2020-21 BCIT Alumni Association Annual Report

BCIT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21

The BCIT Alumni Association pledges $1-million donation to BCIT’s INSPIRE Campaign.

Who are we?

We are the focused. The driven.

Those who need to understand.

We are the ambitious. The entrepreneurial.

Those who never stop innovating.

We are the initiators. The uncompromising.

Those who know it can be done sustainably.

We are the relentless. The inspired.

Those who have conquered the complexity.

— THE BRITISH COLUMBIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. EDUCATION FOR A COMPLEX WORLD.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2

Message from the President of BCIT

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Message from the President of the BCIT Alumni Association

5

BCIT Alumni Association Board of Directors and Ambassadors

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BCIT Convocation Celebrations

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BCIT Alumni Holiday Market

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2020 Annual General Meeting

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BCIT Alumni Association Gives Back

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Making History

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BCIT by the Numbers 2020/21

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Connecting Alumni through Events and Programs

20 Communications 24

Treasurer’s Report

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Partnerships and Sponsorships

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Alumni Store

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9 Ways to Keep in Touch

The British Columbia Institute of Technology is grateful to be located on the unceded traditional territory of the Coast Salish People.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF BCIT It’s hard to believe it’s been a little over a year since the world changed for all of us. In some ways, it feels like just yesterday, and in others, it feels like it has been a lifetime.

Looking back, I am incredibly proud of how the BCIT community has come together to ensure continued learning and excellence for our students, who are our future leaders and alumni. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Faculty and Staff, BCIT quickly transitioned to primarily online learning and working, launched safety protocols for those on campus, and celebrated and welcomed our newest graduates to our alumni family with BCIT’s first-ever online convocation celebrations.

After convocation, our graduates become BCIT’s greatest ambassadors, like each of you, leading and inspiring those around them at work, home, and in their communities. Their journey to success continues long after they have completed their credential. Making a difference in every sector, our alumni tell us time and time again that their BCIT education is foundational to their careers, whether they graduated last year or 30 years ago.

Thank you for your ongoing strong partnership with BCIT. The relationship BCIT enjoys with such a creative, dynamic Alumni Association is vital to our future students’ enduring growth, helping them expand their connections, supporting their career advancement, and providing opportunities for them to give back.

On behalf of BCIT, thank you, BCIT Alumni Association, for your ongoing commitment and leadership. Your work is critical to our post-COVID recovery and beyond.

Kathy Kinloch President British Columbia Institute of Technology

BCIT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE BCIT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION There is one thing I know for sure. Circumstances don’t define us, they reveal who we are.

This past year as the pandemic evolved, I’ve seen you, our BCIT alumni, show the world who we are: true innovators. Leaders who have turned the world’s recent challenges into opportunities—launching new, leading-edge ideas and reinventing the way we do business, all while lifting up a community along the way.

In this annual report, we have highlighted the incredible achievements and contributions of some of our alumni. I encourage you to take some time to read about them. I know you will find them as inspiring as I do.

Over 2020/21, the Association was pleased to continue fostering the success of our alumni. In September, we announced a significant $1 million pledge to the BCIT INSPIRE Campaign to establish our first-ever BCIT Alumni Centre, a space dedicated to supporting our graduates. Our endowments also funded $51,896 in entrance awards, scholarships, and graduating school awards that went to 32 current students.

On behalf of the board, I gratefully acknowledge BCIT and our partners for their ongoing support of the Alumni Association and our alumni around the world.

As BCIT alumni—now more than 195,000 strong—we are integral to creating the brighter future to which the world is looking forward. I have never been prouder to wear my BCIT Alumni pin as one of you.

Emil Bosnjak , Marketing Management ‘88 President BCIT Alumni Association

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BCIT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD AND AMBASSADORS PRESIDENT EMIL BOSNJAK

VICE PRESIDENT JENNIFER PATTERSON

VICE PRESIDENT KIEL LANDRIGAN CIM, CFP

PRESIDENT & CEO, BWIRELESS & SIMPLIFY WIRELESS

PRINCIPAL/PROJECT MANAGER, CITYSCAPE MANAGEMENT LTD

VICE PRESIDENT, PORTFOLIO MANAGER & INVESTMENT ADVISOR, TD WEALTH

SECRETARY/TREASURER RESHMEENA LALANI CPA, CA

CHAIR, GOVERNANCE ALEXANDRA GUNN

CHAIR, ENGAGEMENT MATTHEW NOLLETTI

CEO, INHERENT DIAMONDS & JEWELS | MANAGER, AGGRESSIVE TAX PLANNING, CANADA REVENUE AGENCY

MANAGER, HUMAN RESOURCES AND ADMINISTRATION, UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

SALES AND MARKETING MANAGER, PELESYS LEARNING SYSTEMS, INC.

