Spurrell, a West Kings graduate, just finished a stint as a deputy venue manager at the Pan Am Games in Toronto.
Earlier this year, the 27-year-old performed similar management duties at the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George.
“The CIBC Pan Am Park, which was connected to five different sport venues, was where I was located,” Spurrell says of his Pan Am Games experience. “That venue isn’t around for the Para Pan Ams, so my contract is over.”
Spurrell grew up playing a variety of sports, particularly volleyball. He played on provincial volleyball championship teams with West Kings and the Valley Skyhawks, was part of elite provincial teams and attended the 2009 Canada Games as an athlete.
Behind the scenes
While attending the University of New Brunswick between 2007-2011, Spurrell earned a degree in recreation and sport studies.
“The Canada Games experience was the kind of thing I was learning in school,” he said. “I wanted to get involved behind the scenes, in how events like this run and develop, and getting first-hand experience.”
He signed a one-year contract in March 2014, which included the Canada Games, during which he served as athlete services and accommodations co-ordinator.
“The athlete services part included developing the athletes lounge, and being the voice of athlete well-being, including arrivals and departures and the opening and closing ceremonies,” he explained.
“There was a lot to take into account, far more than I expected. You know there’s a lot going on (at an event of that size), but once you’re behind the scenes, you realize just how much there is to do.”
Not being familiar with the location was one challenge.
“A lot of the people had never been to Prince George – including me,” he said.
“The biggest thing was organizing the accommodations. We took five downtown hotels, removed all the beds and replaced them with bunks.“
They had to find room for 1,700 athletes per week for two weeks – just shy of 3,500 people in all.
“It was quite the headache at times, but at the same time, a great learning experience,” he said.
Spurrell was told if he could handle the Canada Games, he could handle other competitions of a similar size.
“You’re a jack-of-all-trades, and if you aren’t one when you start, you’re definitely one by the time you finish,” he said.
“There was always something new, every day, and you had to make it work.” Luckily, there was a large team of volunteers – a core team of 15, and a total team of between 70 and 80 – to help support him.
Having experienced it from both sides, Spurrell points out there’s a lot less to worry about when you’re an athlete.
As a participant, “you have people there to take care of you,” and at the 2015 Games, “I was one of those people.”
His own experience as an athlete was helpful.
“I knew from being an athlete what I could expect. That helped me big-time.”
On to the Pan Ams
At the close of the Games, Spurrell already knew the Pan Ams were next.
“The largest sporting event ever held in Canada, bigger than any of the Olympics, with 65,000 athletes in total. I knew I had to find some way to be a part of it,” he said.
He was driving back across Canada from B.C. when a guy he’d worked with, who was already involved with the Pan Am Games, called and asked him for a resume.
“I did my interview over the phone in Alberta. I was in Manitoba when I got the call I had gotten the job. I arrived in Toronto Saturday and had to start work Wednesday,” he said.
He ended up with a four-month contract that included the Pan Am Games.
“I knew I’d be in venue management,” he said, “but I didn’t know what venue or what sport. It could have been anywhere.”
He ended up at CIBC Pan Am Park, “near the CNE, and with approximately the same footprint as the CNE or the Molson Indy.”
Given that it was connected to five sport venues, the park was also the security screening area.
“We were also the area where spectators could just ‘hang out’,” he adds.
The park was open for 15 days, and in that time, hosted just shy of 400,000 people.
“It was constant motion, and no two days were the same. It made it really exciting.”
Sporting event management
Spurrell said his university studies helped him at both events.
“I had thought of studying to be a physiotherapist. Over time, I got more into community development through sport, and the positives of sport and recreation in, and for, the community,” he said.
Having grown up with sport, he finds it interesting, “along with the sport itself, to see the impact it has on the community,” be it Toronto, Prince George or wherever.
Now that he has had a taste of venue management at large events, Spurrell said he is on the lookout for what the next opportunity might be.
“I definitely have ideas of things I’d like to be involved in,” and his resume now includes the kinds of experience he needs to hopefully be part of those events.
“The 2018 Commonwealth Games are in Australia. I spent a year there after university, and I’d love to go back. The World Junior Hockey is in Toronto in 2017. I’d love to be involved with that, but I’m aware it’s a long shot,” he says.
“It’s a matter of being in the right place at the right time. I missed the 2010 Olympics because I was in school,” but he was studying things have helped him in the long run – and he has been fortunate since.
“If you want something bad enough and are willing to work for it, it just may happen.”
The Pan Am Games, he pointed out, “were a test event” for Toronto.
“The 2024 Summer Olympics is the one they really want. It would be incredible to be a part of that, and it’ll be great to have the Pan Ams, and in Toronto, on my resume.”
