2020-2021
ANNUAL REPORT
Dean’s Remarks Welcome to the 2020-21 Dean’s Circle Annual Report!
otherwise unavailable. Your generosity is rewarding academic merit and spurring tangible educational outcomes.
Friends, colleagues and supporters. I am delighted to provide this update on the inspiring support you continue to make possible for the next generation of nation-building business professionals. Within the pages of this report, you will read descriptions of the remarkable impact of your genuine generosity. I acknowledge your contributions of time, talent and resources in helping Edwards realize its vision of transformative experiences for our students. Thank you for enabling us to proceed, persevere and prosper — especially as we chart a course through the pandemic.
As we plan for a visionary future, I see Dean’s Circle support continuing to provide a platform for student excellence. We continue to engage with our students in new and exciting ways. And through it all, we maintain our values of hard work, authenticity and perseverance. You are leaving a lasting legacy for current and future students.
Your Dean’s Circle generosity was particularly vital through your support of Mitacs Business Strategy Internships (BSI). Early on in the pandemic, Edwards was approached by Mitacs — a nonprofit organization that partners with Canadian universities, private industry and government — to participate in the BSI initiative. Over the course of their 4-month internships, nearly 30 Edwards students analyzed opportunities and provided strategic support to help organizations adapt during the pandemic. Your support provided one-quarter of the funding for these ground-breaking student-industry opportunities. The Dean’s Circle funded the creation of three Indigenous specific business cases. Moreover, you made possible the adaption of the Indigenous Business in Canada course into an online format. This class is now a core course in the B.Comm. curriculum. Your assistance is empowering our students to succeed. Your funding is offering opportunities that would be
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I am honoured to be considered your friend and fellow Dean’s Circle member! “Nikanitan Manacihitowinihk” (“let us lead with respect”).
Keith A. Willoughby, Ph.D. Dean and Dean’s Circle Member
Donors $50,000
$5,000
Merlis Belsher Wayne Brownlee Murray Edwards James Estey Tim Gitzel John Gordon Ron & Jane Graham Bob Hamm Kevin Kruk Larry Moeller Gordon Rawlinson
Govind Achuythan Daphne Amason & Leo Bourassa Jeffrey & Desiree Bourassa W. John Brennan Shelley Brown Megan Cantwell Tim Conlin Robert Connoly Joy Crawford Glenn Dagenais Dwayne Dahl Gordon den Brok Matthew Ditlove Clay Dowling Don Engle Ronald Fior Rand Flynn Sandra Foster Don Fox Craig & Judi Francis Barry & Gisele Frank Rod Gerla Audrey & Brand Grant Kristen Hamm Stewart Hanlon Zane Hansen Christopher Hengen-Braun Gordon & Shirley Hunter Art & Deb Korpach Michael Lamborn Greg Longster Wally Mah Noreen Mahoney Louis Marcil
$25,000 Mansel Binkley Neil Evans Jerry Grandey Brent & Debra Hesje Cara Keating Grant Kook Barry Munro Margaret McKenzie Lynne Pearson John Storey Gord & Donna Thompson Joe Vidal Lorne Wright Warren Wood
$10,000 Steve Flynn Gord & Maureen Haddock Tom McClocklin Scott & Grit McCreath Karen Stewart & Daniel Themig
Russel Marcoux Martin Margolis George Marlatte Bryan McCrea Margaret McKenzie Matt McMillan & Krystle Sawatsky Neil McMillan Randy Meidl Jack Neumann Annette Pilipiak Tom Pinder Cathy & Jerry Richardson Donald Robb Michael Rushby James Salamon Jill Salamon Irene Seiferling Claudia Senkiw Greg Smith James Sproule Gord Stewart Lee Swanson Colin Taylor Shelley Thiel Ryan Townend Wayne Ulrich June Verhelst Daymond Volk Cathy Warner Basil & Cheryl Waslen Cliff Wiegers Colton Wiegers Jackson Wiegers Keith Willoughby Greg Yuel
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Experiential Impact “The co-curricular funding provided by the Dean’s Circle allowed me to attend a conference that helped me grow both my knowledge and my network. The funding allowed me to focus on developing myself as a nation builder and business professional without having to create space in my limited budget as a university student during a pandemic. Thank you, Dean’s Circle, and thank you Edwards.” Breanna Pochipinski Received funding to attend the CABS Roundtable 2021 Virtual Conference
“The intensive 3-day business forum with speakers, workshops, networking events and a case competition allowed me to use my classroom skills in a real-world environment. It inspired me by showing examples of the endless opportunities present in the business world. The forum showcased many examples of successful leaders and their stories of adversity and re-emerging after tough times, inspiration that is more relevant now than ever. The past year has brought with it challenging financial times and this opportunity would not have been possible without help from the Dean’s Circle CoCurricular funding.” Kaitlyn Robin Received funding to attend the Ted Rogers Management Conference - Remote
