Interview with Sanjay Jeram

Partial Transcript: I was born in Toronto I grew up in the Willowdale neighborhood of Toronto and I currently live in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Segment Synopsis: Sanjay tells us a little about himself including where he was born, where he grew up, and where he lives now.

Partial Transcript: So it was the 1997 Canada Games in Brandon, Manitoba I was a member of Team Ontario on their tennis team.

Segment Synopsis: Sanjay explains his connection to the Canada Games, playing tennis for Team Ontario at the 1997 Canada Summer Games in Brandon, Manitoba.

Keywords: Tennis

Partial Transcript: Yeah and it's really interesting cuz I at that point of my life I had, I had travelled with my family when I was really young...

Segment Synopsis: Sanjay talks about his flight to the Canada Games in 1997 and how he felt being around all of the other athletes.

Keywords: Flight; Team Ontario

Partial Transcript: Yeah so actually it rained quite a bit, so we had to go to Winnipeg to play actually in indoor courts because Brandon didn't have any indoor courts...

Segment Synopsis: Sanjay talks about his memories of Brandon and Winnipeg while he was there in 1997.

Keywords: Portage and Main; Vancouver; Winnipeg

Partial Transcript: We stayed in these at the dorms I don’t, this is the part I remember thinking about before the interview I don't know, is there a university in Brandon?

Segment Synopsis: Sanjay recalls what it was like to go through a regular day at the Canada Games including transportation, the athletes' village, and the training and event facilities.

Keywords: Athletes Village; Brandon University; Bus; Coach; Dorm(s); Insects

Subjects: Coaching at the Canada Games

Partial Transcript: Yeah there were, so there were events I remember like the second and third night we had like a movie night that was supposed to be inter sports...

Segment Synopsis: Sanjay recalls what socializing was like at the 1997 Canada Summer Games in Brandon, Manitoba.

Keywords: Social Events; Tennis

Subjects: Friendships at the Canada Games

Partial Transcript: I uh, yeah I did I saw some soccer now I definitely remember going to watch some soccer we watched a bit of the baseball...

Segment Synopsis: Sanjay talks about a few of the other sporting events he and his tennis friends watched at the 1997 Canada Games in Brandon, Manitoba.

Keywords: Baseball; Soccer

Subjects: Spectator's Perspective

Partial Transcript: Yup, uh, we did, I attended both yeah, I wish I had more distinct memories of it like I just remember, cause we all had the same, it was pretty cool, we all had the same jackets...

Segment Synopsis: Sanjay recalls what it was like to be a part of the ceremonies at the 1997 Canada Summer Games in Brandon, Manitoba.

Keywords: Clothing; Gear; Jacket; Team Ontario

Partial Transcript: Yeah so really good question so no absolutely not sure how it worked was that, so every in Canadian tennis, again it maybe has changed a little but sort of nationals...

Segment Synopsis: Sanjay talks about the process of qualifying to compete at the Canada Games in tennis for Team Ontario.

Keywords: Age categories; London; Nationals; Ottawa; Team Ontario; Tennis Ontario; Toronto; Tournament; Windsor; York University

Subjects: Athlete Mentality in Competitions

Partial Transcript: I, of those those teammates no, I don't, I have one of the guys I have like Facebook, we actually, one of the guys who made it the number one singles player,

Segment Synopsis: Sanjay talks about the players on his tennis team that he's kept in contact with after the Canada Games.

Keywords: Team Ontario; Willowdale

Subjects: Friendships at the Canada Games

Partial Transcript: I remember that distinctly yeah like that was, this is just you know, what I remember, the girls team was way more into it...

Segment Synopsis: Sanjay talks about pin collecting at the Canada Games, and then goes on to talk some more about his experiences competing as a young tennis athlete in Ontario.

Keywords: Camaraderie; Cheering; Coupe de Quebec; Junior Tennis; Pin(s); Quebec Cup; Team

Subjects: Athlete Mentality in Competitions; Pin collecting

Partial Transcript: Yeah I would definitely say the team component and that representing Ontario and walking with the flag, those all thing, those things had an impact on me...

Segment Synopsis: Sanjay explains how playing tennis at the Canada Games impacted him both culturally and career-wise.

Keywords: Team Ontario

Subjects: Canadian Identity; Career Impacts

Partial Transcript: So this uhh, so I think this goes to my experiences not only at the Canada Games but at Nationals as well.

Segment Synopsis: Sanjay talks about his experiences with bilingual athletes at the Canada Games, not having encountered very many French-speaking people in his life before that time.

Keywords: French; Team Ontario; Team Quebec

Subjects: Francophones and Anglophones

Partial Transcript: Honestly it was it was, my reflection upon it is that it was very white and you know that that's something that I'm not sure if it's, like you know the mid-late 90s was just a different time...

Segment Synopsis: Sanjay talks about his personal experiences with diversity and the inclusion of different cultures and ethnicities of Canadians at the 1997 Canada Games in Brandon, Manitoba.

Keywords: Diversity; Tennis

Subjects: Inclusivity in Sport

Partial Transcript: No, and that’s what I think I, so just sort of, I was sort of just beating around the bush when I said something but I think that was really eye-opening for me.

Segment Synopsis: Sanjay talks about how the Canada Games opened his eyes to some of the different people and cultures in Canada, specifically Indigenous peoples living in Winnipeg and Brandon, Manitoba.

Keywords: Poverty; Toronto

Subjects: Indigenous/First Nations relations

Partial Transcript: Um, definitely not explicitly there wasn't really any, there wasn’t a whole lot of educational aspects to how… at least you know for the most part you're under the care of the coaches...

Segment Synopsis: Sanjay talks about the Canada Games and their ability to bring athletes from different provinces and territories together socially.

Keywords: Calgary; Manitoba; MuchMusic; Nationals; Our Lady Peace; Quebec; Saskatchewan

Subjects: Canadian Identity; Unity Through Sport

Partial Transcript: I do agree with that statement as a general principle ‘cause I think that the team camaraderie within your province and then even though it’s competitive...

Segment Synopsis: Sanjay gives his thoughts on the slogan of strengthening the fabric of Canada through the power of sport, and how the Canada Games were a unifying force for Canadians.

Keywords: Saskatchewan; Tennis; Unity

Subjects: Canadian Identity; Unity Through Sport

Partial Transcript: For a couple times afterwards I would follow the tennis to see what they were doing and they would change the format each time...

Segment Synopsis: Sanjay talks about how he has followed the Canada Games since his experience there in 1997.

Keywords: Tennis Canada