Spurrell, a West Kings graduate, just finished a stint as a deputy venue manager at the Pan Am Games in Toronto.
Earlier this year, the 27-year-old performed similar management duties at the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George.
“The CIBC Pan Am Park, which was connected to five different sport venues, was where I was located,” Spurrell says of his Pan Am Games experience. “That venue isn’t around for the Para Pan Ams, so my contract is over.”
Spurrell grew up playing a variety of sports, particularly volleyball. He played on provincial volleyball championship teams with West Kings and the Valley Skyhawks, was part of elite provincial teams and attended the 2009 Canada Games as an athlete.
Behind the scenes
While attending the University of New Brunswick between 2007-2011, Spurrell earned a degree in recreation and sport studies.
“The Canada Games experience was the kind of thing I was learning in school,” he said. “I wanted to get involved behind the scenes, in how events like this run and develop, and getting first-hand experience.”
He signed a one-year contract in March 2014, which included the Canada Games, during which he served as athlete services and accommodations co-ordinator.
“The athlete services part included developing the athletes lounge, and being the voice of athlete well-being, including arrivals and departures and the opening and closing ceremonies,” he explained.
“There was a lot to take into account, far more than I expected. You know there’s a lot going on (at an event of that size), but once you’re behind the scenes, you realize just how much there is to do.”
Not being familiar with the location was one challenge.
“A lot of the people had never been to Prince George – including me,” he said.
“The biggest thing was organizing the accommodations. We took five downtown hotels, removed all the beds and replaced them with bunks.“
They had to find room for 1,700 athletes per week for two weeks – just shy of 3,500 people in all.
“It was quite the headache at times, but at the same time, a great learning experience,” he said.
Spurrell was told if he could handle the Canada Games, he could handle other competitions of a similar size.
“You’re a jack-of-all-trades, and if you aren’t one when you start, you’re definitely one by the time you finish,” he said.
“There was always something new, every day, and you had to make it work.” Luckily, there was a large team of volunteers – a core team of 15, and a total team of between 70 and 80 – to help support him.
Having experienced it from both sides, Spurrell points out there’s a lot less to worry about when you’re an athlete.
As a participant, “you have people there to take care of you,” and at the 2015 Games, “I was one of those people.”
His own experience as an athlete was helpful.
“I knew from being an athlete what I could expect. That helped me big-time.”
On to the Pan Ams
At the close of the Games, Spurrell already knew the Pan Ams were next.
“The largest sporting event ever held in Canada, bigger than any of the Olympics, with 65,000 athletes in total. I knew I had to find some way to be a part of it,” he said.
He was driving back across Canada from B.C. when a guy he’d worked with, who was already involved with the Pan Am Games, called and asked him for a resume.
“I did my interview over the phone in Alberta. I was in Manitoba when I got the call I had gotten the job. I arrived in Toronto Saturday and had to start work Wednesday,” he said.
He ended up with a four-month contract that included the Pan Am Games.
“I knew I’d be in venue management,” he said, “but I didn’t know what venue or what sport. It could have been anywhere.”
He ended up at CIBC Pan Am Park, “near the CNE, and with approximately the same footprint as the CNE or the Molson Indy.”
Given that it was connected to five sport venues, the park was also the security screening area.
“We were also the area where spectators could just ‘hang out’,” he adds.
The park was open for 15 days, and in that time, hosted just shy of 400,000 people.
“It was constant motion, and no two days were the same. It made it really exciting.”
Sporting event management
Spurrell said his university studies helped him at both events.
“I had thought of studying to be a physiotherapist. Over time, I got more into community development through sport, and the positives of sport and recreation in, and for, the community,” he said.
Having grown up with sport, he finds it interesting, “along with the sport itself, to see the impact it has on the community,” be it Toronto, Prince George or wherever.
Now that he has had a taste of venue management at large events, Spurrell said he is on the lookout for what the next opportunity might be.
“I definitely have ideas of things I’d like to be involved in,” and his resume now includes the kinds of experience he needs to hopefully be part of those events.
“The 2018 Commonwealth Games are in Australia. I spent a year there after university, and I’d love to go back. The World Junior Hockey is in Toronto in 2017. I’d love to be involved with that, but I’m aware it’s a long shot,” he says.
“It’s a matter of being in the right place at the right time. I missed the 2010 Olympics because I was in school,” but he was studying things have helped him in the long run – and he has been fortunate since.
“If you want something bad enough and are willing to work for it, it just may happen.”
The Pan Am Games, he pointed out, “were a test event” for Toronto.
“The 2024 Summer Olympics is the one they really want. It would be incredible to be a part of that, and it’ll be great to have the Pan Ams, and in Toronto, on my resume.”