Business Education is thriving, dynamic and well supported in the Burnaby School District, and Burnaby Central Secondary School is a great example of this fact. A close-knit team of students have organized the Beyond Burnaby Case Competition to be held at this fabulous school site on Friday, January 29th, 2016 with students invited from every secondary school in Burnaby.

The day of the Beyond competition will see 70 students and over 30 external mentors, judges and teachers participating. Thanks to this entrepreneurial executive team an opportunity for secondary students to learn and develop practical business skills through a series of challenges is being offered, along with the chance to interact with industry experts and university students in business.

The conference will have a fast pace. Students register for the conference in teams. Each team assumes specific roles (start-up company or company executive team) and throughout the day will be presented with numerous realistic challenges in the form of case studies. A simulation of Dragon’s Den will also be a prominent enterprise. Select individuals from the Lower Mainland’s business sector will judge each competition event.

The keynote speaker, Paul Davidescu represents the conference theme of technology. Mr. Davidescu is the CEO of the social media venture Tangoo, in addition to being a Dragon’s Den Survivor and inspirational speaker. His presentation will focus on Tangoo and what process he followed to become successful in business. He is a recent UBC Marketing Co-op and International Business Sauder School of Business Graduate. He is sure to inspire Burnaby students to achieve great things.

The Beyond Burnaby Business Competition is generously sponsored by the Microsoft Retail Store in Metrotown Centre and by PriceSmart. Ms. Hari, Principal of Burnaby Central Secondary and Mr. Garth Errico, District Director of Instruction, have also committed to support the incredible efforts of organizing students.

A student executive team under the guidance of university, district and school advisors carried out budgeting and organizing efforts for the conference. Chief Executive Director, James Kan, with a team of 7 conference directors masterfully developed all conference materials, marketed the opportunity and put all final details into place – all during spare time – between classes and homework – and just prior to exam time!

Special thanks goes out to Mr. Kamiya, Department Head at Burnaby Central, for just the right encouragement to have these students pursue their fantastic idea, the Beyond Burnaby Business Competition.