Rogers Sportsnet has joined forces with seven students from Ryerson University to bring a three-part series called Varsity Canada that will highlight Canadian varsity sport—athletes, coaching and the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) governing body.
“The vice-president at Sportsnet approached us and asked us if we were interested in doing a university show […] We think that it’s a great idea because university sport doesn’t get the notoriety that the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) gets,” said Travis Formosa, executive producer of TOASt Productions.
Seven radio and television arts students created TOASt productions in August 2002, and as part of their fourth-year practicum, are producing Varsity Canada.
The first instalment is entitled “Heroes of Tomorrow” and will be co-hosted by former CIS All-Canadian and Hec Creighton award-winning quarterback Ben Chapdelaine, who played for McMaster. This episode will feature some of Canada’s brightest student-athletes who excel in both academics and athletics.
“The difference between Canada and the States is that here the competition is slightly under the States, but our education is top of the line in comparison,” said Formosa. The second instalment, entitled “Foundations of the Future,” will highlight some of the most successful varsity programs and coaching staff in the country. The third episode, entitled “The State of the CIS,” will take an in-depth look into the national governing body of varsity sports and where they see Canadian amateur sports heading.
“The way we see it, I think people ae getting more and more interested [in varsity sports]. Amateur sport is not getting the recognition that it deserves, but more people are taking a liking to it,” said CIS communications officer Michel Bélanger. “People associate more with varsity athletes than with the crybaby professional athletes. The image of amateur sports is certainly better.”
Varsity Canada will also discuss how Canadian amateur sport has lived in the shadow of the Americans for too long and that it is now time for CIS sports to get more publicity.
“We think that our championships have been pretty well attended and covered. What we want to do is get more people interested in our season […] We have to make sure that each university understands the importance of marketing and promotion. The promotion has to be done first at the school level,” said Bélanger.
The Varsity Canada series will run on Sportsnet as three hourly episodes, airing on March 24 and 31 and April 7 at 4 p.m.
