A Pitt Meadows woman is right in the action at FIFA World Cup matches in Vancouver.
Kat Stefankiewicz can be seen at BC Place Stadium, joining fans like a bunch of Australians hollar-singing “I come from a land down under!” at the top of their lungs, and putting them on the big screen.
It’s a job she loves.
Stefankiewicz is serving as an in-stadium host for the World Cup games in Vancouver, entertaining thousands of fans during arguably the most monumental sporting event on the planet.
She keeps the good vibes going and the fans cheering during stoppages in play, and has built an enviable career in sports entertainment.
She has served in the same role with the Vancouver Canucks and many other sports teams. You can find her interviewing celebrities like soccer icon Christine Sinclair, or setting up the Olympic women’s rowing team to sound the air raid siren in Rogers Arena during Vancouver Canucks games.
“Any time there’s a time out, we keep the energy and entertainment going. We do contests, we do interviews with alumni or special guests who are in the building, T-Shirt tosses – all of the fun stuff,” she said. “You don’t have to be a big hockey fan to enjoy the game day experience.”
“We bring the fun for everybody.”
She’s relatable to fans, can talk to anybody and make them comfortable.
“I think of myself as the captain of the fan base, we kinda lead the roar.”
Stefankiewicz did the same job with the Toronto Raptors, was part of their NBA championship season in 2019, and has worked with numerous other teams.
The World Cup has been a new experience for the superhost, and she’s loving it. FIFA approached her in October to do seven games at BC Place. She pounced on the opportunity like a keeper on a loose ball.
“It’s been incredible – the cultural element has been fascinating. It’s one country versus another country, but there’s still a unity… ‘we get to all be part of this.’”
Stefankiewicz said the event brings a different level of fandom for Canadians too. Many are cheering for Team Canada, while also getting behind another country where they came from, or where they have some connection.
Fans carry flags that show their allegiances – like half Egyptian, half Canadian – split down the middle, and “how beautiful is that,” she remarked.
The veteran host said BC Place has been one of the loudest venues she has ever experienced during the world soccer championship.
“FIFA has been incredible. As a host, I’ve never been on a stage at this level. In my script I have a line that says ‘The world is watching,’ and that’s what it is.”
“I feel like this has brought out the intensity of soccer fans, and how passionate they really are in Canada.”
Stefankiewicz and husband Chris Wiggins co-host BC Lions CFL football games, as one of the few husband-and-wife hosting tandems in pro sports. Wiggins keeps busy, and can also be found working Abbotsford Canucks games.
They moved to B.C. five years ago, and have spend the past four years living in the scenic South Bonson neighbourhood of Pitt Meadows.
Stefankiewicz started in this field early. She graduated from music theatre school at Sheridan College in Oakville, and went on to become a dancer with the Raptors.
“My intention was not to dance professionally, but my mom saw the auditions and said ‘start getting yourself out there.’
She made the team in 2008, danced for five season, and was the captain and choreographer for three.
The team did a feature for NBA TV Canada about their dance team captain – little did she know it was an audition for a new role – and they loved the way she appeared on camera.
“Then that was the transition from the dance floor to the microphone, they gave the opportunity,” she explained.
Stefankiewicz was the in-arena host for the Raptors, did digital hosting as well, and hosted for NBA TV Canada.
Wiggins liked the way she looked on camera too.
“I grew up as a basketball fan, going to Raptors games,” he explained. “You see people working the games, and she’s up on the screen a lot, and I kinda, sorta was like ‘Wow, how do you meet her.’”
He did, and convinced her to marry him.
The couple came to B.C. after Wiggins got a radio gig, on the morning radio show at Abbotsford’s Country 107.
Stefankiewicz needed to establish herself in the industry a second time, in a new city, and has hit new heights. She works with the Canucks, they’re both with the Lions, and she also works with the Goldeneyes women’s hockey team.
He works in broadcast with the Vancouver Bandits basketball team, and is a freelance weather anchorand reporter with CTV Vancouver.
Living in both Toronto and Vancouver, he said both cities have extremely passionate sports fans. He said the fans have more in common than differences.
“It’s a Canadian energy.”