April 14th, 2026

For Brenda Irving, school was never just about the classroom. It was about showing up, getting involved, and giving it everything she had: a mindset that would eventually take her around the world to report on some of the biggest events in sports. 

Growing up in Waterloo Region, Brenda began her elementary school career at Central Public School, where she formed foundational friendships that remain some of her closest today.  From Central, she attended William G. Davis Public School for Grades 7 and 8. It was there that she set her sights on winning Athlete of the Year. 

“I joined every possible sport,” Brenda reflects. “In 1972, I joined the boys’ wrestling team, even though girls didn’t wrestle. It was quite novel at the time.”

While she didn’t consider sports to come naturally to her, she believed that effort could make the difference. Her determination paid off as she won Athlete of the Year award in Grade 8.

“I may not have been the most gifted, but I worked the hardest,” said Brenda. “That lesson has stayed with me.”

At Preston High School, Brenda embraced the opportunities to be involved. She played basketball and volleyball, competing at OFSAA. She arrived at school early to practice table tennis and often stayed late for games and rehearsals. In Grade 11, she stepped outside her comfort zone to join the school production of Guys and Dolls.

“School was my home away from home,” she recalls. “What you learn outside the classroom can be just as important as what you learn inside it.”

An Unexpected Path

Although Brenda originally planned to become a physical education teacher, her path shifted when a friend suggested she apply for radio and television broadcasting at Conestoga College. That single decision opened a door she hadn’t previously considered.

Brenda began a groundbreaking career in sports media, covering everything from the World Cup in Brazil to the Olympics in Singapore. From 2001 to 2006, she was the first female Hockey Night in Canada rinkside reporter. 

One of her most memorable experiences was the World Cup in Brazil, where she spent time exploring the culture and passion surrounding soccer before the tournament began.

“About a year before the World Cup we went to Brazil for a month,” says Brenda. “It was amazing to see what soccer means to people around the world and in other countries.” 

Through her broadcast career, Brenda’s philosophy has remained the same: you don’t have to be the best, but if you’re willing to put yourself out there and work hard, opportunities will follow.

Looking back, she credits her time at Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) with giving her the foundation to take risks, explore new interests and stay committed.

Her advice to students today? Get involved.  “There’s something for everyone,” she says. “What you learn outside the classroom can be just as important as what you learn inside it. If you’re willing to work hard and put yourself out there, you might be surprised where it takes you.”

Celebrating Alumni of the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB)

Graduates of the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) are accomplishing incredible things in our community, our country and around the world. We are putting a spotlight on their success in their chosen pathways, and how their time at WRDSB supported them to graduation and beyond. WRDSB provides students with a solid foundation for success and we are excited to celebrate the contributions and achievements of WRDSB alumni.

Learn more about our incredible WRDSB graduates.

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