JDC West Focuses on Community

Nov 20, 2017 | 7:00 AM

JDC (Jeux de Commerce) West is Western Canada’s largest post-secondary business competition; where undergraduate Commerce compete in fields of academics, athletics, social, and debate.

12 universities, from the Coast of BC to Manitoba, make up the 600-person delegation that compete against each other in the third week of January. The UNBC JDC West team has proudly represented Prince George and our northern community for the past 11 years, and has grown the program into a vast network of alumni, post-grad career opportunities, and professional relationships that keep our students living and working in the North. From April until January, the UNBC team works to develop themselves to the highest possible professional and academic standards.

JDC West as an organization places an emphasis on community involvement through volunteer work and fundraising. The UNBC JDC West team has always taken this aspect of what we do to heart; our community of Prince George humbles us every year in its generosity and support. Throughout the year, we focus on our 2 independent events, Chillin’ For Charity and Dodge For A Cause; and as of 2017, a collaboration with the Canadian Cancer Society for the Inside Ride.

Chillin’ For Charity is an organization-wide event hosted by all 12 schools, where teams fundraise money for their respective chosen charities and conclude with all members dunking into an icy pool of water. The UNBC team has raised thousands of dollars over the years for the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation, which has contributed to vital pieces of equipment and renovations to our regional hospital. This year, the team has set a goal of $20,000 to put towards the purchase of Breast Tomosynthesis, a special form of mammography imaging that helps detect early signs of breast cancer. This year’s Chillin’ For Charity will take place on November 11th from 5:30-7:00pm outside the CN Centre before the PG Cougars Heroes Night.

Dodge For A Cause is a community-wide dodge-ball tournament of 12-16 teams. We have hosted this event for the last two years, and in that time friendly rivalries have developed, and a lot of fun has been had.

The 2017 Inside Ride raised just under $18,000 for Camp Goodtimes, a Canadian Cancer Society summer camp program for young cancer survivors and their families. Businesses, families, and friends form teams for a fundraising campaign that ends in a stationary cycle race. Awards are given out for the best costumes, highest spirit, kilometers biked, and highest fundraisers. This year, over 16 teams came out to celebrate their amazing efforts and the difference they were able to make in the lives of children and families affected by cancer. 

Nothing we do would be possible without the support of our coaches and team sponsors. Our coaching panels are made up of alumni and industry professionals, who dedicate time each week to push the teams to being their best. Our sponsors create the relationships that ensure our program graduates have opportunities that match their experience and expertise, and have them hit the ground running after graduation.

For more information about UNBC JDC West, our initiatives, events, and partners; please visit our Facebook page at UNBC JDC West or our website unbcjdcwest.com.

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