This weekend brings 530 top university business students from across Canada to Prince George.
They will come from 10 competing universities to participate in the annual JDC West business competition being hosted by UNBC and the City of Prince George Friday through Sunday.
Undergraduate students will compete in 10 academic case studies including accounting, business strategy, entrepreneurship, finance, human resource management, international business, management information systems, marketing, taxation and non-profit organization strategy.
Along with academics, students will compete in categories like debate and athletics with the social category being considered the most grueling since it tests endurance, skill, team work and spirit.
The competition not only fosters high academic standards, spirit of teamwork and sportsmanship, but allows participants to represent their local community.
Among the aims is to contribute to the future of youth and business culture in Canada and encourage students to go beyond classroom learning to become part of a team representing their school.
"The 53 UNBC students taking part have been working very hard for more than five months in preparation for this weekend," says UNBC student Evan Dusdal, one of the team captains. "Hometown advantage definitely means something. We know the rooms and the area quite well so we are hoping to show our guests what UNBC can do. UNBC has brought home awards each year of participation, and we want this to be our best showing yet."
From the Ramada Hotel Friday evening, a parade featuring a pyrotechnic display, First Nations drummers, and RCMP officers in red serge, will set off for the Civic Centre to mark the start of the fifth JDC West Business Competition.
UNBC president George Iwama and a number of dignitaries from business, academia, and politics fields will attend to judge, speak, and participate as panelists.
Lieutenant-General Romo Dallaire will be the key-note speaker at the gala dinner and awards Ceremony Sunday.
Benefits provided to the host community include fundraising, charity work and a boost to tourism.
The competition began in 1989 in Quebec as the Jeux du Commerce, and was so successful it expanded west under the name JDC West to Vancouver in 2006, Lethbridge in 2008 and Edmonton in 2009. For further information, please visit the JDC West website at http://www.jdcwest.com/.
btrick@pgcitizen.ca
