Martina Barclay: The Force Behind STU’s CCAA Soccer Championship Volunteers
There’s an old saying that goes “If you want something done, ask a busy person.”
Ask Martina Barclay.
The fourth-year psychology student at St. Thomas University puts in the equivalent of a 40-hour work week, holding down not one, not two, but three part-time jobs, including with Sport New Brunswick as the Operations Support Coordinator that will evolve from her current 20 hours a week to a full-time job in January. She’s enrolled in three courses that will allow her to complete her degree in December and graduate with the class of 2025 next spring.
And the 21-year-old native of Winnipeg is the volunteer co-ordinator for the fast-approaching Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association men’s soccer national championship, unfolding on the turf of Grant-Harvey field Nov. 6-9.
All this after spending the last three seasons as a player on Peter Murphy’s women’s hockey team.
She’s stepped back from the hockey team this season, but it was because of her role as one of the organizers of the team’s various events in the community that she first contemplated switching her career path.
She came to school to study journalism – she still writes for The Aquinian when time permits – but she found her passion in arranging and organizing, and conversations with director of athletics and recreation Meaghan Donahue Wies encouraged her interest.
“Martina was very involved in the women’s hockey team and the initiatives they planned when she was on the team, and was also a member of our Student-Athlete Advisory Council,” said Donahue Wies.
A summer job with Sport Calgary as assistant marketing co-ordinator – former Canadian speed skating champion Catriona LeMay Doan was her boss — fostered that ambition
“I really enjoyed it, and it made me think about having a career in sport,” Barclay said. “She was amazing to work for and was a great resource for me.”
So was Donahue Wies.
“She was one of the people I spoke to, asking her opinion and thoughts on what I could do if I did want to switch to a career in sport. Her advice was to work in the sport field, see if I liked it. She gave me some great advice. And she said ‘You know…I’ll have lots going on this year…”
“I had sent the volunteer sign-up form directly to Martina because she and I had chatted this summer about how she wanted to stay involved with STU Athletics,” said Donahue Wies. “This seemed like a great way for her to do so.”
STU Set to Host CCAA Men's Soccer Championship Tournament - Nov. 6-9
And here we are. The eight-team Canadian championship tournament is coming right up: 13 games over four days, over a dozen volunteers required to stage each game: ball retrievers, ushers/security staff, admission gate, a canteen operator, someone at the merchandise table, a statistician, a spotter, and someone to keep the stat sheet.
“That’s the hardest one to fill right now because you need some knowledge of soccer,” Barclay said.
They’re recruiting among STU student-athletes, the general student body, and the community and will see where there are gaps.
“We’d like to have a few more volunteers, but we’re looking good so far,” she said. She’ll be on site for three of the four days, ready to jump in if necessary and “dealing with other issues that may arise,” she said. “We were optimistic we would have a pretty good turnout from the student-athletes and so far it’s been great. If volunteers do two or more games, they get a toque.”
Donahue Wies believes the volunteer organization is in good hands.
“Martina obtained some great experience this summer working with Sport Calgary in event planning, and she’s also working for Sport NB now,” she said. “She brings a lot of great attributes to the position, including initiative, organization, communication, and a genuine interest and passion for sport.”
Barclay hasn’t committed to being involved when the Tommies women’s basketball program hosts the nationals in March – she’ll be working full time by then – but… try to keep her away.
“I just show up at [Donahue Wies’] door and say ‘What can I do?’” said Barclay. “I really do like being involved in athletics as much as I can. I love STU and I love to be involved.”
Anyone interested in volunteering should complete the form found here, or contact Barclay or Donahue Wies directly.