DIRECTOR MELISSA BILLESBERGER

DIRECTOR AMANDA GOMES P.ENG

DIRECTOR AVINAASH KAPIL

CPA, CGA

PROJECT MANAGER, INDUSTRIAL, OMICRON

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, ISLAND KEY COMPUTER LTD.

DIRECTOR SEAN POOLE

DIRECTOR ARASH SALAMATI

DIRECTOR, VESSEL OPERATIONS, SEASPAN MARINE

DISTRICT MANAGER, BC DIVISION, TANGERINE

FRASER VALLEY ALUMNI AMBASSADOR JACK DAVIDSON

HONG KONG ALUMNI AMBASSADOR BRAD KIRK

FORMER CHAIR, BCIT BOARD OF GOVERNORS

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, HARILELA HOTELS GROUP

CONTROLLER, MR. MIKES RESTAURANTS CORPORATION

BCIT STUDENT ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT’S DESIGNATE CLAIRE MCCALLUM VICE PRESIDENT EXTERNAL, BCIT STUDENT ASSOCIATION

EX-OFFICIO LESLIE COURCHESNE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BCIT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Our sincere thanks to the alumni volunteering as Members-at-Large on board committees this year: Tim den Engelsen, Jared Fedosoff, and Kevin Liu. We also thank BCIT Alumni Relations Assistant Francis Loaisiga-Ramirez for her wonderful support to the board, as well as the Alumni Relations, Advancement Communications, and Advancement Services teams for their outstanding work.

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BCIT CONVOCATION CELEBRATIONS The BCIT Alumni Association proudly celebrated approximately 5,000 of BCIT’s newest alumni in the Spring 2020 and Winter 2021 Convocation videos.

Emceed by alums Sophie Lui, Global BC News anchor, and Kevin Lim, 104.9 KiSS RADiO Morning Show host, respectively, the Spring 2020 and Winter 2021 Convocation videos celebrated BCIT’s newest graduates. With congratulations from BCIT President Kathy Kinloch, Board of Governors Chair Doug Eveneshen, faculty, staff, and valedictorians, the videos also featured greetings from some familiar BCIT alumni faces including TV host and producer Erin Cebula, Vancouver Canucks Play-by-Play Broadcaster Brendan Batchelor, and Greater Vancouver Board of Trade President and CEO Bridgitte Anderson.

BCIT Alumni Association Emil Bosnjak warmly welcomed the grads as the newest members of the alumni family, encouraging them to stay in touch and to wear their new BCIT Alumni pins with pride.

In the Winter 2021 Convocation video, Carol Lee, Chair and Co-founder of the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation, was presented with a BCIT Honorary Doctorate as she shared an inspiring keynote speech, reminding graduates that changing the world is within each of them.

To mark their achievements, complimentary limited-edition celebration boxes, including BCIT Alumni pins and socks, were mailed to nearly 1,200 grads. The boxes were shared on BCIT Alumni and BCIT social media channels, encouraging our newest alum to #rockyoursocks.

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Below, clockwise: BCIT alumnus Kevin Lim emcees the 2021 Winter Convocation video; new grad Sam Bienias rocks her BCIT Alumni socks; complimentary grad box featuring BCIT Alumni socks; Erin Cerbula congratulates grads as part of the Spring 2020 celebration.

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BCIT ALUMNI HOLIDAY MARKET: BOOSTING ALUMNI-OWNED BUSINESSES This past holiday season, the BCIT Alumni Association introduced the annual BCIT Alumni Holiday Market, a website featuring exclusive offers and unique gifts from BCIT alumni-owned online stores. From handcrafted chocolates and fine wines to modern home décor and wellness products, the market featured 25 alumni businesses.

“These are challenging times for so many business owners,” said Emil Bosnjak, President of the BCIT Alumni Association.

“The Association is here to support our alumni at every step of their journey. The support of your community can make a world of difference, in good times and the not-so-good times.

On behalf of the Alumni Association, I am proud to announce this market to promote alumni businesses, and further build pride in BCIT. As an entrepreneur and business owner myself, I know running your own enterprise comes with its challenges but I also know BCIT alumni are uniquely poised to overcome them.”

unique page views, achieved more than 50,000 impressions and 2,100 engagements on social media, and increased traffic to participating alumni businesses.

The market, which was live from November 1 – December 31, 2020, garnered significant attention earning coverage from media outlets including The Vancouver Sun, The Province, The Community Press, MSN News, and The Financial Post. The website also earned over 5,500

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BCIT ALUMNI HOLIDAY MARKET WINS BRONZE The BCIT Alumni Holiday Market was awarded a bronze 2021 Prix d’Excellence Award for Best Alumni Initiative by the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education.

