In the realm of sports and fitness, Jon Bird advocates for accessibility and inclusivity.
Having worked in the field for many years, he is committed to establishing encouraging environments that put community and personal development ahead of competition.
As the Operations Director at Run Calgary, Bird is deeply committed to fostering a sense of community through inclusive and engaging fitness events, showcasing his passion for bringing people together and promoting a love for active lifestyles.
Run Calgary promotes active living and community engagement by organizing running events in Calgary.
Interview with Jon Bird
Calgary Journal reporter Val Babin spoke with Run Calgary’s Jon Bird about his passion for building community through sport. The interview was edited for clarity and length.
Val Babin: Hi, Jon! Thanks for joining me today. I’d love to get started with a short introduction about yourself and what you do.
I am Jon Bird, the operations director at Run Calgary. We’re primarily known for the Calgary Marathon, but we also host seven other events throughout the year. We’re really a community focused on getting people active.
Amazing! So tell me, how did you get started in competitive sports, and what drew you to swimming and triathlon training?
My parents put me in swimming when I was five. They did it to calm me down; I had a lot of energy, and it was an outlet that helped make me more manageable. They found daily activity was essential for me. Swimming helped me sleep and eat well, and it even improved my focus at school. I was quite the troublemaker as a kid.
Haha, we’ve all been there.
Definitely. That was my parents’ philosophy—to always have me involved in something. Swimming was great for that, running eight months a year along with the school season, and it gave me a group of friends outside of school. I also tried other sports, like soccer, climbing, and cycling, which eventually led me to triathlons. In the summers, there was a program across Canada called Kids of Steel. It allowed kids to try triathlons, and I started when I was six.
Six years old—that’s so impressive and so young!
It was really fun. Knowing how to swim gave me an edge over others in the sport. I always had a bit of a head start.
You were already a step ahead. So, you progressed mainly in swimming through university?
Yes. I was on the university swim team and eventually joined the running team, too. After university, I still needed a way to channel my competitive nature, so I pursued triathlons more seriously, which became, I guess, a professional path. I could make money, travel, test myself, and develop my approach to life. Before that, I was a bit aimless and didn’t apply myself well, but triathlons taught me to focus, evaluate my goals, and work hard.
That’s amazing. So, this passion has been with you for so long, and you found an outlet to express it. Not only has it impacted your mental and physical health, but it’s also built so many relationships and brought you a sense of community.
Exactly.
I can relate. I used to dance as a child. My parents put me in ballet when I was six. I was full of energy, and with dance, I had to be patient. So, I totally understand the importance of having a passion as a child.
It’s special, right?
Absolutely. So, why do you believe your work in sports development is important?
When I was transitioning out of triathlons, I wanted to be part of a community with similar values. Over time, I realized how much being part of a community and working out daily improved me as a person. I ended up building that community through a triathlon and endurance club at the MNMP Community and Sports Center. It brought together youth and adults, increased retention, and created strong bonds among people who shared a love for pursuing goals.
That’s so cool. I actually live near MNMP and work out there sometimes.
That’s great! Building that community was a lot of fun. We helped people engage in sports at an elite level without necessarily being elite athletes. It was a bit of trial and error initially, and we made mistakes, but over time, we figured out our true goal—building a community and helping people recognize the positive impact of sports.
How did you find that balance as things started to fall into place?
I initially aimed for a performance-based community of people dedicated to sports at a high level. But as I evolved, I realized I wanted a community with a wider impact. My focus now is on fostering communities by supporting individuals, like helping someone who’s run a club in Ontario start one here. We’re lucky that the marathon serves as a magnet for people, and our job is to say, “This is why we’re coming together.” It’s not just about running; there’s a cause behind it that varies from person to person, whether it’s weight loss, connecting to the community, or building confidence.
That ties in perfectly with what I wanted to ask next. Could you share a bit more about your role as race director with Run Calgary?
Absolutely. As race director or operations director, I get to create events that serve as magnets for bringing people together. For example, we have an event called the Dash of Doom, a 5K, 10K, and 1K kids’ run where about a 1,000 people show up in costume. The best-dressed dog costume wins a spot on the medal and shirt for the next year.
It’s a fun, family-friendly event. There’s candy at the aid stations, face painters, slides—it’s all about creating an experience that celebrates being active and together with family or community. With Dash of Doom, people get to express themselves by dressing up, and some even spend months on their dog costumes.
