NANAIMO – Students in Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) MBA Society will host the first ever BC MBA Games in Nanaimo this weekend (October 16 to 18). Teams of students in Masters of Business Administration (MBA) programs from VIU, University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Thompson Rivers University and University of Victoria will come together to compete over the weekend in academic, team sport and spirit competitions.
After VIU’s MBA students attended the Canada MBA Games in January, they returned with a desire to continue the energy, fun competition, networking, and community spirit they had experienced there. With support from their faculty, they started the VIU MBA Society, and began work on a plan to develop the first BC MBA Games.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming 110 MBA students and coaches to VIU and Nanaimo for the first ever BC MBA Games,” said Omar Karim, President of the VIU MBA Student Society and Chair of the Games. “We’re really excited to showcase our University and our community through the competitive and social events we’re planning.”
As part of the spirit component of competition, participants in the BC MBA Games are raising funds for the Autism Society of BC and the Canucks Autism Network. VIU’s MBA students will host a public event, “Embrace Autism” on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 2 pm in VIU’s Malaspina Theatre (Building 310); tickets are $5 and available at the door. Join the talented Drum Café in a group drumming session, and hear a panel discussion with families living with autism.
Saturday evening will feature a dinner and Pecha Kucha competition at the Coast Bastion Hotel that will engage participants in the art of precise storytelling. Competitors in Pecha Kucha (“chit-chat” in Japanese) make presentations alongside a slide show of 20 images shown for 20 seconds each. Emcee for this event is Zahra Premji of CTV Vancouver Island News, along with special guest Nabil Karim, TSN sports broadcaster and anchor, and one of the Pecha Kucha judges. Tickets to this event, 7:30 to 9:30 pm are $40.
To reserve tickets or for more information, email info@BCMBAGames.ca, or visit this website.
As part of the team sports competition, MBA teams will engage in a “Dragon Boat Tug ‘o War” from 8 to 10:30 am Sunday, October 18 at Maffeo Sutton Park. The public is welcome to come out to cheer on the participants. Karim said a key objective for the BC MBA Games is to promote the spirit of volunteerism and community fellowship, while providing MBA students in BC an opportunity to practice their skills in preparation for the National MBA Games in January 2016.
“We know there will be fierce competition among all MBA students competing this weekend,” Karim said. “At the same time, we’re developing a strong network of students who will graduate to work across sectors in Canada and internationally, and who we think will be inspired to embrace their responsibility for making positive social change.”
Winners of the competition will be announced following an awards ceremony at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre on Sunday, October 18. Students in the VIU MBA Society are hoping to create a legacy of hosting the BC MBA Games in Nanaimo in future years, Karim said.