Among numerous submissions from universities and post-secondary institutions across Canada, the Holiday Market stood out as an outstanding alumni-focused program.

THANK YOU TO OUR 2020 HOLIDAY MARKET ALUMNI BUSINESSES Cocoa West Chocolatier

La Petite Souris Chocolate

The Jilly Digital Store

Free Lion Bodycare

Lipani Skincare

Tout de Sweet Confections

Frind Estate Winery

Lynsow Creative

Urge Chocolates

Glory Juice Co.

Mila + Paige

Vellum Wellness

Good Boy Collective

Naked Snacks

Woash Wellness Inc.

Good Vibe Fitness

Quails’ Gate Winery

Happy Bloomers

Sisters Sage

Hudson + Oak

Statement Grey

Jones Baby & Co.

Steel and Oak

Karen Cooper Gallery

Tempea Natural Foods

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2020 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Alumni industry leaders share their insights on the impact of the pandemic at our first-ever virtual AGM. “When there’s a crisis, you go to work and you get it done,” said Anne McMullin, President of Urban Development Institute, a non-profit association for BC’s real estate development industry. “We need to come together, more than ever, to rebuild and come out of this better than we were.”

Anne was part of a BCIT alumni guest speaker panel at BCIT Alumni Association’s 2020 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on June 2, 2020. Held online for the first time ever, the event welcomed nearly 100 attendees from near and far, including Hong Kong, Manitoba, and New Jersey.

The panel, moderated by Paul McCullough, Vice President, BCIT Advancement, also included Reza Bafandeh, Vice President, Food-X Technologies, a fresh-food delivery platform facility, and Brad Kirk, COO, Harilela Hotel Group and BCIT Alumni Ambassador for Hong Kong. They each shared insights on the impact of the pandemic on their industries: real estate development, e-grocery delivery, and hospitality and tourism.

“Not only did we have 20x growth on our website, but from an infrastructure perspective, what load does that take?” said Reza, who said e-grocery has seen increased demand.

“We had to completely shift gears in terms of direction and

methodology to serve customers in the way our business was intended to do…The transition pushed the e-grocery world about six to 10 years ahead of schedule. We had to work consistently to innovate and provide that same level of experience that you’d get going into a store.”

In Hong Kong, Brad said the region, whose economy was already buckling, was hit hard when the pandemic emerged in January, but said going forward, hospitality businesses that will succeed beyond COVID-19 are those that did the right things: “Were those businesses generous, open and honest, and truthful? If you did the right things, you’ll be rewarded. Hopefully we did the right things.”

Across all three industries, each of the speakers agreed: the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on consumer behaviour and the operations of organizations.

Survival and success depend very much on adaptability in a new world of many unknowns.

Special thanks to our generous event sponsors: BMO Bank of Montreal, iA Financial Group, Prospera Credit Union, and TD Insurance.

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BCIT Alumni Association AGM guest speaker panel (clockwise): Paul McCullough, Vice President, BCIT Advancement (moderator); Brad Kirk, COO, Harilela Hotel Group and BCIT Hong Kong Alumni Ambassador; Anne McMullin, President and CEO, Urban Development Institute; and Reza Bafandeh, Vice President, SPUD.ca and Food-X Technologies

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BCIT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION GIVES BACK One million reasons to smile: BCIT Alumni Association pledges $1 million gift to establish the BCIT Alumni Centre.

In September 2020, the BCIT Alumni Association (BCITAA) proudly announced its largest-ever donation.

“On behalf of the Alumni Association board, I am proud to pledge $1 million to the BCIT INSPIRE Campaign,” says Emil Bosnjak, President, BCITAA. “Like countless alumni, I have experienced how an applied education from BCIT sets our graduates apart as the problem-solving innovators, creators, and leaders that our world needs now more than ever before. The Association is excited to support our current and future alumni with this gift.”

The $1 million contribution will develop the first-ever BCIT Alumni Centre—a space dedicated to fostering the success of alumni in British Columbia and around the globe. Additional donations from alumni, donors, and the BCIT community will further enhance the Centre’s design and programs.

The BCIT Alumni Centre will be housed within the BCIT Student Association’s new Student Hub building, now being designed for the Burnaby campus.

BCIT alumni are invited to help shape this new Centre through surveys, focus groups, collaboration, and support. Alumni that donate $500 or more to the BCIT Alumni Centre, before the Centre’s expected opening in 2024, will receive a VIP invitation to the grand opening and donor celebration. Those that donate $1,000 or more will have their name permanently displayed on the Centre’s donor wall.

Make a contribution to the new BCIT Alumni Centre through the BCIT Alumni Centre Campaign. Visit bcit.ca/donate, click ‘donate now,’ and select ‘BCIT Alumni Centre Campaign’.

