Before taking the helm of UFV Athletics and Recreation, Nicholas Sirski’s academic career began in Kingston where he was a line-backer for the Queens Gaels and a sports reporter with the Queen’s Journal.
More recently, Sirski spent 13 years with SFU in a variety of capacities. From webcasts and colour commentary to recreation director and associate director of facilities, Sirski is as accomplished as they come — and a boon for the UFV Cascades.
Amid his busy transition period, Sirski took the time to speak to The Cascade during his first few weeks in his post. He began by relating his own time as a student athlete (culminating in a Vanier cup championship in 2009) to what he wants to bring to his current position.
“I had such an amazing university experience, but I had no idea what went into the behind the scenes of being a varsity athlete — and shortly after my university career had ended, our athletics department at Queen’s was looking for a sponsorship and marketing intern… I got a little bit of a behind the scenes look at what went into everything. And I was like, man, [I] can impact a lot of lives in a lot of really positive ways.
“Getting your dream job is pretty cool, but now I have to execute, so the pressure is on. I’ve got two young boys; a four [and a] six-year-old — and I love the fact that they’re going to grow up wearing green, being Cascades fans, coming to games, and just growing up in sport.”
The Fraser Valley’s burgeoning prospect pipeline also made him eager to jump aboard.
“What excited me about the role was [that] UFV is a growing school. Abbotsford, Chilliwack, [and] the valley is a growing community. And I think having a strong university and an athletics and recreation department is part of a healthy city community. One of the other things was the passion that I felt from the staff here throughout the interview process, [it] was something that really drew me to the Cascades, which just seemed like a place that people wanted to work and wanted to show up and be there. I was drawn to that.
“I know that the local valley sports scene is very strong provincially. And so, trying to get all those athletes to stay home, and preach to them the benefits of UFV — getting them to come and be at our school is part of our challenge. But because they have such a strong high school program [in Abbotsford], that was another piece that really excited me.”
Part of the challenges that Sirski mentioned, and previously reported on by The Cascade is the absence of a practice field on campus. A sports and recreation development on Lefeuvre Road has been pushed forward by city council, offering the possibility of a new Cascades home sooner than later. Until then, UFV will rely on Sirski’s background in facility management to find creative and collaborative solutions that aren’t solely for the benefit of varsity athletes.
“We’re ready and willing to have those conversations, it’s probably just a matter of time. What that looks like, we’re not really sure at this moment, but we’re open and interested. I’m not the ultimate decision maker, but I’m here to advocate for the needs of our athletes and our student body. And having outdoor space to, yes, practice for our varsity teams, but also to play and congregate and have community spaces is important for us as a university.”
Rather than paying a student athletics and recreation fee as part of tuition like UBC, UVic, and SFU, students are left to pay for their own recreation passes out of pocket. With access to the Abbotsford Rec Centre included with students’ U- Pass, a deflated interest in campus recreation is one of Sirski’s biggest challenges.
Another topic of discussion among students is UFV’s mascot (or if they have one.) Sirski admitted he didn’t know exactly where the process stands with regards to mascots, but that the game day experience is important for what the Cascades want to do long-term.
Speaking of the Cascades in the long-term — even though Sirski was involved in two rebrands at SFU, don’t expect the Cascades logo or branding to change any time soon. Manitoba, Regina, Toronto, and York have all recently unveiled varsity team rebranding to replace their outdated looks, while UFV has occupied the same logo since joining U Sports in 2006.
“I’ll see what the jerseys look like — that’ll be the true test,” Sirski commented on a potential Cascades rebrand. “But the logo, I think, looks nice.”
