Parks and recreation: alumni gets “paid to play” as city fitness program coordinator

Posted on Monday, September 11th, 2017

For alumni Jason Tudor-Roberts, there are no trivial pursuits. Algonquin College offered the life-long sports and fitness buff a clear academic path to turn his passions into a profession.

“I’ve always been a really active kid, student, and adult,” he explains. “I wanted to give back, and the only way I knew how was to be involved in fitness, lifestyle, sports, recreation, and leisure. You get paid to play; it’s great.”

The avid basketball and tennis player has netted four Algonquin College degrees, including his most-recent achievements in Recreation Facility Management, and Fitness and Lifestyle Management. “What (the College) offered me within the realm of fitness, education and recreology was perfect programs,” he says.

Not surprisingly, his career has been highly active. Tudor-Roberts has worked for the City of Ottawa for over 10 years, including his current position as Program Coordinator at the Goulbourn Recreation Complex in Stittsville, and a previous stint at the Nepean Sportsplex.

Part of his role involves developing new ways to serve clients, members and participants: “Our clients range from seniors to younger participants in our pre-school … and camps.”

As for current recreation and lifestyle students, he has one simple piece of advice: be a team player. “Get involved as much as you can” in volunteering, and learn how to network,” he says. “(There are) small budgets within parks and recreation. If you can get grants and work with the community, it will provide you with so much more.”

His own people skills developed through the College’s co-op program. “The co-op aspect of Recreation Facility Management gave us options to work within community associations and working with … (people) who are already in the field.” His program placement in the College’s Athletic Department even led to a part-time job after graduation. “It helped me understand how recreation, leisure, and fitness works within a big organization.”

Tudor-Roberts had a memorable mentor in Ron Port, a distinguished athletic director, coach and teacher for 49 years – and the namesake of the College’s gym, the Ron Port Athletic Facility.

“He stood up for me when I made mistakes,” he says, giving credit to Port’s strong leadership. “We need more leaders within the City of Ottawa. Anybody who has leadership qualities… whether as a city manager or camp counsellor.

“Leadership is something that’s within you. You can learn to coach, but you can’t learn to lead. Leadership is something that is already inside of you; it just takes something to bring it out.”

In Tudor-Roberts case, he also demonstrates leadership as a member of the Alumni Advisory Committee. “I believe Algonquin College, and colleges in general, are the future.”


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