All net for Marcoux

Although Rhéanne Marcoux was not gifted with the six-foot genes needed to become a basketball player she still shot high, determined to make a basket in her own way.

The Winnipeg born jack of all trades has been making waves in the city’s sports industry for over 15 years. Recently appointed president of the Winnipeg Sea Bears, Marcoux is looking forward to carrying on creating an inclusive atmosphere — on and off the court.

Growing up, Marcoux played the sports where height was not a requirement such as ringette, soccer, track and badminton.

“I was super into sports growing up so it’s kind of serendipity that my entire career has been in the sports world,” Marcoux said. “When I was graduating high school I was all over the map.”

While attending St. Mary’s Academy for her high school years, she often debated what her life path would be. Marcoux juggled between venturing out to Toronto to study interior design at Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) or law at the University of Ottawa.

“I was undecided on what I wanted to do. Then I ran into one of my old high school teachers when I was doing U1 at (the University of Manitoba) and she said, ‘Have you heard of CreComm?’” she said.

Marcoux found her passion in the creative communications program at Red River College Polytechnic. Her job placement at CBC had her doing everything from camera work to editing and writing. She finished the second half of her degree with a major in rhetoric and communications at the University of Winnipeg.

In 2013 she officially entered the world of sports at True North Sports and Entertainment as its web content co-ordinator.

“I was doing everything from social media, to managing the website, to writing for Inflight magazine, to doing on-camera stuff,” Marcoux said. And with the Winnipeg Jets having returned two years prior, it was a hectic but exciting time for her to get her feet wet.

A year later, Winnipeg Blue Bombers president and CEO Wade Miller called to convince Marcoux that her future was in the CFL. Over the span of the next 11 years with the club, Marcoux transitioned into different roles — from marketing manager, to senior manager of social media and communications, to creative and content director, until her final role as senior director of branding.

“As the team became more successful, we were able to increase and grow the team. What’s really neat is that they do everything in-house,” Marcoux added. “That was the mandate from Day 1 when I first started was not to outsource anything, to own everything that we do as far as creative.”

To say she had a successful run with the Bombers would be an understatement. Not only did they win two back-to-back Grey Cups — in 2019 and 2021, both against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats — the stadium also hosted the women’s FIFA World Cup in 2015, now defunct pro CPL club Valour FC, concerts, as well as NHL Heritage Classics.

In January 2026, Marcoux switched over from outdoor to indoor sports as she joined the Sea Bears organization as chief brand and experience officer.

“(It was) essentially overseeing the organization from a business standpoint. It’s working closely with all of our departments, making sure that we’re all aligned and putting on the best show possible for our fans,” Marcoux said.

Within a quick five months, Marcoux became the newly appointed president. Despite the role change, her goal stays the same: putting on an experience and creating entertainment for the fans.

“It’s more about the whole picture,” she emphasized, “it’s from the minute they get out of the car to the minute they get back into their car.”

Marcoux’s mission for the team is continue to integrate themselves into the community and culture, not just in Winnipeg, but the province itself. This is where the Sea Bears Foundation — announced June 4 — came into play.

The Sea Bears team have started outdoor court refurbishments throughout the city since the team started in 2023. Firstly, at St. John’s Park, Donald Street and River Avenue, as well as a memorial court in honour of the late Chad Posthumus at Gateway Recreation Centre.

For Marcoux and the Sea Bears, this is just the beginning. In partnership with Canadian non-profit Buckets and Borders, as well as local artists, the hoops club are able to continue creating these one-of-a-kind courts that welcome all.

“By the time summer’s over we’ll have done nine total court refurbishments,” she said. “It’s beautifying a province. It’s creating these community courts that are free and accessible to everyone.

“That’s the beautiful thing about basketball is that all they need is a ball. You don’t even need somebody to play against, you could just throw hoops by yourself.”

Marcoux has also made sure to prioritize the youth community while working closely with Basketball Manitoba. For those who love the game but don’t necessarily want to be the one shooting the baskets, there’s opportunities for them to become coaches and referees.

“We would like to support and grow so that any kid can be involved in basketball. You don’t need to be an athlete,” Marcoux said.

A new project has also visited CF Polo Park: the Sea Bears very own Tundra Buggy. A vehicle that takes passengers out into polar bears’ habitats in Churchill, the Sea Bears made their very own to parade around the streets of Winnipeg.

This fully drivable electric vehicle will be at every home game as well as community events. It will have a full stocked bar, dancing platform on the top, DJ booth in the back, as well as an attached basketball hoop for participants to practice their layups and free throws.

“We’re trying to honour our roots and what the team was named after,” Marcoux said.

With Marcoux’s influence and involvement in the community, she hopes to inspire, especially young women who dream of a career in sports. Her piece of advice to anyone with similar aspirations is to simply never give up.

“When I started, Sara Orlesky (current senior host and producer for the Winnipeg Jets) was the one I looked up to. That’s sometimes all it takes, is just to see that one person, then you think, ‘OK, if she can do it, maybe I can, too,’” Marcoux said.

While at the Bombers, Marcoux worked with a team primarily of women and now, at the Sea Bears office, over 60 per cent of the employees are female.

“Hopefully one day this isn’t just a headline and it’s normal. We don’t have to talk about it because it’s even across the field,” she said.

But Marcoux emphasized that you need both sides.

“You can’t have that culture without having the right men in the building, too. That respect and empowerment… that takes everybody,” she added.

While asking about the biggest challenges she has faced in the field, she simply explained that sports is its own beast to conquer — you can prepare and do your job to the best of your ability but you can’t control what happens on the field, ice or court.

“You get sucked into the vortex of a season and sometimes it’s just to take a step back and enjoy the ride,” Marcoux said. “What we’re here to do is tell stories and showcase the players.”

sports@freepress.mb.ca