Wow! Is this event a tradition?
Yes, this is its 10th year. Each event we host also has a charitable component. For Dash of Doom, we partner with ARCS, a dog rescue organization. They attend the event, people can interact with them, and we raise around $10,000 for them.
That’s amazing! I’m sure it has a big impact.
It does. And we also run other programs, like our corporate experience program. We invite corporations to set up internal running programs and pay for employees’ marathon entries. It’s a great way for people to connect outside of work.
Totally. It’s like a two-in-one deal—getting active while supporting a cause.
Exactly. We’ve partnered with about 60 corporations, and around 1,800 employees join through this program, often fundraising as well. It gives them a place to connect that’s not in the office.
That is so wholesome, I bet people look forward to coming into work when they have things like that to look forward to. Were there any coaches, athletes, or people in your life who motivated you, anyone that really impacted you to stay on track?
Yeah. I met a coach at MNMP Center—it was called Talisman Center when I first joined—and his name was Jack Van Dyke. He was probably the most impactful coach I’ve ever had. He was really patient with me and treated me as an individual, allowing me to grow while challenging me and showing me life skills. Not just for sport, but for business and helping other people. So, I’d say he was probably the most instrumental person.
That’s awesome. I love that. It’s so great to hear because, for me, there was always that one dance teacher that stood out—maybe yelled at me one too many times, but really put me on track. At the time, I didn’t fully appreciate it, but looking back, I’m like, “That person allowed me to transform.”
For sure.
Given your background and expertise, how do you see the sports landscape evolving, especially in running, swimming, and all the sports you’re involved in?
That’s a good question. I think community sports are being professionalized, which is great for building resilient organizations. But it can be a double-edged sword when they try to hold onto athletes too long—maybe over their growth or throughout the season. Canada has what’s called the Long-Term Athlete Development model, which advocates for being a multi-sport athlete as you develop. But some organizations operate from a scarcity mindset, thinking, “if I let this athlete go, they’ll be gone forever.”
There’s a great example in Calgary: a woman named Allison Beveridge, she grew up as a swimmer. She was good but not Olympic-bound and then found track cycling. Because she had built up an “engine” with swimming—lungs, heart, the ability to endure pain—she was able to excel in cycling and has become a successful athlete. It’s essential to teach kids multiple sports, not to monopolize them.
Totally. I was exposed to lots of sports growing up, and I loved it—soccer, baseball, swimming. We immigrated here from Moldova, so I didn’t learn how to swim right away, but my parents got me into lessons. Being exposed to many sports has helped me find new ways to be active. Like, now I’m really into pickleball and even squash. It’s cool because I’m not limited to one thing.
You’re absolutely right. It’s neat to hear how you were exposed to different sports. Sometimes, certain sports can become very insular, but it’s so beneficial to have a range of skills and outlets.
For sure. Sometimes when I’m angry or have a lot on my mind, there’s nothing better than going for a jog. Running clears my head, and I feel so much better afterward.
Have you noticed organizations focusing more on building communities than just teaching skills? When I was younger, it was all about learning the moves, but now it seems to be more about support.
Yes, I see that, especially among Gen Z and late millennials. They’re lifting each other up, saying, “let’s do a marathon together,” or “let’s travel together.” It’s not just about competition, but about self-betterment. So, yes, sports are evolving to prioritize community as much as performance.
Yeah, that’s a really great point. I feel like I’m also noticing, like, on my social media, especially with fitness influencers and all of that, they’re kind of moving towards that “let’s build each other up” mentality versus just “here’s my perfect workout routine and body transformation.”
Exactly. And it’s about creating a space where people can feel inspired without feeling pressure to meet some unrealistic standard. People are starting to understand that fitness, health, and sport can be tailored to individual journeys, and it doesn’t have to look a certain way.
Absolutely. It’s so refreshing to see that shift! And it really resonates with people on a much deeper level, especially with everything being so fast-paced and demanding these days. Having that inclusive, supportive approach feels more sustainable for a lot of people, I think.
Yeah, exactly. And it’s all about sustainability, right? Making fitness and sport a lifelong practice rather than just something you do for a season or a goal. It’s great to see the industry embracing that kind of mindset and promoting it more widely.
For sure. Well, thank you so much for sharing all of this! It’s been awesome hearing about your insights and experiences. I think a lot of people will find it really inspiring.