Deniz Senoglu was raised in Vancouver. After graduating high school, Deniz attended the University of Victoria for two years. When the pandemic hit he knew it was time to make a change, and he enrolled in the British Columbia Institute of Technology broadcast and online journalism program. Throughout his life he has worked as a food service manager at Nat Bailey Aramark, a youth football coach, a soccer referee, and a marketing assistant at the Scotiabank Dance Centre. 

Getting into sports writing and journalism as a whole was never the plan. It started as an interest, a love for athletics and sport culture. From that interest it turned to passion, and a passion for consuming sports media. “Talking head” sports analysts may get a bad reputation, but the in-depth detail, insightful comments and predictions, love for the game, and intelligence they offer draws in many, and Deniz was one of them. Since discovering that world it was a pipe dream for Deniz, but when he stumbled onto the British Columbia Institute of Technology  program he knew he had a shot. 

Deniz has played sports since the age of three, and he credits this to his mindset. Hardworking and driven, Deniz won’t let a setback derail him for long. Perseverance and grit are traits Deniz works hard to encapsulate. Deniz keeps his head down until the work is done; he won’t cut corners doing laps, and he won’t do a roughshod job in his career. The goal is excellence, and that needs a grind filled mindset to be achieved. You get what you put into life, and Deniz is ready to put it all on the line. 

With a recent immigrant father and a mother who has spent decades travelling with her career, Deniz himself is well traveled and is very curious. Having visited all of Earth’s continents besides Oceania, and over fifteen countries; Deniz has met thousands of different people, cultures and attitudes. This fostered a sense of both acceptance and curiosity. Learning about new places, people, experiences, and cultures is something Deniz excels at. People are different, and new places can be intimidating. Deniz believes that the opportunity to learn and share stories of all the different varieties is the most important belief. Life as a secular person just does not have the same quality when compared to new and different experiences.

Deniz believes giving back to the community is important. He has volunteered to coach youth sports, gave talks to incoming high school students, and worked closely with community sports programs. At the beginning of the pandemic Deniz took the opportunity to volunteer at the Jewish Family Services with food drives for the impoverished and to grocery shop and deliver to seniors and immunocompromised or at-risk individuals. Deniz is a strong believer in the saying ‘do unto others as you would like others to do unto you.’ Service and care is a trait Deniz has picked up from his family, especially through his mother’s side and the good that the Blankstein and Rady families have done with the jewish community in Manitoba.