The playbook for a career in sports communication
Discover how Health student, Cameron Stirrup, turned his passion for sports and storytelling into a standout co-op experience filled with writing wins, meaningful connections and career-shaping moments.
From sideline dreams to published stories, Cameron Stirrup’s (he/him) co-op journey at Waterloo has been nothing short of inspiring. Fueled by a love for sports and storytelling, the fourth-year Sports and Recreation Management student turned his passion into purpose. Co-op didn’t just build his résumé; it built his confidence, curiosity and career path.
Cameron's co-op journey
Work term one: Cameron’s first work term was spent working for Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE) as a digital campaign co-ordinator. He created graphics for their social media accounts and acted as a liaison for approximately 20 students in navigating their blog processes.
Work term two: For his second work term, Cameron returned to CEE in a different position, content development associate. Working closely with the communications team, Cameron handled internal and external CEE communicative pieces and interviewed the 2023 Co-op Students of the Year.
Work term three: Cameron then moved across campus to work for Athletics and Recreation as a communications and social media assistant. He focused on bridging the gap between the Waterloo Warriors varsity programming and its recreational counterpart, posting content to promote the athletic opportunities the University offers.
Work term four: Lastly, Cameron wrapped up his co-op experiences at St. Andrew’s College in their athletics department as a sport information and communications intern. He had the opportunity to support a variety of sports programs, develop schedules for several teams across 20 sports and explore equipment management.
Q&A with Cameron
Where did your passion for sports come from?
“My passion for sports came from my close friends and my family. When I was in grade four, I started to get into hockey, which is what I had played growing up. My dad had a big passion for sports as well.”
“Growing up, my dad started taking me to Kitchener Rangers hockey games, and I was hooked. We would also start going to Toronto Blue Jays games, and I have since visited ten major league stadiums with him.”
“The thing that really transitioned my passion for the professional side of sports was broadcasting. I would listen to the voices on TV and then go online to see the stories that these journalists were writing about when I was really young. It was unique in the sense that I wanted to be a part of the action like most kids, but within a different discipline.”
“A lot of times I would watch an event for the action of course, but also to listen to the announcers, and their excitement and passion for the game.”
What was it like to be on the other side of the blog process, writing the stories instead of being featured?
“Producing it was an interesting experience because I was unaware of the rigor it took to produce each piece. There are more steps to it than I previously thought.”
“A lot of people think that it's a much easier process, when it actually takes a long time because you're juggling multiple blogs every week. It's a crazy process, quite honestly.”
“I take great pride in listening to the stories of those who I interviewed, as well as the stories composed by my great friends. I wanted to share the stories of those I’ve interviewed in a way that gave them something they’re proud to show off.”
What’s one project or moment from your co-op journey that you’re especially proud of?
“I'd say my first publication for CEE was a proud moment. Pressing the publish button on that and seeing it go on to the website with my name in the tagline for the first time. Having other people read it and congratulate you on it, that makes you feel really good.”
“My first publication for CEE was titled How to rock your in-person interview. It was an interview tips blog that my supervisor had suggested I write. I wrote it by combining what I had learned from my interview to get that job and the experiences of other co-op students from their blogs as well.”
“That was a big moment for me that kickstarted the journey towards my other publications. Being confident and excited in producing them for such an amazing educational outlet like CEE was huge for me as a passionate writer and someone who wants to get into this type of career. You never forget the first one of anything that you do to move forward in your professional career.”
“Another proud moment for me was connecting with so many people across the University in every faculty with such a variety of passions. It made me realize that you can have an amazing conversation with someone from another faculty, even if you don't have any prior knowledge on what they do.”
How have you created and maintained strong bonds with co-workers from previous roles?
“To say I'm lucky to have met the people I've met is an understatement. I feel like that all started in CEE. I think the social aspect of the CEE team is honestly a dream for any employee. I'll never forget it no matter where I'm working. I'll always remember those memories early on in co-op.”
“For my third co-op term, the academic term before it I was taking a very small night class and had this student who I had worked with in the class greet me, saying she heard that I got the job in Athletics. She ended up being my office mate for that next co-op term.”
It's sporadic moments like these that really grow your network and your connections broadly here at Waterloo. You never know where it's going to come from. I've really valued the relationships that I've made with everybody I've worked with, everywhere.
Looking back, how do you think co-op has shaped who you are today?
“Co-op has shaped who I am without a question. It has given me a professional platform and the opportunity to realize my dreams.”
“Before going into university, I would wait for things to be handed to me. In co-op, I realized I needed to put myself out there, reach out and grab what I wanted.”
"You have to create your own journey and your own legacy. Be up for new challenges and don't be afraid of things that could help you branch out. Exercise your own skills and abilities. You know you're there for a reason. The people who have brought you into these roles, they know what you’re capable of.”
What’s next for you?
“I graduate next June, so I have two academic terms left. It'll be interesting going into next term not having to look for a co-op job right away."
"I am hoping to stay on part-time next term with Athletics and help on the game day side of things through writing game features and contributing to varsity broadcasts.”
“I would not be opposed to a post-grad program, hopefully within some sort of sporting capacity. I haven't necessarily dived deeper into it, but that’s something I will have to think about soon. Let the story continue.”