PHILANTHROPY: SUPPORTING BCIT AND BCIT STUDENTS The BCIT Alumni Association is proud to partner with the BCIT Foundation to continue supporting BCIT and BCIT students. Since 1985, the Association has awarded 1,026 student scholarships and bursaries totalling over $1.2 million. With our $1 million pledge towards the BCIT Alumni Centre, our philanthropic giving totals nearly $2.5 million.

BCIT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21

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STUDENT AWARDS DISBURSED ON BEHALF OF THE BCIT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION IN 2020/21 In 2020/21, 32 awards totalling $51,896 were disbursed as follows:

AWARD AND BURSARY TOTALS SINCE INCEPTION

1,026 students have benefitted from the awards, receiving a total of $1,204,836.

JUNE 2020 – GRADUATING AWARDS BCIT Alumni Association Awards Brett Choi, School of Energy Christina Dixon, School of Health Sciences Erin Laforet, School of Business + Media Michelle Le, School of Computing and Academic Studies Hafeez Noormohamed, School of Construction and the Environment

SEPTEMBER 2020 – ENTRANCE AWARDS BCIT Alumni Association Entrance Awards Ayla Challenger, Diagnostic Medical Sonography Laurel Dyck, Diagnostic Medical Sonography Erik Hayes, Clinical Genetics Technology Julia Kroeker, Diagnostic Medical Sonography Ryan Reid, Business Management

FALL 2020 – SCHOLARSHIPS

ENDOWMENT VALUES AT MARCH 31, 2021 BCIT Alumni Association Scholarship and Bursary Endowment (Vancouver Foundation)

$810,000 BCIT Alumni Association Scholarship & Bursary Endowment (BCIT Foundation)

$428,424 TOTAL: $1,238,424

BCIT Alumni Association Scholarships Kateryna Bozhenko, Computer Systems Technology Lucas Hall, Electrical Engineering Jennifer Nicholls, Forest and Natural Areas Management Ashley Obeck, Nautical Sciences Eileen Tang, Nuclear Medicine Yvette Keeshia Valles, Accounting

JANUARY 2021 – ENTRANCE AWARD BCIT Alumni Association Entrance Award Zhengyang Liu, Medical Laboratory Sciences

MARCH 2021 – BURSARIES BCIT Alumni Association Bursaries Bursaries were awarded to 15 students in financial need.

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MAKING HISTORY Established in 1979, the BCIT Alumni Association was founded to serve its then 12,000 alumni members. Today, there are more than 195,000 alumni working in every sector, making significant contributions to communities in BC, Canada, and across the globe.

2004 The Alumni Association celebrates 25 years, as the number of alumni reaches 100,000.

1979 BCIT Alumni Association incorporates as a society.

1986

2003

‘Willingdon Club’ is created to give alumni members benefits and discounts, and to help fund Association activities.

1982 Volunteers produce the first Alumni Association newsletter.

1989 The Alumni Association Endowment Fund is established to support student scholarships and bursaries.

1999 The Alumni Association launches its first website.

1991 The number of BCIT alumni reaches 25,000.

BCIT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21

The inaugural BCIT Distinguished Alumni Awards gala is held with 340 guests.

2020 The Alumni Association announces the new Fraser Valley Chapter to connect and support BCIT alumni in the Fraser Valley Regional District.

2006 The Alumni Association sends a welcome CD-ROM to new graduates.

2020 The BCIT Alumni Perks app launches in January, making BCIT the first post-secondary institution in BC to debut an alumni app at the time.

2020 The Alumni Association pledges $1 million towards the INSPIRE Campaign to develop BCIT’s first-ever BCIT Alumni Centre.

2019 The Alumni Association celebrates 40 years, and launches its first international chapter in Hong Kong. Alumni grow to 185,000 spanning 100 countries across the globe.

2020 The Alumni Association convenes its first-ever online AGM. ∆

2011 The Alumni Association endowment grows to $1 million, making it the largest endowment supporting BCIT students.

2014 BCIT celebrates 50 years, merging the Distinguished Alumni Awards with its anniversary gala, with 1,300 guests.

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ABOUT THE BCIT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION VISION A global community of passionate alumni promoting the excellence of BCIT. MISSION To foster alumni success, give back to our BCIT community, and engage alumni for life.

Founded by graduates in 1979, the BCIT Alumni Association is a registered, non-profit society governed by a board of volunteer directors and financed by the Association’s partnerships, revenue-generation programs, and BCIT support. The Association has more than 195,000 members across the globe. All BCIT graduates who have earned a credential of 21 credit hours or more are alumni, and members of the association.

