Faizal Khamisa is a familiar face to Canadian sports fans. As an integral part of Rogers Sportsnet programming, he makes his living talking about the things he loves most – basketball highlights, hockey trades, and more.
In addition to his day job, Khamisa raises funds for the charity Sick Kids. He himself received a cancer diagnosis at age 16. Then his own life turned upside down, and his worldview fundamentally changed.
Faizal Khamisa’s Early Love of Sports
Khamisa has always had a passion for sports. During his final year at the University of Western Ontario, he started a sports blog, which eventually pushed him to apply for a sports broadcasting program. His fame rocketed over the next few years.
Khamisa’s personable demeanor, technological fluency (just look at his Twitter), and purposeful positivity have gotten him significant clout as a sportscaster. He also expresses pride in his heritage, as one of the few South Asian broadcasters in the sports circuit. He says, “[lack of representation] is why you question if you can make it within an industry that not many of your type have made it. To be part of the change is so important to me.”
How Cancer Flipped the World
At 16 years old, Khamisa learned he had cancer. His treatments – including chemotherapy and surgery – lasted two years, and severely impacted his health. However, even at such a young age Khamisa turned his struggle into a learning and inspirational experience.
“The illness served as the perfect opportunity to reach out to the Community, especially the many young children I had worked with over the years, and show them through my experience that perseverance and a positive attitude are the most essential keys to your success and future,” wrote Khamisa as a senior in the University of Western Ontario.
He started speaking publicly as a freshman at university, and this took him across the country. His slogan, “Create A Good Day”, echoed the new perspective that his illness made him take on.
“I took that illness, which was the worst thing in my life and turned it into the best thing in my life because it brought be to where I am today,” Khamisa remarks. After surviving much more than most 29-year olds do, Khamisa has built his brand around resilience and positivity. This has earned him a large following. Tens of thousands of people appreciate his dedication and skill in his craft, as well as his positive outlook. Khamisa has over 22 thousand followers on Twitter alone.
Faizal Khamisa Raises Money for Sick Kids
After his own experience, Khamisa feels compelled to use his position to help kids with cancer. “I could easily be arrogant about it and use whatever ‘Fame’ comes with being on television every day, but it’s so important to me to take whatever power I have to evoke positive change,” he says. And these aren’t empty words; he has held a series of fundraisers for Sick Kids, a Canadian pediatric hospital, collecting a total of $20,000 and hundreds of toys.
Follow Khamisa on Twitter and Instagram for widespread sports coverage, including exclusive interviews.
