March 2, 2011

Ryan Beedie, who recently made the largest gift to Simon Fraser University, will be a special guest and speaker at this year’s student-organized BASS Banquet on March 9.

Along with his father Keith, Ryan Beedie, an alumnus of SFU’s business school, donated $22 million to his alma mater — which will now be named the Beedie School of Business. SFU will use the gift to create an endowment supporting students, professorships and research chairs.

The BASS Banquet is the Beedie School of Business’ signature gala dinner and reception that is inclusive of all areas of discipline within the Bachelor of Business Administration program. The event showcases the best and the brightest that the program has to offer, and gives students the opportunity to springboard into the business community with their fresh ideas and new perspectives. The 10th annual BASS banquet will be at Vancouver’s Four Seasons Hotel.

Dave Cobb, the president and CEO of B.C. Hydro and a Simon Fraser University alumnus, will also get a big thumbs-up from SFU’s business undergrads at the March 9 gala dinner. SFU’s Business Administration Student Society (BASS) and SFU’s Beedie School of Business will award Cobb, a 1987 SFU Beedie School of Business graduate, the BASS 2011 Corporate Impact Award, a prestigious prize bestowed by students to their mentors.

“As an alumnus, Dave Cobb is an inspiration to many SFU students and we are very excited to present this award to him,” says Kunny Ma, chair of BASS and its 2011 awards banquet.

“What makes the Corporate Impact Award so special is that it is student driven,” says SFU Business Student Engagement Officer, Sam Thiara. “As young leaders, this represents a special opportunity for our students to provide an honour to a member of the community who they respect and admire as a business leader.”

Among previous recipients of the Corporate Impact Award are: Joe Segal, a real estate developer, retailer and chancellor emeritus of SFU; Milton Wong, an Order of Canada recipient, chair of HSBC Asset Management Canada, and also SFU chancellor emeritus and Dennis Skulsky, B.C. Lions president and CEO, and former Canwest Publishing president and CEO.

For more information about the BASS banquet, visit http://i.sfu.ca/pCROaV