Jessica Bromley connects the community to the Oilers at a deeper level than wins and losses
Age: 39
Job Title: Director, Foundation Development and Engagement, Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation
Jessica Bromley grew up in the small Northern Ontario communities of Foleyet and Hornepayne (west of Timmins). Her elementary school was so small, she was often the only girl in her grade school class. But, she shared a dream with the boys, that she was going to make it to the NHL while playing back-yard-rink ice hockey and ball hockey.
“I knew, from a young age, that my career would always be around sport,” says Bromley. “At a young age, it was all about hockey. But things don’t always go according to plan.”
After she graduated from the Sport Administration Program at Laurentian University, Bromley worked for the Canadian Olympic program, helping coordinate the athletes’ and coaches’ preparations and experiences. She even spent a couple of seasons with the minor-league baseball team in Ottawa, and when the person in the Lynx mascot suit couldn’t come into work, she put on the costume.
It was at the Sochi Olympics in 2014 where she networked with several NHL general managers as Olympic liaison for the women’s and men’s Canadian hockey teams. Then, she found out about an opening in Edmonton, and it was a marriage made in heaven. Entering her 10th season, Bromley’s worn many hats with the Oilers organization, from working on game presentations, player relocations and family relations, to running the “industry-leading” 50-50. But, as director of development and engagement for the Community Foundation, she leads the team’s charitable efforts, which is in the tens of millions of dollars each season.
“As much as you’re upset when your team loses, at the end of the day, when you get to meet your favourite player, or see something cool that they’re doing in the community, it means a heck of a lot more than what’s happening on the ice. I’ve learned that the players feel that, as well. Having the opportunity to be in the middle of that, and finding those ways to connect our players to the community, and making the community see past the wins and losses and that there are greater issues out there, that’s a pretty special thing.”
Bromley has called Edmonton home for almost a decade, and she loves it. And her mom, dad and brother have all relocated to this city too — and they’ve all been converted to Oilers fans.
This article appears in the Nov/Dec 2023 issue of Edify
