Growing up in a busy household with a love for sports, Jaci Solomon struggled to balance her passion for athletics and finding a career, but she now has her dream job that brings both together.
Born in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont., Solomon was raised by two hockey-loving parents who coached their children’s teams. With three younger sisters who were equally as active in community sports as she was, the Solomon household was consumed by extracurricular activities.
Whether she played junior hockey for the Rookie Ravens in Waterloo or participated on community teams after moving to London, Ont.
Solomon never left the game. She played for her high school team in London, winning three medals.
“It was a lot of pressure, but the best time ever. High school hockey was a lot of fun,” said Solomon.
The Solomon sisters
Throughout the years, she played alongside her sister, Julia Solomon, which was a major reason for Solomon’s passion for hockey.
It was a unique experience that strengthened their sisterly connection. Julia looked up to her sister in a leadership role on the team.
“It is like having a best friend; we had that chemistry playing on the same line, and it was interesting to see her be a leader in other ways besides being older than me,” said Julia.
Finding a path in sports
Uncertain of her future, Solomon stayed an extra year in high school, completing Grade 13, to figure out a career path that would allow her to continue her love for sports.
After graduating from Medway High School, Solomon began to study human movement in Western University’s kinesiology program, hoping to remain active in the hockey community. However, she struggled with focusing on the science aspect of sports rather than the physical involvement she wanted.
Overwhelmed and tired, Solomon found it hard to stay motivated, which made her want to drop out.
Becoming a TV host
But between semesters, Solomon’s trajectory changed during a conversation with her mom. They discussed how Solomon wanted to talk on television. The next semester, she transferred into Media Information and Technoculture.
Driven by her devotion to athletics and a longing to find her voice on television, she began volunteering with local hockey teams.
Eager to mesh her two loves, Solomon would host on television with local teams under Rogers TV, most notably working with the London Knights.
“I love live TV. I love the show. I love planning out the show — doing interviews, having meetings with the colour commentator and the play-by-play and the producer,” said Solomon.
After graduating from Western, Solomon worked at Kitchener Radio Station CityNews570, reporting traffic, but still longing for the sports community.
With this in mind, she left the station, applying to every job she could. Later, she stumbled across a job posting for a TV host and digital content producer in Calgary. She quickly moved out west to work with the Wranglers and Roughnecks.
She is excited to grow her career around the Calgary teams and push the boundaries within sports media.
She says that being a woman in the sports industry is not an easy position to be in. There have been times when she is the only female in the room, and it isn’t easy to earn respect in a male-dominated industry.
“You can’t sit there and cry about being a minority in something. You just got to go out there and do your work and prove yourself and show that you belong,” said Solomon.
Solomon works closely with Annie Nadin, the digital content producer for the Wranglers. Together, the two have created a mini support team for each other to push through some of the hardships they face while being women in the sports industry. Whether talking to players or problem-solving, the two always push themselves into athletic spaces with a mindset for success.
“We have more confidence behind what [we’re] doing and saying. We’re both very good at keeping each other accountable [to that],” said Nadin.
Solomon constantly redefines the notion of women in the sports industry with her creative approach to solving issues. She adapts to new challenges and makes the best of what she has.
“My motto for this year is pivot — if that doesn’t work, this is what we’ll do,” said Solomon.
Solomon hopes to encourage women in sports — on or off the ice — to pursue their dreams and achieve their goals.
She entered an era of sports where women are encouraged and hopes to continue that trend for future generations.
There will always be challenges, but Solomon will embrace them and change the industry around her.
“There is no change without challenge,” said Solomon.