By: Jadon Bernatsky
As fans, we think of the shut down of sport and consider the impact that it has on our experiences as spectators as well as professional athletes. But what we don’t often think about because we don’t see them, are the countless individuals that work passionately behind the scenes and the impact that this pandemic is having on them. Many of these people are students who are struggling to launch their careers in the sport industry. In many cases, the entry level positions that they are hoping to land will have a direct impact on the fan’s experience of the game. From assisting fans at ticket kiosks to lobbing free t-shirts high up into the stands during intermissions and time-outs, the students that seek these jobs are essential to your fan experiences. They are also essential to the future of the Canadian sport industry. Until sport resumes and entry-level jobs return, these students will be left to struggle and find a way to gain a foothold in an industry that remains stalled due to the recent pandemic.
These students are recent graduates and soon to be graduates from university programs across the nation who have aspirations of landing a job in the Canadian sport industry. In Antigonish, Nova Scotia at St. Francis Xavier University, Duncan Lovell is one of these Canadian students that has seen his opportunities diminished since the sport world closed last March.
You get your hopes up. I thought my summer opportunity would allow me to learn a lot and gain valuable experiences
Duncan Lovell
“It was a tough time” explained Duncan when asked about the initial March 2020 lockdown. In February of 2020, Duncan had a marketing internship lined up at Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) which is a Canadian manufacturer of recreational sport vehicles. “I was going to have a great job in their marketing department and was going to work with some great people”. Due to the economic impacts of the first wave, BRP froze hiring activities leaving Duncan without experiential opportunity through the summer placement. “You get your hopes up. I thought my summer opportunity would allow me to learn a lot and gain valuable experiences”. Duncan emphasized that “it was heart wrenching” to lose his chance to get his foot in the door in such a competitive industry. “knowing that I was so close, and that the opportunity has now been cut off; it hurt”. That summer, Duncan moved back home to Montreal, Quebec to work as a waiter until that position disappeared as well. Duncan is optimistic that he will revisit this opportunity once cases go down. “The way I left off; I know I will eventually be able to get back to them some day”.
In St. Catharines Ontario at Brock University, sport management students like Kaz Alguire are doing their best to manage the struggles and gain industry experience during the pandemic. Kaz explained that Students in the Niagara Region were hard-pressed for positions during the past year. “I couldn’t find any opportunities because there were none”. Due to the lack of experiential opportunities in sport during the summer of 2020, Kaz took it upon himself to better prepare for when the job markets open up again. Kaz improved his graphic design and photography skills through LinkedIn Learning Courses and through his experience as Vice-President of Brock University’s Sport & Business Association (Brock SBA). Kaz mentioned that these online courses strengthened his digital skillset. He found additional benefits in applying his skills to club activities like networking events and sport industry workshops where fellow students could learn more about the sport industry.
I am hopeful that things will open back up and that there will be jobs for graduates like myself. Right now, my future is uncertain, but I am confident that I can land a job when they become available again.”
Kaz Alguire
When asked about the future, Kaz seemed optimistic. “I am hopeful that things will open back up and that there will be jobs for graduates like myself. Right now, my future is uncertain, but I am confident that I can land a job when they become available again.”