If there's one firm memory from my younger years, it's that my parents supported me at every game and practice. Occasionally, my father would even sit with the opposing team's parents and cheer against me. He had a quirky sense of humour. I was nicknamed ‘Whiff’ because that's the sound the bat would make when I struck out.

 

In 2006, my parents decided to send me to Shawnigan Lake School, where my rugby journey began. I played three years' worth of games, but due to my family living halfway around the world in the Middle East during that period, they couldn't see any of my high school career games in person. At the time, I didn't grasp the emotional toll this took on my parents, as I was young and they were following my games through emails.

 

It wasn't until a few years later, after I graduated, that they confided in me about how difficult it was for them not to be present during what turned out to be the pinnacle of my sporting career.

 

Upon my return to Shawnigan as a staff member, I noticed that we hadn't made significant progress in terms of livestreaming sports at the School. While a few rugby games were sporadically filmed, the process lacked efficiency. Upon learning about the challenges faced by current parents who couldn't watch their children's sports events live, I empathized deeply with their predicament. This marked the beginning of my journey into developing a broadcasting program at the School.

 

My objective is to enable parents from all around the world to turn on their living room television and tune in to any game featuring their child. To date, I've successfully established a reliable livestreaming service through our ice hockey rink, and the positive feedback from parents has reinforced my determination.

 

While the program will enable us to eventually broadcast multiple sporting events, perhaps the most valuable aspect it offers is the learning experience it provides for students in the field of media. This covers a wide range of roles, including audio control, filming, production, direction, and game commentary, all of which represent viable career paths within the media industry.

 

Thanks to the support of C.A.S.E (Communications, Arts, Sciences and Entrepreneurship) and the generous donations from the Bradley Family Foundation, which have provided industry-standard equipment, we've started on a journey of instructing students on the essentials of running a professional broadcast.

 
Join us as we explore the dedication and passion that exist beyond the sidelines, where the real magic of innovation lies.