SIFE Simon Fraser

Let’s Can Hunger + SFU Hockey Game

Irina Gushchina — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:00:44 +0000

To everyone who goes to SFU: Come out and support your fellow students!

Let’s Can Hunger has teamed up with the SFU Men’s Hockey team to make the most of the last game of the season!

Date: Saturday, March 3rd

Time: Game starts at 7PM

Place: Burnaby 8 rinks

Price: Just $5!

Each ticket stub will get you $50 off a Travel-cuts Contiki booking but in case that’s not enough, your ticket will also enter you into a draw on game night for a $750 Contiki voucher.

If you want to increase your chances of winning, help us out by bringing a jar of peanut butter (or any non-perishable food) for the food bank and we will give you an extra draw entry! We will also be having a 50/50 draw for those who may not be going on a trip any time soon.

So come out and show your school spirit, have fun and win prizes!
More details are available on facebook. http://www.facebook.com/events/112672128860541/

By Samson McCahon

About “Play for Good” – Charity Casino Night

Irina Gushchina — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:25:24 +0000

High rollers rejoice, it’s nearly time to Play for Good!

Play for Good is a fundraising event supporting the Rick Hansen Foundation. Attendees will enjoy appetizers and drinks while networking with distinguished business professionals. There will be various casino games to enjoy (such as craps, blackjack, poker, and roulette) and a silent auction with a variety of amazing items up for grabs. The top individuals with the highest chip counts from playing the casino games will walk away with stellar prizes. All in all, anticipate an exciting event that will definitely make for a memorable night.

General Information

Friday March 9th, 2012 5:00PM-9:00PM
the Law Courts Inn at 800 Smithe Street in Downtown Vancouver
Doors open at 5:00 PM
Come early to enjoy free refreshments and drinks!

Mission

Our goal is to help Rick Hansen foundation further their spinal cord injuries research by raising as much fund as we can. Most importantly to bring more exposure to people with spinal cord injuries and their potential needs.

Rick Hansen Foundation

Paralyzed from the waist down after a car crash at the age of 15, Rick Hansen has been a fierce advocate for those with spinal cord injuries. As the first physically disabled person to graduate from the University of British Columbia with a degree in physical education, Rick embarked on a 26-month journey around the world in his wheelchair to raise money for spinal cord research. Beginning in 1985, traveling 40,000 kilometres and visiting 34 countries on four continents, he ultimately raised $26 million for the cause.

Considered a hero both in Canada and abroad, Hansen founded the Rick Hansen Foundationin 1988 to help bring about positive change, raising awareness about the potential of those living with disabilities and to help build inclusive communities, where every individual can contribute to society in a meaningful manner. The foundation also aims to contribute to a healthy planet by supporting environmental initiatives and works to improve the quality of life for those with spinal cord injuries. The Rick Hansen Foundation takes a collaborative approach to its initiatives, working directly with organizations and leaders to create an impact on the community. To date, the foundation has raised over $245 million to invest in spinal cord injury research, rehabilitation, and quality of life initiatives.

For more information, visit http://www.playforgood.ca or email contact@playforgood.ca

Announcement of Competitions Presenters 2012

Irina Gushchina — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 04:18:29 +0000

We were very happy to see so many young and active individuals during the SIFE Competitions Presenters interviews. All the applicants showed their genuine passion for their community and all of them were extremely creative in their approach in telling their stories. We would like to thank each and every applicant for their contribution: you have once again proved us that SFU community has the greatest future leaders!

SIFE Simon Fraser is happy to announce the list of the SIFE Regional and National Expositions Presenters and Coaches 2012! Here they are:

Regional Exposition

Scotiabank & SIFE Go Green Challenge
Safia Suleman
Dominc Liu
Coach: Aamir Sheriff

TD SIFE Entrepreneurship Challenge
Madhav Goyal
Judy Liang
Coaches: Brian Yan Muk, Ruben Ugarte

SIFE Financial Education Challenge
Kimberly Nguyen-Don
Lynn Shinto
Coach: Joseph Choi

National Exposition

Manisha Narula
Mark Anthony Wijaya
Ryan Tavakol
Xinyan Chen
Becky Wong
Coach: Kyle Krystalowich

CONGRATULATIONS DEAR PRESENTERS! Participation in both Regional Exposition and National Exposition is a life changing experience that will make your spirit glow! Take the most out of this experience and enjoy the most thrilling and exciting months of your university years.

