Haskayne School hosts Western Canada's largest academic case competition

Team spirit across campus was high Jan. 12-14 as hundreds of students, coaches and judges participated in JDC West 2018, hosted by the Haskayne School of Business for the first time in the competition’s 13-year history.

JDC West is a three-day competition that challenges students in the areas of academics, athletics, debate and social events. Students travelled from post-secondary institutions across Western Canada including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba to compete against other business schools.

Each year the competition features a different theme. This year’s theme, Embracing Diversity, was particularly relevant for the future of business on a local and global scale. “Like many other Canadian cities, Calgary is embracing diversity and expanding into new sectors with a focus on innovation and entrepreneurship,” says Jim Dewald, dean of the Haskayne School of Business. “Hosting JDC West this year was a tremendous honour and we’re proud to have been involved.”

The case competitions cover a wide range of subjects including entrepreneurship, international business, marketing, taxation and finance. “Case competitions give students the opportunity to put their business knowledge to work,” explains Mitch Orr, co-chair external for JDC West. “Students spent countless hours over many months preparing for the weekend, and for many it’s a highlight of their undergraduate career.”

The School-of-the-Year Winner was the Edwards School of Business from the University of Saskatchewan. Haskayne participants posted impressive results in the competition including:

• First Place: Entrepreneurship — Natalie Giglio, Kendal Boyles, Megan Leslie
• Second Place: International Business — Kevin Reding, Nik Golob, Shreya Khanna 
• Second Place: Accounting — Ross Nesbitt, Sean Martin, Evan Perrault
• Third Place: Academic School of the Year
• Third Place: Skit Night — all Team Haskayne members
• Fourth Place: Debate Team — Aleck Grenon. Hayden King, Calvin Ng, Okwuchi Emerole
• Faculty Adviser of the Year: Cam Welsh

A total of 175 volunteers and the 26-member JDC West organizing committee spent countless hours planning and preparing for the memorable weekend. Alumni, case writers, judges, coaches and industry partners took time out of their business schedules to be involved, developing future leaders.