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Research Impact Over the summer of 2020, Edwards partnered with Mitacs, a national notfor-profit organization that supports research and training programs across Canada, to deliver the Mitacs Business Strategy Internship (Mitacs BSI) program. As one of the first business schools nationwide to take on the Mitacs BSI initiative, Edwards was proud to support Canadian businesses in adapting to the new economic realities during COVID-19 and strengthen collaborations between industry, non-profit organizations, and our University community. It was thanks to the Dean’s Circle that Edwards was in a position to take on this opportunity for our students — funding from the Rapid Reponse allocation made it possible to act quickly. Our partnership has resulted in opportunities for 28 business students (current and recent graduates) to engage with the local business community. Students who secured an internship position received a $10,000 stipend supported by the Edwards School of Business and the partner organization, each contributing $2,500, and matched by Mitacs contributing an additional $5,000. The program not only benefited students in a time of financial need by providing real world experience, but also assisted businesses facing new challenges under pandemic conditions by leveraging the research skills and business knowledge of our students. “The Mitacs internships build connections among our students, industry partners and our faculty,” said Dr. Marjorie Delbaere (PhD), associate dean, research and faculty relations, Edwards School of Business. “Students use the knowledge acquired during their courses at Edwards to analyze the challenges faced by organizations and look for creative solutions.” Here is a glimpse of some of the exciting projects that Edwards students took part in: •
Taryn Leason, current Edwards student completing her degree in Human Resources, interned with 4-H Saskatchewan to assist with modernizing their information management systems.
•
Marketing graduate, Jenna Kachur (pictured above), collaborated with Dress for Success Saskatoon on projects to better serve women in the community.
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Financials Actual
Actual
2019-2020
2020-2021
$ 148,167
$ 114,000
$ 18,737
$ 22,094
Edwards Network
$ 5,053
$ 17,137
Competition Support
$ 8,498
$ 93
Rapid Response Fund
$ -
$ 70,000
$ 180,454
$ 223,324
Commitments Student Awards, Prizes & Bursaries Student Experiential Learning & Professional Development
Approved Spending for 2021-2022 Student Awards, Prizes & Bursaries
$ 191,000
Student Experiential Learning & Professional Development Competition Support
$ 85,600 $ 5000
New Initiatives
$ 73,000
Rapid Response Fund
$ 40,000
Total 2020-2021 expenditures
$ 394,600
Thank you to Shelley and Scott We would like to recognize Shelley Brown and Scott McCreath for continuing to serve on the Dean’s Circle Approval Committee.
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Shelley Brown
R. Scott McCreath
Partner (Retired), Deloitte LLP
Senior Investment Advisor, BMO Nesbitt Burns Edwards Executive in Residence
Dean’s Circle Funding It is my pleasure to have the opportunity to thank each of you. I’m a 3rd year finance major at Edwards. I was a lucky recipient of the Dean’s Circle Award generously made possible by each of your donations. I know there’s a taboo of talking about money, so let me warn you that I am basically here to talk about how great money is. Being a first generation immigrant and university student, the scholarship I received from the Dean’s Circle in a high school case competition has impacted my life beyond imagination — it pushed me to increase my knowledge in finance, it allowed me to venture into opportunities outside of the classroom, and it has been the vehicle of social mobility for me and my family. I grew up in the Philippines where my dad had his own shop as an automotive electrician, and my mom sold sandals at the market at her store. Money was always tight, which is why when my dad was offered the opportunity to work as a welder for $12/hour, moving half-way across the world was not a question. It took years for us to build a healthy financial position and it was only around 3 years ago when we no longer lived paycheque to paycheque Because of the socioeconomic position that I grew up in, I knew that I had to work part-time throughout the school year to pay for rent and tuition. I knew I had minimal time to dedicate to extracurricular activities. Receiving extra funding for my education has allowed me to be part of both JDC West and EBSS; it afforded me the time to attend an out of province case competition, giving me real tangible experience beyond the classroom from each of these opportunities. So, they really weren’t kidding when they say time is money; they just forgot to mention that money buys time. For students like me, who are bombarded with different opportunities, having the availability to say “Yes” is truly a privilege. Education is already playing such a vital role in my life. With the increasing cost of tuition, rent and daily necessities, it has been harder and harder for people like me to go through school without working a job to supplement student loans. It is kind donors like you that ease the financial burden of getting an education and calms my anxiety about how I’m going to pay for tuition. It’s thanks to you that that I can buy enough time for life outside of the classroom. From the bottom of my heart, and on behalf of the other recipients of the Dean’s Circle Award, I would just like to say thank you for your kindness and generosity. Best regards, Eljay Dungca
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