From the Ottawa Valley to the front office

Posted on Monday, October 27th, 2025

Jason Winters grew up in Munster, Ont., balancing junior hockey with a growing interest in business. That dual passion led him to AlgonquinJason Winters College, where he found a program that fits both his schedule and his ambition. “I knew I wanted to be in business,” he said. “Retail management, advertising, accounting. It all worked with my hockey schedule.”

Now the newly appointed president of the Ottawa BlackJacks, part of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), Winters will lead the BlackJacks, strengthening community ties and enhancing the club’s impact both on and off the court as the team continues to grow its presence in the CEBL and across the Ottawa region.

As the newly appointed president of the Ottawa BlackJacks, Winters will strengthen community ties and enhance the club’s impact both on and off the court. The team, which is part of CEBL, continues to grow its presence in the Ottawa region and amongst its competitors.

Winters traded his skates for a front office, and he credits his time at Algonquin College for shaping the way he leads today.

“I found an instant community,” he recalled of his time as a student on campus. “They brought all the new students together. That was the best place for me. From day one, I felt like I belonged.”

Winters emphasized that the lessons he learned at Algonquin were more than academic. “Accounting is the one (skill) I use most now,” he said. “Marketing has changed, but the principles are the same. And the communications course taught me how to present and speak to people. That’s a dying language. It taught me how to work with others, how to listen and how to build something together.”

That collaborative mindset is central to his leadership style. “There’s no way I’d be doing what I’m doing by myself,” he said. “You learn your strengths and weaknesses, and you learn to value other people’s ideas. That started at Algonquin.”

His advice to current students is simple and direct. “If you know what you want to do, call that place and offer to do it for free. Say you’ll do anything. See if you like it. And do it now while you have time. If you show up and commit to getting things done, people notice. Good people get noticed.”

Winters is now merging his business education with his love of sports. “We’re looking to engage both today’s youth and the business community,” he said. “It’s about putting both worlds together.”

The CEBL is Canada’s largest professional sports league and the only professional basketball league in North America affiliated with FIBA, the world governing body for basketball, and Canada Basketball. It is basketball’s version of the Canadian Football League, playing one tier below the NBA.

The CEBL season runs from May through August.

To learn more about the program Winters attended as well as other curriculum offerings, visit the School of Business & Hospitality and see how you can join a team that fosters creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship.

(photo credit: Andre Ringuette / Freestyle Photography)


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