all possible career options within the field of Business Communications, I gave myself the opportunity to explore the idea of Public Relations (PR) and Social Media (SM).  

    Upon reviewing the list of internship possibilities, I was immediately drawn to the CSC at Brock University. I believe that the CSC will afford me the opportunity to see in action how sports can be implemented into my profession and help me identify if PR or SM are where my passions align. While interning for the CSC, I wish to learn a variety of strategies, skills, and techniques that are used by SM to gather the target audiences’ attention and stop scrollers in their tracks. Additionally, I want to use this internship as an opportunity to meet new people and develop relationships with others who are interested in the same field of work as myself, to build my professional community.  

    Growing up, my siblings and I were very engaged in sports; from playing a variety of different sports to watching them on the TV, my siblings and I were immersed in the sport community. I have, for as long as I can remember, been intrigued by the prospect of pursuing a career in sport, however I wasn’t sure what opportunities were available to me. Since the first days of my Business Communications program, I have had the chance to explore different job opportunities within the sports industry. I have had a high interest in the field of PR agency and SM, giving me the chance to work behind the scenes within the industry. I also thoroughly enjoy the concept of damage control and conflict resolution which are factors within the sport industry. These are important factors to consider in the sport industry because in the face of conflict you need someone well versed in crisis communication so the organizations reputation does not get tarnished, and they can bounce back. Although I feel drawn to the concept of being a sport PR agent, I never had the opportunity to really explore what this would look like. I am interested in pursuing a career in the field of PR and SM as it allows me to be the “middleman” and communicate with the public on behalf of the company, through various SM platforms.  

    I see myself being an asset to the CSC team as I bring a positive attitude and am always willing to try something new; learning and growing from educational experiences. Throughout my program so far, I have learned how to communicate (in various forms such as written, oral, non-verbal, digitally, reports, and proposals), ethics and etiquette, active listening, conflict and crisis communication, developing strategies to achieve and measure goals, and inter- and intra-communication within the professional and public environment. This placement opportunity will allow me to build relationships with individuals and companies in the world of sport and sport research. 

    In everything that I do, I aim to be a force for good. It is important to remember who you represent and to do so honorably and respectably, whether this be your family, your school, your sports team, or your place of employment. I take pride in the person I am and the work I accomplish and aim to improve the CSC’s output for good through events, marketing, and communications to all members of the public and target audiences.   

    Categories: Students

  • Jonathan Pinnington – Entry Blog, Marketing, Communications, and Event Coordinator

    Friday, September 15, 2023 | By

    From a very young age, I knew I wanted to work in sport. Participating in various youth community sports such as hockey, soccer, and baseball was beneficial in me gaining a passion for sports and the sport industry. In addition, it has also helped me see the many values and benefits that sport brings to both an individual and a community. This is why interning at the Centre for Sport Capacity was a must for me!

    Hi, my name is Jonathan Pinnington, and I am from Toronto, Ontario. I am a fourth-year student at Brock University studying Sport Management. This fall of 2023, I am fortunate to have the opportunity to intern with the Centre for Sport Capacity at Brock University, in the Marketing, Communications, and Event Intern position. If there is one thing to know about me, it is that I am an avid sports fan. I love all sports, but hockey is by far my favourite (being a die-hard Leafs and Penguins fan). During my time at Brock, I have been fortunate enough to continue playing sports, participating in various intramural teams. My most notable-non-academic achievement is being a member of Brock’s Men’s Ultimate Frisbee Team, for which I am currently serving as the team President. As an outgoing and creative individual, I am excited to bring these two traits to the Centre and continue to develop both personally and professionally.

    Entering my fourth and final year, I had heard about the opportunity to acquire an internship through many of my professors. After expressing interest in acquiring an internship, I was directed to Brock CareerZone and began looking. I recognized the Centre for Sport Capacity immediately after having its Director, Dr. Julie Stevens, as a professor in my third year Sport Management Field Work course. I was intrigued about the Marketing, Communications, and Event Intern position as I have always enjoyed those three areas. Specifically, the creative aspect behind them. The idea of being able to use my creativity in those areas was very enticing, so I applied and was granted an interview.

    As already indicated, I am very outgoing and creative and am excited to bring these two traits to the Centre. I am especially excited to get to work with and get to know my fellow colleagues, while continuing to learn more about the Centre and the work they do in various areas of sport. Now in my fourth year, I have realized that I really enjoy marketing and brand management. Specifically, putting my own creative touch on an existing brand or creating and developing my own brand. Honestly, I really like just being able to unleash my creativity on projects. One thing that I was really impressed about from my interview was Dr. Stevens and the Centre Coordinator Grace Nelson’s commitment to tailor the internship to my learning style and strengths. I am a very hands-on learner and like to be able to get my hands dirty and immerse myself in whatever I do. After a few days here, Grace and Dr, Stevens have definitely followed through on their actions! I have been able to explore the Centre’s LinkedIn and Instagram accounts while also getting to experiment with the different design features on Canva and WordPress. I find their commitment and ambition to their colleagues and interns is crucial to personal and professional development as well as experiential education. These are two things Dr. Stevens is very passionate about and likes to incorporate in every setting. I speak from experience having her as a professor. That’s why, after completing my first week here, I knew the Centre was the right choice for me.

    The biggest thing I want to accomplish at the Centre is to build, grow, and expand the Centre’s brand. I feel that I can accomplish this by using the many lessons and skills I have learned from my past experiences. One past experience that I feel will help me accomplish my goal is my time as the Social Media Coordinator for Brock’s Women’s Basketball team in my third year Sport Management Field Work Course. In that role, I gained experience in social media management (running the team’s Instagram account) and digital editing softwares (e.g., Boxout Sports to create game day graphics). Both skills are easily transferable to my position here at the Centre as I will be managing the Centre’s social media accounts and creating professional content with Canva. One thing I want to accomplish is becoming proficient with social media management and using digital editing softwares, such as exploring and playing around with different designs, features, fonts, etc. on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Canva. Another area I hope to become more proficient in is communication, explicitly learning how to communicate effectively in a professional workplace setting and in meetings. I feel that working alongside my colleagues here at the Centre as well as with other Centre members and partners on various events, initiatives, and workshops will help me accomplish this goal. Personally leading meetings, new initiatives, and workshops will also be beneficial in strengthening my communication skills. The last area I hope to strengthen is decision-making. Throughout my time at Brock, I have always been hesitant about making decisions on projects, most notably decisions about micro details, such as fonts, design style, and other elements. During my short time here, I have already needed to make decisions on various projects, and I already feel I am becoming more confident in making those decisions. I hope that by working alongside my peers, I continue to gain more confidence.

    Overall, I feel I can be a force for good within the Centre by bringing my extroverted personality, enthusiasm, and creativity to the workplace each day. I feel that the lessons I have learned both in class and in life, as well as my enthusiasm for sport will help to both improve the Centre’s output and offer new perspectives and insights on projects and events. Moreover, I feel that I can use my creativity skills on various projects such as planning events like the Safe Sport Forum and Unleash Your Influence Webinar and posting on social media to further grow and expand the Centre’s brand. I hope to continue to learn as much as I can and continue to develop both personally and professionally.

    Categories: Students

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