Meet Jessie Burgins: Leading a New Era at West Ottawa Soccer Club
- 17 hours ago
- 4 min read
There’s something powerful about stepping into a role where legacy, community, and opportunity all collide.
That’s exactly where Jessie Burgins, the new Executive Director of West Ottawa Soccer Club (WOSC), finds himself just two months into the job, energized, focused, and ready to help awaken what he calls a “sleeping giant.”
And in a city like Ottawa, that’s saying something.
Listen to the complete interview with Jessie on this From the Park Bench
One of Canada’s Largest Clubs, With Even More Potential
West Ottawa Soccer Club isn’t small by any measure. With membership numbers ranging between 7,000 and 10,000 players in strong years, it stands as one of the largest soccer clubs in the country.
Formed through the amalgamation of several clubs, WOSC was built to provide a centralized, top-down approach to development, serving players of all ages and abilities.
Now, under Jessie’s leadership, the goal isn’t just to maintain that scale.
It’s to elevate it.
From General Manager to Executive Director: What’s in a Title?
Jessie’s role was formerly known as General Manager. With a recent organizational restructure, the title shifted to Executive Director, a common designation in non-profit sports organizations operating under standards set by Canada Soccer.
But as Jessie puts it, titles aside, the mission remains the same:
“I’m bridging the gap between the board of directors and the staff. I’m running the business of the club.”
In non-profit sport, leadership isn’t about hierarchy, it’s about alignment. Strategy, operations, culture, and community all need to move in the same direction.
And that direction is forward.
A Career Built on Risk, and Heart
Jessie’s path to this role wasn’t linear.
He grew up playing competitive soccer in Ottawa, including time with Ottawa Fury during his youth. He later played and worked within clubs that evolved through mergers and restructuring.
Whether it’s a teen athlete training year-round or a gamer with tech neck, small issues can snowball if ignored.
But before fully stepping into sport administration, Jessie built an entirely different career, in the retirement home industry.
He started at the ground level and worked his way up to running facilities. And from that world, he carried forward one powerful guiding question:
“If your parents needed a retirement home one day, would you bring them here?”
That question shaped everything.
Today, he applies the same lens to soccer:
“Would I want my own kids playing at this club?”
For Jessie, excellence isn’t theoretical. It’s personal.
Lessons from the East Coast
At one point, Jessie took a leap of faith and moved to Atlantic Canada to lead Suburban FC, another amalgamated club that became the largest in Atlantic Canada.
That move coincided with COVID.
Ironically, while restrictions in Ontario limited operations, the East Coast allowed more flexibility. Jessie gained invaluable experience navigating growth and stability during uncertain times.
Now, he’s brought that experience home.
“It wasn’t an easy decision,” he admits. “But everything happens for a reason.”
Leadership Without Fear
Stepping into a leadership role always brings ripple effects. Change creates uncertainty.
Jessie understands that.
Instead of leading with authority alone, he leads with relationships.
He prioritizes:
Building trust
Understanding individual strengths
Aligning people with purpose
Creating a growth mindset
He knows people fear:
Public speaking
Failure
Disappointing others
Change
But he also believes that fear is often the doorway to growth.
“If you don’t feel a little afraid, you’re probably not pushing far enough.”
Awakening the Sleeping Giant
When asked about his vision for West Ottawa, Jessie doesn’t hesitate:
“West Ottawa is a sleeping giant.”
His mission?
To wake it up.
Not through comparison. Not by looking left or right at other clubs. Not by chasing quick wins. But by focusing inward.
“You versus you,” he says. “Can we be a little better every day?”
That’s how real change happens, gradually, consistently, intentionally.
Over time, that daily commitment compounds.
Players grow. Coaches develop. Staff evolve. Families feel connected. The community thrives.
And one day you look back and realize how far you’ve come.
Risk, Passion, and Advice for Young Athletes
If Jessie could speak to his younger self, or to any young player standing at a crossroads, his advice is simple:
Don’t be afraid to fail.
Take risks.
Follow your passion.
He acknowledges that life rarely checks every box. But when you follow what genuinely drives you, the unknown becomes less intimidating.
“When you’re passionate about what you do,” he says, “it doesn’t feel like work.”
It feels like purpose.
A New Era Has Begun
Jessie is clear:
“This isn’t something that’s coming. It’s already here. It’s a new era.”
But growth requires patience. Culture doesn’t shift overnight. Systems take time. Trust takes time.
The goal is to be the best version of West Ottawa, not a copy of someone else.
And if that focus stays steady?
The rest will follow.
Want to Be Part of It?
Whether you’re a player, parent, coach, or community member, West Ottawa Soccer Club is growing, and looking for people who want to grow with it.
Registration opens soon.
Volunteer coaches are always welcome.
And if Jessie’s vision tells us anything, it’s this:
The giant is waking up, and the best chapters are still ahead.
Listen to the complete interview with Jessie on this From the Park Bench Episode