GOOD LUCK!

How Creative CAN You Get?

Irina Gushchina — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 22:43:19 +0000

Food Banks BC states that 87 food banks in British Columbia help feed over 70,000 people each month; however, the majority of food banks receive NO GOVERNMENT FUNDING and depend on the public to help in the fight against hunger. For that reason SIFE Simon Fraser takes part in a campaign called Let’s Can Hunger to increase awareness of hunger among young people in British Columbia.

How to participate?

Cans all have labels! Take them off and wrap YOUR own designs however YOU like (without damaging the inner content ). Make your own design – draw, paint or print on the computer. In other words, it doesn’t matter how you do it, just BE CREATIVE.

When you are done, take a picture of your unique can design and email it to marketing@sifesimonfraser.com with an optional short description of why have you made what you made. We will post your picture to SIFE Simon Fraser Facebook page, where you can have your peers to ‘like it’. The most “liked” picture will then be rewarded with a prize!

When will it happen?

The campaign will go from November 23rd to December 5th
Most liked photo will receive a 50 Dollars Best Buy gift card (SO GET YOUR FRIENDS TO VOTE FOR YOU )
Two other winners (based on a draw) will receive a 20 Dollars Tim Hortons Card

*You can also bring cans to the SIFE office at SFU West Mall 2371 or SFU Surrey 5010

At SIFE Simon Fraser’s Let’s Can Hunger, we aim to reduce hunger problems for the local community, as well as to help them achieve a sustainable life. To keep track of SIFE Simon Fraser Let’s Can Hunger’s latest campaigns, please visit the Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/SFU-Lets-Can-Hunger/134908166611828 or follow our twitter handle @SFULCH

Apply for SIFE Competitions 2012!

Irina Gushchina — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:46:55 +0000

Being part of SIFE Competitions is a lifetime experience!

Being part of the competition team is an exciting challenge that you and your teammates will overcome together. It is a challenge, because you will have to prepare really well for your presentation. It is exciting, because the whole team will be there to support you and teach you so many useful skills that you have never even thought about! For example, last years team was able to perfect their presentation skills so much that they were able to present their script from the beginning to the end and from the end to the beginning without making a single mistake!

Check out what SIFE Simon Fraser Executives have to tell about their experience at SIFE Competitions:

“When I was on the Nationals team in 2010, we finished our presentation in the semi-final round and the entire room burst into applause and cheered us on. At that moment, I felt extremely proud to be part of SFU SIFE, and overall, an organization that is making a difference in the world.”

- Chantelle Buffie, Regionals and Nationals Presenter, 2010

“My most memorable moment in SIFE is being a presenter at Regionals in 2011. Along with my partner, Irina, we went through four months of hard work and countless hours of practice. We placed runner up at the competition, and this was one of the most satisfying moments in my life.”

- Aamir Sheriff, Regionals Presenter, 2011

Qualifications to participate:

You don’t need much to become part of the team. However, SIFE is for such individuals who are passionate about social, economic, and environmental change in their community. Is that you? You will also need to be available to train and commit with the team throughout December 2011 -May 2012. Previous experience with SIFE Simon Fraser is an asset, but not required.

Don’t hesitate, apply for you best university experience at http://sifesimonfraser.com/apply_competition/!

The Green City Award goes to Banner Bags

Irina Gushchina — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 08:47:54 +0000

The Green City Awards recognize and celebrate the outstanding contributions of individuals, non-profit groups or community groups and businesses who take action. They identify these groups as people who take “extra measures” or “go beyond” what is otherwise expected of them to enhance Surrey’s natural environment. The Green City Awards also recognizes those who inspire and inform. Those who engage, educate, and create awareness in the community about issues of concern, actions residents or businesses can take.

We are please to announce that our Banner Bags project is being honoured with a Top 3 Green City Award from the City of Surrey for their creative environmental efforts! It was chosen in the community group category (one of three categories) at the Surrey 2011 City Awards, held at the new City Centre Library Oct. 25. Lauren Watkin, project manager, Sonam Swarup, director of community development, and Ashish Gurung, project advisor accepted the award from Mayor Dianne Watts.

Want to know how they did it?

