Then you have what it takes to ride the BIG BIKE!

Imagine 30 crazy SIFErs pedaling ONE vehicle together for 20 minutes around SFU Surrey and residential areas. Screaming, cheering, and spreading energy!

On May 18, SIFE Simon Fraser is participating in the Heart & Stroke Big Bike event. The Heart and Stroke Foundation, is a non-profit organization that leads in eliminating heart disease and stroke through the advancement of research and by promoting healthy living and advocacy. Each year, they provide a fun and exciting opportunity for members in the community to ride a 30-person bicycle to help spread awareness about the cause. On the days leading up to the event, you will be raising funds and have the chance to participate in some SIFE-hosted fundraisers!

If you would like to be a part of this event, email Kim at tdo@sifesimonfraser with the subject line “My HEART is Big Enough” so more details will be sent your way! Any other questions can be sent to Kim as well!

We’re almost at the point where turnover will happen for SIFE. That means two things:

1. that the efforts of this cycle’s team will be reaching their peak, and
2. that we’re going to be looking for the leaders of the next cycle in 2012-2013.

This is where you come in! If you’re interested in becoming a leader within SIFE, then this is probably the chance for you!

We’re looking for people who want to be either executive members or project managers. At this moment, we aren’t committing to specific positions. Instead, we just want to meet passionate students who have that drive to be involved, are able to be flexible, and love to work beyond simple job descriptions. This may seem vague, but you do have the opportunity to come and talk to us for more details.

So send in your applications to www.sifesimonfraser.com/exec-pm-2012-2013 by Thursday, March 29th! As executive members or project managers, your term will run from July 2012 to June 2013, and training will be conducted from April to June 2012.

Successful applicants will be notified on Friday, March 30th if you’ll be attending a group interview on Saturday, March 31st, at 2 – 4pm at SFU Surrey.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact Christine at member.relations@sifesimonfraser.com or Manisha at operations@sifesimonfraser.com! Thanks for taking the time to read this and we look forward to meeting you!

SIFE Simon Fraser claimed the title of Regional Champion for the Capital One SIFE Financial Education Challenge, as well as Regional Runner-Up for the TD SIFE Entrepreneurship Challenge.

Members of the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) chapter from SFU, along with 16 other universities from as far as Manitoba, attended the 2012 ACE Western Regional Exposition at the Vancouver Convention Centre. The two-day event focuses on the impact that is created when business concepts are applied to social missions.

Bringing together social entrepreneurs, community leaders, and business professionals, SIFE teams and members from across Western Canada demonstrated how they are the country’s emerging leaders and change makers. Three separate challenges were tackled: the Scotiabank & SIFE Go Green Challenge; the TD SIFE Entrepreneurship Challenge, and the Capital One SIFE Financial Education Challenge.

The judges were astonished with the level of the professionalism of SIFE Simon Fraser’s presentations and the creativity behind their projects. Presenting for the Financial Education Challenge, Lynn Shinto and Kimberly Nguyen-Don highlighted how the Hunger Actions program improved the standard of living for 52 low-income women by teaching them how to get the most nutritional value out of every dollar spent on food.

In the Entrepreneurship Challenge, Madhav Goyal and Judy Liang demonstrated how SIFE Simon Fraser helps foster entrepreneurs from high school to university through the Bright Ideas and Student Entrepreneur of the Year (SEY) programs. This year, the team empowered 28 high school students to create social initiatives that impacted 650 individuals; and provided over $20,000 in resources to 11 SFU entrepreneurs.

Banner Bags, a nationally recognized environmental sustainability initiative, was also presented by Dominic Liu and Safia Suleman for the Scotiabank & SIFE Go Green Challenge. To date, Banner Bags has avoided over 35,000 pounds of C02 emissions, and saved 1400 pounds of nylon from landfills.

Taking these accomplishments in stride, SIFE Simon Fraser is already set to continue its progress forward. In particular, SIFE Simon Fraser has advanced to the Capital One SIFE Financial Education Challenge Final Round of Competition where Shinto and Nguyen-Don will be competing against the Regional winners from Central and Atlantic Canada. From May 7^th-9^th, the competition will be taking place at the 2012 ACE National Exposition in Calgary where SIFE Simon Fraser will also compete in the overall SIFE National Competition against teams from across Canada.

In addition, Sonam Swarup, a third-year SFU Communications student and Director of Community Development for SIFE Simon Fraser, was named the 2012 HSBC Woman Leader of Tomorrow for Western Canada. Also from SFU, Matias Marquez, co-founder of Buyatab Inc. and this year’s SEY 2011 winner secured the ACE Student Entrepreneur Western Regional Champion. Both will move onto to the ACE National Competition to compete for the National titles.

Written by Chantelle Buffie

You will have an opportunity to come out and watch ‘Beyond the Bag’ Showcase where clothing/ accessories made from used banners by high school students will be showcased.

Please remember to RSVP on www.beyondthebag.eventbrite.com

Banner Bags program opens minds – both students and adults – to innovative uses of discarded materials such as old city banners. We work with high school students to convert discarded city banners into reusable shopping bags. Overall the program educates high school students about environmental sustainability.

With the help of ‘Beyond the Bag’ showcase we are going to encourage students to go past the standard reusable shopping bag and exercise their creative minds to make value from waste. We fully support our students’ passion for fashion and so the event is an opportunity for students to engage with real people in the fashion industry like the directors of John Casablanca and Kwantlen University’s fashion schools.

At the event you will also be able to engage with our Guests of Honour:

o   Katherine Soucie, local designer who makes runway fashion out of textile industry waste
www.sanssoucie.ca
o   Alicia Fashionista, a local fashion blogger
www.aliciafashionista.com
o   Stephanie Ostler, local entrepreneur who owns a clothing line wholesaler and retailer called ‘Devil May Wear’ that uses sustainable and Canadian-milled materials
www.devil-may-wear.ca

At ‘Beyond the Bag’ Showcase, we have 21 students from Greater Vancouver participating (Vancouver, Delta, Surrey, Langley, Port Coquitlam). Most of our showcase participants hope to enter the fashion world one day. As a student-led team, we are strong advocates of education and are hoping to award a participant with a medium-sized scholarship to post-secondary education and distribute a number of other Eco-friendly prizes as well.

Join us for an evening of fun and celebration!

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!

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

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

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 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