STRATEGIC PLAN HIGHLIGHTS 2019 – 2022 FOUR KEY PRIORITIES:

ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT

REGIONAL, NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

PHILANTHROPY & REVENUE GENERATION

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PAST PRESIDENTS CIRCLE

Increase meaningful engagement for BCIT alumni across key membership segments (Prominent Alumni, Career Climbers, and New Alumni) in four engagement categories:

With 195,000+ alumni and growing, we know that thousands are in other Canadian provinces, and at least 5,500 are located across 90+ countries around the world. In addition to our online and Lower Mainland engagement strategies, we endeavour to build regional online and in-person engagement opportunities in the following key markets:

The Association generates revenue to fund programs and services for alumni, and to give back to the BCIT community. BCIT has launched the largest campaign in its 50-year history, INSPIRE. The Association aims to be a significant donor to this campaign. Over the term of this plan, we will increase and diversify revenue to enhance alumni programs, and reach our philanthropic goal of making a major, multi-year pledge to the INSPIRE Campaign.

With over 40 years of proud history, the BCIT Alumni Association is sincerely grateful to its Past Presidents for building a strong organization and foundational legacy.

Through strategically engaging our Past Presidents and maintaining relationships, we will identify and leverage opportunities to continue to advance our mission.

These leaders have extensive knowledge and experience to contribute, as well a vested interest in the success of the Alumni Association and BCIT.

1. Volunteerism 2. Experiential & Events 3. Philanthropic Giving 4. Communication

1. Hong Kong 2. Toronto 3. Vancouver Island 4. BC Interior 5. Fraser Valley

For more information, visit bcit.ca/alumni BCIT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21

BCIT BY THE NUMBERS 2020/21

195,000+

ALUMNI IN CANADA Total alumni

160,800 ON

AB

Others

3,500 2,000 2,000

ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT

116

148

2,400

volunteers

philanthropic giving

experiential & events

BC

153,300

166,000

87,000

Contactable alumni

Contactable with email

GLOBAL ALUMNI*

5,200

BCIT STATS Approximately

Close to

Over

50,000 students enrolled annually

1,800

2500

2 ,600 China, including Hong Kong

2000

Indigenous students

6,400 international students from 110+ countries

1500

1 ,100 United States

1000

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

500 South Korea

500

2,600 employees

6 schools

5 campuses

0

Including alumni located in more than 100 countries worldwide.

*

ALUMNI IMPACT SINCE ASSOCIATION INCEPTION

4,847

$5.51 M

$2.65 M

$1.7 M

Alumni donors

Total philanthropic giving

Alumni personal giving

BCIT Alumni Association philanthropic giving

Source: BCIT Institutional Research and BCIT Advancement, 2020/21

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6000

CONNECTING ALUMNI THROUGH EVENTS AND PROGRAMS This past year, as in-person events were paused, the pandemic challenged the Alumni Association to find creative ways to continue fostering alumni success and engagement among our members. In the 2020/21 fiscal year, the Association launched, hosted, and sponsored experiences that gave alumni the opportunity to not only virtually participate as attendees, but also present as subjectmatter experts.

event that encouraged Canadian alumni in the region to show their solidarity in the fight against COVID-19. Kicked off by Jeff Nankivell, Consul General, Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macao, the event saw many Canadian participants get their hearts racing to a rousing workout led

by Nike Training Master Utah Lee.

The BCIT Alumni Association also proudly sponsors events hosted by our community members for alumni. In 2020/21, the Association funded nearly 20 events, distributing $15,000 to event organizers who created engagement opportunities for alumni, students, and community.

BCIT and the Association sponsored the MacKay CEO Forums Edge Experience 1.0 Conference, Inspiring Virtual Leadership.

The event featured industry leaders on topics including mental health, business strategy, and team growth. BCIT Hong Kong Alumni Ambassadsor Brad Kirk presented a session on Leading Through COVID in the Hotel Industry.

GOLF TOURNAMENTS The Association hit the links as sponsors and participants of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade Pro-Am Golf Tournament at Westwood Plateau Golf & Country Club in August 2020 and the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament at the Redwoods Golf Course in September 2020.

CANADIANS #STRONGER TOGETHER WORKOUT Canadian alumni know how to limber up for a cause. In April 2020, the BCIT Alumni Hong Kong Chapter sponsored Canadians #Stronger Together Workout, a free online fitness BCIT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21

MACKAY CEO FORUMS EDGE EXPERIENCE 1.0 CONFERENCE

VIRTUAL TERRY FOX RUN HONG KONG 2020 The BCIT Alumni Association joined other organizations and post-secondary alumni groups to support the Virtual Terry Fox Run Hong Kong 2020, the 40th year of Terry’s Marathon of Hope. BCIT Hong Kong Alumni Ambassador Brad Kirk personally joined the challenge, which took place from November 7 – December 6, 2020. Participants were encouraged to enter contests, register to run, download the app, and commit to running or walking 3K, 5K, 10K, 42K, or 143K over the course of a month.