Watch out for Banner Bags project showcase in SFU Surrey in January, where students will be challenged to create fashionable clothing from the banners provided to them, and will have the opportunity to display their work.
Read more about Banner Bags at http://www.bannerbags.ca/aboutus.html
Follow Banner Bags on social media websites! Tw: @sifebannerbags and Fb: sifebannerbags

Fun for a Change, SIFE Bottle Bank Arcade

Irina Gushchina — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:04:56 +0000

Making a social impact appears to be a goal in most non-profit organizations or clubs recently. People are constantly thinking of ways to make something better, not just for themselves but also for the society as a whole. Currently SIFE is holding a challenge called Fun for a Change where university students are encouraged to think of fun ways to make a positive change. A good example of what this challenge is all about can be described by this video found on Youtube where recycling bottles can become a fun activity: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSiHjMU-MUo. During that day, over a hundred people used this to recycle their bottles, compared to the nearest recycling depot which was only used twice!

To demonstrate that this fun theory is plausible, our fellow SIFEers have built our very own SIFE Bottle Bank Arcade as well. Check out the pictures below:

It looks amazing, doesn’t it?

You will be able to fing SIFE Bottle Bank Arcade in SFU Surrey in the beginning of December. What kind of bottles we are going to collect and what are the rules to play will remain secret till the release date. However, we can give you a promise that it is going to be good for our community, it will have a holiday spirit, and it will be a lot of FUN

Overall, the fun theory has proven to work, as it helps people relieve stress while doing something positive in their daily lives. This is exactly what Fun for a Change is hoping to do. Please check out our Facebook page and Twitter (@SFU_FFAC) to get the latest updates on this upcoming challenge!

Would you be more motivated to recycle if this Bottle Bank Arcade is around? Please let us know below!

By Judy Liang

SIFE Simon Fraser @ Terry Fox Day

Irina Gushchina — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 23:23:24 +0000

The 11th year of the Terry Fox Run saw students from three of SFU’s campuses stepping up to participate. The Surrey campus was the newest addition to the run, while Harbor Centre kept in with its tradition of walking from the campus to the Terry Fox Statute at B.C. Place.

The Terry Fox Run was split between a 4.4-kilometre run and a 2.8-kilometre walk and took place Wednesday, 21 September. A team of six enthusiastic SIFErs joined the move under the name of Team Renegade! Sonam, Kimberly, Benjamin, Dominic, Manisha and Spencer showed their support towards Terry Fox Foundation.

“I’m not a dreamer, and I’m not saying this will initiate any kind of definitive answer or cure to cancer, but I believe in miracles. I have to. Terry Fox.” At SIFE Simon Fraser we also believe in miracles, and we believe that our actions will lead to realization of those miracles into reality.

Good job team! Hopefully, we will see you at Terry Fox Run again next year!

SIFE Kickoff 2011

Irina Gushchina — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 23:04:22 +0000

You might have already heard how awesome SIFE is. Some of your friends might have already joined SIFE and shared their amazing experience with you. But now it is YOUR TURN to be part of SIFE!

We are looking for outstanding and enthusiastic individuals who are passionate about giving back to their community. In return, SIFE Simon Fraser will help you achieve personal development and will also give you a chance to try yourself out in the real life working environment.

At SIFE Kickoff you will learn about our inspiring projects and about the ways they help our community. You will also learn about current openings and other opportunities you can take to become part of SIFE Simon Fraser.

At SIFE, we go for more. We are a global organization running in 39 countries with approximately 1500 active participating universities. Don’t miss out a chance to support your university on a global level, start with attending our annual SIFE Kickoff event!

Fun for a Change Competition Finale

Irina Gushchina — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:51:00 +0000

Fun for a Change is a global competition designed to introduce university students to the fun side of social innovation. Teams compete in using “fun” and game dynamics to bring out positive change. Along the way, they engage one another in fun challenges; learn the most effective ways to shape human behaviour, and to innovate new solutions.

Fun for a Change Competition Finale took place on July 29th at SFU Surrey. Teams pitched their experimental project in which they triggered behaviour change in order to bring positive social or environmental change to their community.

All of the participants were rewarded with a trophy. Moreover, the best two teams will receive support from SIFE Simon Fraser to implement their projects. And the best videos will be submitted to a global FUN Theory competition.