Education/training
Student combines two passionsIain McLaren's keen interests involve two very different activities: soccer and writing. ANDREA AGUIRRE |
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 [ 2006-02-15 ] |
Centennial College student Iain McLaren is gaining valuable work experience as a corporate communicator at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd.
The first one will always be a part of who he is, a man who's passionate about sports. The second is a skill he first developed in England and has polished since coming to Canada.
INTERNSHIP
As an international student from Durham, England, McLaren landed his dream job when he joined Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd. as part of his internship for the Corporate Communications and Public Relations program at Centennial College.
McLaren came to Canada to pursue a post-graduate certificate in public relations after working for more than a year as a media relations assistant at the Law Society of Scotland. He had graduated from the University of Sunderland with a degree in media production.
"I found that Centennial offered an internship as part of the program, which is a great chance to do some hands-on work -- experience with real clients, with real deadlines. I also chose it because it had a very diverse range of courses," McLaren says.
He wanted to do his internship at an organization where he could combine his love for writing and sports.
"I was looking around and I couldn't help but notice all the Maple Leafs caps and jerseys people wore. I thought of the Toronto Maple Leafs as an established brand with a good reputation in the community," he says.
"I didn't know much about hockey or basketball before I came here, but I've come to know more about them by going to games, working with the players, and getting to know more about the passion that comes with hockey and basketball," he adds.
Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment owns the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Marlies hockey teams, as well as the Toronto Raptors basketball team. In addition, it owns some real estate: Maple Leaf Square, a downtown condominium development. The organization is also building a new soccer stadium in Oshawa as part of a strategy to promote soccer in Canada.
"It's a big organization expanding in different areas, a forward-thinking company," says McLaren, who learned the organization is actively engaged in the community. "I wanted to work for a successful organization like Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, but I also wanted to work for an organization that takes its community responsibilities seriously."
The internship, which pays him a small stipend to cover travelling and other costs, has given him a lot of satisfaction.
"Writing is a big part of my job. Luckily, the people I work with trust my writing abilities to develop news releases, media advisories, Q&As -- and getting key messages across," he says.
McLaren has taken part in such events as the game and party celebrating the return of professional hockey following the strike. He also joined the Raptors' players during their visit to Toronto's Hospital For Sick Children.
McLaren's short-term plans include getting more experience as a communicator and growing in the entry-level position he now holds at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.
His internship was supposed to have been a two-month experience; he's been there for six months now. As an international student, he can work as an intern for as long as it's required by the college program.
As for the future, McLaren would like to work as a communications director for a soccer team. If he stays in Canada he wants to promote soccer here, which he knows has great potential.
"I would very much enjoy getting people in Canada knowledgeable about soccer."
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