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CoSIDA.com/ThankYourSID
This feature is part of our series of profiles showcasing members throughout the CoSIDA membership during the celebration of CoSIDA Membership Recognition Week for 2020-21. See more features at CoSIDA.com/ThankYourSID.
Chris Cameron – Ontario Tech University, Sports Information and Marketing Coordinator
by Barb Kowal – CoSIDA Director of Professional Development and External Affairs
"As athletic communicators, the one thing to should avoid is taking yourself too seriously. We work in one of the most fun fields possible and yes, there are months where there’s some intense workloads, but we also have the ability to have a lot of fun and creativity while showcasing our student-athletes and their stories."
- Chris Cameron, Ontario Tech Sports Information an Marketing Coordinator
Chris Cameron has served at Ontario Tech University since the 2014-15 academic year and currently is the Sports Information and Marketing Coordinator at the university located in the eastern Greater Toronto area. The Ridgebacks are the newest university in the province (was founded in 2002 and welcomed its first classes in 2003) with 15 varsity teams. They are one of nearly 60 colleges and universities under Canada’s U Sports national association.
In June 2002, the university became the first brand-new university in the Ontario province in 40 years with ground-breaking ceremonies. It welcomed its first class of 947 students in September 2003.
In August 2017, Cameron was part of the Team Canada communications team at the 2017 XXIX Summer Universiade hosted in Taipei City, Taiwan. Prior to his SID positions, Cameron was a sports reporter, sports editor and editor-in-chief for numerous publications in Canada and Nova Scotia.
Cameron and wife Sarah had the opportunity to see the Larry O'Brien Trophy after the Toronto Raptors won the 2019 NBA Championship.
You are at a relatively-young university - less than 20 years old, as the school was founded in 2002 and opened in September 2003 with 947 students. The Ridgebacks have been competing in Ontario University Athletics since 2006 and have been a member of U Sports since 2008. What’s it like to be part of a newer campus and trying to build a legacy in athletics?
CC: It’s exciting because I’m able to be a part of most of our program “firsts”, such as winning our first-ever championship, which was won by our women’s soccer program in 2016. In many ways we’re underdogs, but we’re starting to see the results of the time and commitment put in by our founding and current coaches.
You are a member of the CoSIDA Canadian Institutions Athletic Cabinet, which is part of CoSIDA’s new governance structure. Talk about the importance of being on that Cabinet and what is means to serve in that capacity. What are some of the initiatives you are working on (besides the new CANSIDA webinar series which began on Jan. 21)?
CC: It’s great to be able to collaborate with other SIDs to create and facilitate discussion amongst our peers across the country. We do have some differences across Canada, but also have a lot of similarities that we can share and make each other better at what we do each day. We are excited to bring those issues forward and also build Canadian membership in CoSIDA.
In 2017, Chris (right) was a member of Team Canada’s communications team at the Summer Universiade in Taipei, Taiwan. He’s pictured with Mathieu Tanguay, the SID for Laval University, after the final women’s soccer game for Canada.
What’s the project or campaign that you’re proudest of as a professional? Why?
CC: In my current role, I think it’s the way we use our mascot in marketing and branding. Our department has won two Mascot of the Year awards for our conference – Ontario University Athletics (OUA). Even in the pandemic, we’ve been able to really lean on the mascot to be leaders in the content we’re creating in a difficult time.
What’s one trend in athletic communications (or college athletics) that you are a fan of?
CC: Personally I’m a fan of the way our students and fans are consuming the news/content. They want updates in-game and aren’t reading post-game press releases or recaps the way they used to. Seeing this, we’re able to re-direct our time to ensure we’re able to showcase our home game experiences more than ever. And, we don’t necessarily have to worry about writing detailed releases late into the evenings.
As someone responsible for both athletic communications and marketing, what sparks your creativity and makes the wheels in your head start turning?
CC: Honestly for me it’s other SIDs or marketing individuals with professional teams. I just follow the teams I enjoy the content of, even if it isn’t a team I’m a fan of. There are so many teams and social accounts out there, so my advice is to find ones you personally like.
I recommend following SkullSparks (which I actually was shown at the 2018 CoSIDA Convention in Baltimore). On the web, it’s
skullsparks.com) and they are on all the social channels. The company showcases the importance of digital and design strategies in college athletics in so many ways and with so many examples, and generates social media analytics for college sports accounts as they work with college athletic departments.
– On January 1, 2017 Cameron and his father were in attendance for the Centennial Classic between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings at BMO Field in Toronto, won by the Leafs in OT.
What did you/do you miss the most about college athletics during the pandemic?
CC: I miss the people. I miss the connections with our students and staff. Our student-athletes have such great stories and are a lot of fun to be around. In my SID role, to be working from home and not being able to interact with them to better tell their stories or cover their games has been tough.
What do you enjoy reading about? Or listening to a podcast about, or both?
CC: I generally enjoy a good biography or something comparable. I like hearing stories about how an individual overcame an obstacle to become successful and I also like a bunch of fun short stories, like Ken Reid’s book
One to Remember. That tells the stories of 39 National Hockey League players who only scored one career NHL goal and what that big-league goal meant to them.
What’s the most interesting thing about you that we wouldn’t learn from your resume alone?
CC: In 2003 I won a provincial curling championship in my home province of Nova Scotia. That is — in most ways — the start and finish of my competitive athletics career!