Overnight success is a concept sorely misunderstood. In truth, what seems like overnight success often comes from years of behind-the-scenes work before stepping into the spotlight. This is no different for TSN anchor and host of The Shift, Kayla Grey. 

From a young age, Grey was enamoured with basketball, remembering her knack for taking every opportunity to engage with the sport. While she didn’t always thrive at school, it was when her mom enrolled her in camp one summer at BGC West Scarborough (formerly Boys & Girls Clubs) that she was able to flourish in every way. It was so different from what she had been used to – and she knew she’d found her place. 

This spring, Grey was recognized as an inaugural honouree of the first-ever BGC Canada Alumni Hall of Fame, created to celebrate alumni from all fields who have found success since their time spent at a BGC Club. This year’s alumni inductees come from all fields and include Grey herself alongside Taylor Hall, Dr. Jean Clinton and Art Eagleton. BGC Canada’s Alumni Hall of Fame exemplifies how a Club can change a life and set youth on a path to success, no matter their life circumstances. And Grey couldn’t be more proud. 

“I went to an all-white Elementary School. And then summer camp comes, and it’s diverse backgrounds and people from different economic standings and classes. But we all just had a passion for sport – for basketball.” 

It was from there that things really brightened for Grey, who was an only child on her mom’s side and continued to attend BGC camp summer after summer. She recalls her experience being pushed outside her comfort zone to socialize, navigate groups and find her personality, attributing much of her now on-screen confidence to her time at a BGC Club. And of course, all roads led to basketball. 

“I just loved being around basketball. And if I wasn’t playing it, I would be debating it. It was a safe space to do so.”