VIRTUAL TEA TASTING Hosted by BCIT Marketing Management alumnus and tea expert Matt Chong, this live virtual event saw 78 attendees and sold out of limited-quantity tea kits. The event, which was timed with the Lunar New Year, was promoted via the BCIT News blog and received external media attention, most notably from Global TV.

BCIT ALUMNI BOOK CLUB In July 2020, the Association launched the BCIT Alumni Book Club, which now has more than 230 members. Selected

by Book Club participants, the readings have included Loonshots, Brief Answers to the Big Questions, From the Ashes, and Talking to Strangers.

ASK THE AUTHOR: Q&A WITH JESSE THISTLE Presented in association with the BCIT Alumni Book Club, the Ask the Author video gave alumni the opportunity to engage with national bestselling author Jesse Thistle.

Jesse answered questions that were gathered from the BCIT community and Alumni Book Club members on topics including storytelling, community, and Indigenous resilience.

INDIGENOUS ALUMNI PANEL In this virtual event, five Indigenous alumni, who come from different territories and programs, talked about their BCIT experience, provided advice to current students and new alumni, and shared words of wisdom including suggestions for Indigenous initiatives and partnerships.

3CEOS – VIRTUAL PANEL DISCUSSION The 3CEOs event featured BCIT alumnus Nigel Bennett, Andy Buyting, and Todd Palmer, who are adventurers, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists. They shared their experiences in recessions and offered their advice and ideas to help viewers survive and thrive through challenging times.

ASTTBC 2020 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The BCIT Alumni Association sponsored and participated in the ASTTBC 2020 Virtual AGM and Conference. The Association welcomed more than 230 attendees at our virtual tradeshow booth.

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Opposite: The BCIT Alumni Association sponsored a hole and participated in the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade Pro-Am Golf Tournament at Westwood Plateau Golf & Country Club in Coquitlam on August 14, 2020.

Top: BCIT alumnus and tea expert Matt Chong Middle: BCIT Alumni Association tradeshow booth at the virtual ASTTBC AGM Bottom: Indigenous Alumni Panel

FIND MORE EVENTS Check our online calendar for upcoming events and recordings of past ones on the BCIT Alumni playlist on Youtube. Visit bcit.ca/alumni/connect/events

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COMMUNICATIONS This past year more than ever, stories about our alumni and the impact they’re making demonstrated the critical role our graduates play in the well-being of our communities. They are the innovators who are creating real solutions in response to the effects of COVID-19, advocates who are passionate about encouraging more women to enter traditionally male-dominated fields, and leaders who believe Indigenous knowledge is key to ecological restoration. Every year, our alumni are featured in profile stories on the BCIT News blog, our social media channels, and our website. Read all the full stories at bcit.ca/news

ENGINEER AND ALUMNI ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR AMANDA GOMES AIMS TO NORMALIZE WOMEN IN HER FIELD Living in Brazil, then-16-year-old Amanda Gomes had a plan for her life. Following in her father’s footsteps, she was going to be an engineer. But her plans changed after her father accepted a new career opportunity in Canada, a country Amanda had never visited and didn’t know much about. The entire family would be moving to Vancouver, BC. Within three short years of arriving in Canada, she had graduated from high school where she learned English while taking senior-level courses. A few years later, she graduated from the BCIT Civil Engineering – Bachelor of Engineering program. Today, she is a Project Engineer, one of a small percentage of women in the field.

ALUMNI HEROES Several of our alumni were featured in a BCIT Alumni Heroes brand campaign, which highlighted our graduates from every sector—from health care to manufacturing— and the incredible difference they are making during a global pandemic.

“I think it’s very important to normalize women in engineering,” says Amanda, who was President of the Women in Engineering Club and is active in many other clubs. “Yes, we’re here. Yes, we can do it.”

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MECHANICAL ENGINEERING ALUMNUS JOSHUA BRADSHAW DEVELOPS A FACE SHIELD TO HELP FRONTLINE WORKERS DURING COVID-19 It was like any other day for Joshua Bradshaw, until it wasn’t. While getting his order at a fast-food drive-thru, as he had done many times before, he noticed that nearly every employee was wearing a ball cap. And a light bulb turned on.

After weeks of prototypes and patent filing, The Cap Shield was born. The Health Canada-approved lightweight face shield, which attaches to any standard ball cap or visor brim, is designed to be an added barrier between the wearer and the public to prevent the spread of germs.

