WATERLOO, On.t - From grabbing the eyes of a city and nation to doing it under a global spotlight, recent Laurier grad Aiden Zabukovec continues to be at the forefront of documenting Canadian sports history.
As a student creative content coordinator and videographer with the Laurier Athletics marketing and communications team the past three seasons, which was highlighted by the Golden Hawks football team's run to the Vanier Cup last November for the first time in 19 years, Zabukovec has since taken his incredible talents to the Toronto Blue Jays as the team's Social Media Creative Specialist.
Having joined the MLB team just this past March, the 24 year-old from Kingston, Ont., is now a key cog in the content creation machine for the franchise making its return to the World Series after 32 years.
Zabukovec, a kinesiology and physical education major, who also had a focus on sport development and management, admitted that the past eight months – now including a trip now to the Fall Classic – has "just been a blur".
"To be headed to the World Series now is just unbelievable," Zabukovec said. "And it still hasn't set in fully yet, especially in my first year, just to be able to experience this."
A lifelong baseball fan, Zabukovec credits his parents — who lived in Toronto during the Blue Jays' 1992 and 1993 championship runs — for sparking his love of the game.
"That's why it's just been so crazy to me to be a part of this organization now and sort of share this too with my parents, which has been so super fun," Zabukovec said.
While he was given the platform to flex his video creation "muscles" with Laurier Athletics, Zabukovec's current role has pivoted more towards graphic creation and cutting social videos.
His favourite moment so far? Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s grand slam in Game 2 of the ALDS against New York.
"I still remember sitting in the office as we're working away and watching the game and you can hear the fans in the [Rogers Centre] rumble; the floor literally was shaking beneath our feet and we were all just going crazy in the moment there in the office. That specifically was super special."
Zabukovec's fingerprints can now be found across the Blue Jays' social channels, and he's quick to credit his Laurier roots for helping him get here.
"It's been surreal to be [with the Blue Jays] and be working alongside a social and content team that's so amazing."
"They made it easy for me to jump in, kind of thing."
He said that transition was smoother thanks to the broad experience he gained with the Golden Hawks' marketing and communications team.
"Honestly, I owe a lot to Laurier Athletics and everyone with the team there, specifically Evan (Colborne), Dan (Polischuk), and McKenna (Murray) for taking a chance on me.
"I still remember sitting outside my class in second year and just wanting a platform or an opportunity to create and try stuff out social media-wise and video-wise. And then they all gave me that opportunity and taught me so, so much."
"I'm forever grateful for all the staff at Laurier Athletics, the student-athletes and everybody that really gave me the opportunity to be myself and taught me a bunch and just gave me that experience."
And now, as the Blue Jays chase a third championship, Zabukovec is once again helping capture history — this time on baseball's biggest stage.
