Gord Bereza - Hamilton Hurricanes Alumni

 

Hamilton Hurricanes: Since finishing your career with the Hurricanes, what have you been up to? What is your current role?

 

Gord Bereza: When I finished playing for the Hurricanes, I went to the University of Guelph where I played 3 additional years of football. After obtaining my Bachelor of Commerce in Hotel and Food Administration, I got into the restaurant business, where I was an owner/operator. I left the restaurant business and went to Mohawk College where I taught various business courses. After 32 years of teaching, I retired on April 30, 2017. 

 

HH: What does it mean to you to be a Hamilton Hurricane?

 

GB: Being a Hamilton Hurricane means a lot to me. If I didn’t play for the Hurricanes, I would not have gone to and graduated from the University of Guelph. Probably, I would have continued working in an office at Dofasco where I was employed while I played for the Hurricanes. My whole life would have unfolded differently.

 

HH: What is one thing you took away from the game of football? How did it help you develop as a person?

 

GB: There are several development items that I acquired from playing football but the most important thing that I learned was to be competitive. In football and in life, one has to perform at a high level to compete with others and to achieve personal short-term and long-term goals.  

 

HH:  What is one piece of advice you have received in your life that you live by?

 

GB: I learned to be optimistic. Things happen for a reason. The glass is always half full. Every cloud has a silver lining. 

 

HH: What is your 5-year plan?

 

GB: I plan on continuing to volunteer with the Hamilton Hurricanes on game days and with fundraising, as well as with the Small Business Enterprise Center in Hamilton as a Grant Committee member and a mentor for budding entrepreneurs. My wife and I would like to continue taking cruises and travelling to new places. Also, both of us will be increasing our volunteer work.    

 

HH: What has been the biggest challenge you have faced?

 

GB: My biggest challenge was when I transitioned from being a restaurateur to being a college teacher. Both positions involved showing young people how to do things to be successful, but after working 12 years in the restaurant industry, I had to switch from being a night person to a morning person. As well, I went from a job where I was the boss and made decisions to an environment where I was an employee and decisions were made by various administrators from five different levels of management. 

 

HH: What has been your proudest moment?

 

GB: In June of 2007, our son received his MBA from McMaster University and graduated with honours. He obtained both a higher degree and higher marks than I did in university.

 

HH: Who has had the biggest impact on your life?

 

GB: I made two huge career change decisions because of suggestions and advice that I received from Fred Dunbar.

 

While playing with the Hurricanes, Fred was the trainer. He left and went to the University of Guelph to be the trainer with the Guelph Gryphons. When I was finished playing with the Hurricanes, he suggested that I consider going to Guelph to better my education and to play football too. I decided to leave my job and off to university I went.

 

Several years later, when I was in the restaurant business, it was Fred Dunbar who told me that Mohawk College was looking for teachers for specific programs. I applied and got hired.     

 

HH: Where is the coolest place you have visited?

 

GB: While teaching at Mohawk, as the International Projects Coordinator, I had the opportunity to visit China several times. The country is beautiful, the people were wonderful and the experience was terrific.

 

HH: Favourite hobby?/What do you like to do in your free time?

 

GB: I like cycling and traveling. In the warmer months, I like to cycle in and around the Hamilton area and in the winter, I like to travel to warmer places. 

 

HH: Do you still have ties to the Hurricanes? What are they?

 

GB: I still volunteer for the Hurricanes, especially on game days. My wife does too. We help out in other areas as well.

 

HH: What advice do you have for young men looking to continue their football careers?

 

GB: Give it your best every day. You can play hard and have fun too. Enjoy the game, the competition, your coaches, your managers, and your teammates. You will gather lifetime friendships and stories to tell. Someday, you will look at your football experiences as some of the best times of your life. You will cherish the memories.