“It got me thinking that we could utilize the brim structure [of the ball cap] to form the basic support of a face shield,” Joshua, President of Vital Manufacturing and a BCIT Mechanical Engineering Technology alumnus, says. “We quickly got to work making prototypes on our CNC mills and 3D printers. As the product began to take form, we realized that it, in fact, provided a solution for many other industries as well.”

Since its debut, demand for the shield has increased significantly: Joshua’s company is now producing 50,000 shields weekly. For every 100 shields sold online, Joshua’s company gives back by donating 10 to volunteer and nonprofit organizations.

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Opposite: Joshua Bradshaw, Mechanical Engineering alumnus Left: Amanda Gomes, Civil Engineering alumna

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Left: Sean Poole, Nautical Sciences alumnus Bottom: Mae Whyte, Ecological Restoration alumna

BUILDING LEGO SHIPS AS A CHILD, SEAN POOLE WAS CHARTING A CAREER ON THE HIGH SEAS BEFORE HE KNEW IT Every day, when Sean Poole looks out his office window, he sees The Seaspan Sovereign. Permanently moored, the ship is a reminder of BC’s rich nautical history. It also happens to be one of the vessels his grandfather sailed on in the 1950s with Island Tug, before the company was acquired in 1970

by Seaspan, the Canadian coastal marine transportation giant and Sean’s employer.

Sean, a BCIT Nautical Sciences alumnus, is Director of Seaspan’s vessel operations and a volunteer on the BCIT Alumni Association Board of Directors. He has traveled to more than 50 countries and earned three licenses: Officer of the Watch, Chief Mate, and Master Mariner, which qualifies him to captain any merchant vessel. These days, he is content to be ashore at the helm of Seaspan’s vessel operations.

“I think most people who have spent any time at sea, know that there is something profound about being out at sea watching a sunrise or sunset and there’s nothing for miles and miles,” he reflects. “It gives you so much peace.”

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RESTORATION OFFICER MAE WHYTE SAYS INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE IS KEY TO SUCCESSFUL ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION Rolling green valleys, rivers teeming with rainbow trout, and roaming moose characterize this northeastern Canadian jewel, the Peace River Region. It has been home and life to generations of Indigenous peoples in British Columbia.

It is also where BCIT alumna Mae Whyte, who is a Restoration Project Officer for Blueberry River First Nations, puts her passion for both environmental conservation and community building into meaningful action.

The key to successful restoration in this region, emphasizes Mae, can only be achieved by engaging with, learning from, and working with the local communities that call it home.

“Culturally appropriate ecological restoration involves member engagement and participation in the restoration planning and actions, and their feedback into what the desired end-use of the land might be,” she explains. “For example, traditional ecological knowledge like from an Elder who may remember the site from years ago, may help inform the desired conditions. This is so important because Indigenous stewardship of the land has been going on for tens of thousands of years, and the current and future needs of local communities are paramount.”

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BCIT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21

ENGAGING ALUMNI THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS Committed to engaging our alumni for life, the BCIT Alumni Association has a robust communications program that starts as soon as each student graduates. Every year, we send our approximately 4,000 new alumni a welcome email that tells them all the ways the Association is here to support them throughout their careers. We continue to engage with them by sharing Alumni Association news through the quarterly Alumni News and Alumni News Flash, as well as opportunities to grow their networks, advance their careers, and participate in events, contests, and more.

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COMMUNICATION STATS AT A GLANCE APRIL 1, 2020 – MARCH 31, 2021

15

ALUMNI STORIES

10 5 0

EMAIL OPEN RATE

45 40

36

12,233

alumni stories

total unique page views

40%

OPEN RATE

35

6x/year welcome email to

30

new alumni

SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWER GROWTH

3,746

25

25

13.5

%

20

3,131 followers

20

15

OPEN RATE

15

10

4x/year alumni e-news to

10

77K+ alumni

5 0

5 0

+21 %

1,180 followers

+16.7 %

1,258 followers

+3%

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Stay connected. Update40your contact information to get the latest on alumni news, offers, and events.

Visit bcit.ca/alumni/connect 35

30

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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION March 31, 2021, with comparative information for 2020.

2021 2020

ASSETS General Account

$305,969 $346,785

Accounts Receivable

1,050 13,734

Prepaid Expenses

6,561 7,632

Investments TOTAL ASSETS

LIABILITIES

– – $313,580 $368,150

$2,919 $5,609

INTERNALLY RESTRICTED

100,000 100,000

UNRESTRICTED

210,660 262,541

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS

Emil Bosnjak, President BCIT Alumni Association

BCIT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21

$313 ,580 $368,150

Reshmeena Lalani, Treasurer BCIT Alumni Association

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS Year ended March 31, 2021, with comparative information for 2020.

2021 2020

REVENUE Affinity Programs Alumni myBCIT cards

$166,818 $170,800 - 1,960

Merchandising (convocation flowers, etc.)

