SFU Beedie makes impressive showing at JDC West 2024

SFU’s Beedie School of Business made a formidable appearance at Jeux du Commerce (JDC) West case competition, the most prestigious event of its kind in Western Canada. The undergraduate team placed second in both Academic School of the Year and School of the Year categories, competing against some of the top business schools in the country.

JDC West has taken place annually since 2006, bringing together undergraduate delegates from the leading business schools across BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba to compete in a range of disciplines. It is the largest undergraduate business competition in Western Canada.

This year’s competition was hosted by the University of Alberta’s School of Business and showcased academics, athletics, debate, and the Challenge, all with a theme of Success Through Sustainability.

52 SFU Beedie undergraduate students travelled to Edmonton after completing nine months of training with volunteer alumni coaches. The 2024 team was led by student co-captains Liz Gilder and Ryan Maclean, supported by an executive team of Hee Hashimoto Chang, Amneet Nagra, Paige Foulds, Kristin Kelly, and Ezrah Glanville and Faculty Advisors Stephen Spector and Susan Christie-Bell.

“Being part of JDC West for the past four years has been the most transformative and rewarding experience of our undergraduate degree, and it was a great honour to have played a part in giving that experience to 52 other students this year,” reads a statement from student co-captains Liz Gilder and Ryan Maclean. “We couldn’t be prouder of our delegates for the personal and professional growth they have achieved. These past months have brought together some of Beedie’s brightest, and we can only imagine what remarkable things they will continue to achieve in the future.”

The SFU Beedie team placed in five academic competition categories: first in International Business, Business Technology Management, and Business Strategy; second in Entrepreneurship; and third in Finance. The team placed first in athletics with a record of 12-1-1 and took second place in the Challenge. Over the months leading up to the competition SFU Beedie team completed a total of 986.5 volunteer hours and raised $19,010.

SFU Beedie has enjoyed record-setting success at JDC West, placing first or second in the School of the Year and Academic School of the Year categories for four years in a row, reflecting the school’s commitment to preparing skilled graduates.

“Competitions such as JDC West give students an opportunity to show working-world skills in a competitive environment,” says Stephen Spector. “In addition to developing many of the skills that are so sought after in today’s global economy, JDC West helps our students gain and practice abilities and character necessary to satisfy the demands of career-oriented employers.”

“We are all very proud of the effort exhibited by the JDC West teams in maintaining the high standards set by the SFU Beedie School of Business.”