1,426 2,250

Event Revenue (ticket sales, auction proceeds, sponsorship)

1,000 1,624

Interest

2,665 9,212

Chapter Revenue TOTAL REVENUE

10,000 8,500 $181,909 $194,346

EXPENSES Board of Directors

Board/Committee Meetings (including AGM)

Directors and Officers Liability Insurance

Donations

Legal and Professional Services

$5,425

$22,141

2,306

2,740

160,000

100,000

5,454

13,667

-

22,500

10,151

36,043

3,295

-

(841)

1,082

24,836

3,315

3,699

21,319

Special Events

Distinguished Alumni Awards

Sponsorship and External Participation

Event Expenses

Merchandise Supplies Marketing and Communications General and Administrative TOTAL EXPENSES

$233,790 $230,807

SURPLUS

($51,881) ($36,461)

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PARTNERSHIPS & SPONSORSHIPS The BCIT Alumni Association is sincerely grateful to our valued partners. These partnerships not only help our alumni members, but also provide an important revenue source to the Alumni Association, ensuring we can continue to foster alumni and student success through donations and sponsorships.

AFFINITY PARTNERS Our four affinity partners provide exclusive deals, special promotions, and preferred rates to benefit our alumni, students, and the BCIT community.

The BMO® BCIT Mastercard® from Bank of Montreal lets you reward yourself with 1 AIR MILES®† reward mile for every $20 spent or up to 5% CashBack® for the first three months and pay no annual fee.

Life, health, critical illness and disability insurance offers a variety of flexible, customizable insurance plans to ensure you and your family have the financial resources to recover after serious illness, accident, or death.

Prospera Credit Union offers eligible BCIT trades apprenticeship students financial support to bridge the gap between being accepted at BCIT and the start of Employment Insurance (EI) benefits.

Home insurance from TD Insurance Meloche Monnex helps BCIT alumni get access to preferred insurance rates on home, condo, auto, and tenant coverage.

For more information, visit bcit.ca/alumni/enjoy

PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS The BCIT Alumni Association is proud to partner with organizations to enhance opportunities for our growing alumni base.

DIVERSITY

We appreciate our sponsorship of the ASTTBC’s AGM, and their reciprocal sponsorship of our key events.

We are grateful to work with BCIT Indigenous Initiatives and Partnerships, supporting its events showcasing Indigenous BCIT alumni.

BCIT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21

We also deeply value our partnership with the BCIT Student Association, running career services for alumni and students, a robust alumni-student mentorship program, industry days career fairs, and speaker panel events featuring BCIT alumni.

CIRCLES

We are pleased to partner with Diversity Circles in support of its events promoting diversity in our community.

BCIT ALMUNI PERKS PARTNERS Through the free BCIT Alumni Perks app, the Association is proud to provide our alumni exclusive access to offers, discounts, events, and contests from our valued Alumni Perks Partners.

BCIT Library

BCIT

BCIT

Part-time Studies

Recreation Services

Take advantage of the exclusive offers and discounts from our Perks partners. Download the free app from the App Store or Google Play (search ‘BCIT Alumni’).

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— BCIT PRIDE SHOW EVERYONE WHAT YOU’RE MADE OF. Check out our online store for BCIT Alumni-branded items including socks, mugs, water bottles, clothing, and stationery.

Shop now: alumnistore.bcit.ca

Get 20% off your entire order!

At checkout, use promo code BCITALUMNI Limit: One use per customer.

9 WAYS TO KEEP IN TOUCH BCIT’s more than 195,000 alumni are proud ambassadors, tackling today’s complex world and developing new solutions to build a better tomorrow. The BCIT Alumni Association fosters alumni success, gives back to BCIT, and connects our global community of passionate alumni. We’d love to stay in touch with you. Update your contact information at bcit.ca/alumni/connect

BE RECOGNIZED by sharing your story or nominating someone for a BCIT award.

ENJOY unique offers and services—download our free BCIT Alumni Perks app from Google Play or the App Store.

HIRE students and alumni to help your organization succeed.

GIVE BACK with any amount to support the Alumni Association and BCIT students.

VOLUNTEER with boards and committees, mentor a student, or be a guest speaker.

GET SOCIAL and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn (search ‘BCIT alumni’).

JOIN the free BCIT Alumni Book Club.

SHOP and show your BCIT pride with BCIT Alumni-branded merchandise.

NETWORK at online or in-person Alumni Association events to grow your connections.

For more details, visit bcit.ca/alumni

— KEEP IN TOUCH. ENJOY MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS. 604.432.8847 1.877.432.8847 alumni@bcit.ca bcit.ca/alumni

— THE BRITISH COLUMBIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. EDUCATION FOR A COMPLEX WORLD.