Alumni Events

2023 TFA Legacy Dinner

100th Anniversary Legacy Dinner
Presented by Vela Wealth & PearTree Canada

The 100th Anniversary Legacy Dinner is a celebration of the 100-year legacy of UBC Football. We will recognize and celebrate the people whose efforts have contributed to our rich history. The evening is also about raising much needed funds to help our student athletes achieve their education and football aspirations. This year our primary goal is to raise $100K in our 100th year. Thank you to our presenting sponsors this year, Vela Wealth & PearTree Canada

Date & Time: Friday October 20, 2023 | 5:30pm
Location: Robert Lee Alumni Centre – Jack Poole Hall | 6163 University Boulevard Vancouver, BC

TICKETS: 

Early Bird Tickets (Until Sept 29, 2023)

Individual Tickets – $150 (+ fees) | Table of 8 – $1,200 (+ fees) – BUY TICKETS HERE

EVENT DETAILS

  • Alumni, Supporters, Parents, and Business Associates of UBC Football participate in a fun evening with a unique opportunity to support our Football Student Athletes.
  • Celebrate the 100th Year of UBC Football and raise funds to focus on student athlete scholarships.
  • Recognition of our 2023 “Wall of Honour” inductees
  • Celebrate the incredible Legacies in our illustrious 100-year history as well as appreciate those who are making significant contributions today!

 

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • An elegant evening situated in the centre of UBC campus in the new Robert Lee Alumni Centre.
  • Feature event of the 100th Anniversary Legacy Weekend
  • Hilarious Entertainment!
  • Opportunity to connect and reconnect with alumni and supporters from many generations as well as others who care about the future of UBC Football.
  • A great opportunity for all UBC Football supporters to enjoy an elegant evening and to meet other Spouses and Partners of UBC Football supporters.
  • Exclusive event with a limited number of tickets available
  • Sponsorship opportunities with unique benefits and charitable tax receipts available.

 

SPONSORSHIPS

 

2023 TFA Legacy Golf Classic

The TFA Legacy Classic

The 2023 TFA Legacy Golf Classic will be a great opportunity for Alumni to get together for a day of Golf and Connection with Football Alumni from all era’s.

As Alumni, your participation will benefit current players as we have committed to raise $100,000 for scholarships along with other important needs for our student athletes. Your participation will have a direct Impact on the Educational and Football aspirations of our current players.

Date & Time: Thursday July 6, 2023 | 1pm Shotgun Start
Location: Tsawwassen Springs Golf Course

Early bird prices available for registrations before June 1, 2023.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • The 2023 TFA Legacy Golf Classic will be a great opportunity for Alumni to get together for a day of Golf and Connection with Football Alumni from all era’s.
  • As Alumni, your participation will benefit current players as we have committed to raise $100,000 for scholarships along with other important needs for our student athletes. Your participation will have a direct Impact on the Educational and Football aspirations of our current players.

 

SPONSORSHIPS

2022 TFA Legacy Gala

The TFA Legacy Gala

Date: Friday, October 21, 2022

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Location: Richmond Golf & Tennis Country Club, 9100 Steveston Highway, Richmond, BC V7A 1M5

Registration Link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/thunderbird-football-alumni-legacy-gala-tickets-413153411977

Details:

Join us for an elegant evening for alumni, supporters, parents, coaches and significant others as we celebrate all who have contributed to the rich of 99-year history of UBC Football.

The TFA Legacy Gala is the premiere fundraising event for the Thunderbird Football Alumni. Our primary goal is to raise funds to provide the necessary resources such as scholarships, coaching sustainability, and academic assistance for UBC Football Student Athletes.

2022 TFA Legacy Golf Classic

The TFA Legacy Classic

Date: July 21, 2022

Time: TBD

Location: Tsawwassen Springs – 5133 Springs Boulevard Delta, BC V4M 0A6

Registration Link:  https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/tfa-legacy-golf-classic-tickets-339168701717

 

Details:

Organizing important Alumni social events is one of the primary objectives of the “NEW” Thunderbird Football Alumni. After a long difficult period of “Social Distancing” we are pleased to be able to have our first Alumni social event, “The TFA Legacy Golf Classic”. The precursor to this event was the Frank Gnup Classic, which ran for over 25 years. It was always the first Thursday in July and was always sold out. Alumni from several decades came together for a day of camaraderie , Golf, Fun, and Fund raising. The Gnup Classic was not only a great Alumni social event, it also raised a lot of money for the Thunderbird Football program.

Several Alumni have asked the TFA to start or restart what was once a Great Thunderbird Football Alumni Tradition and we have responded by organizing the newest Football Alumni Classic, “The TFA Legacy Classic”!

The focus of “The TFA Legacy Classic” will be to bring Alumni together for a day of Camaraderie, Competition, Reunion, Fun-raising and Fundraising. We intend the TFA Legacy Classic to leave as great a legacy as the Gnup Classic did for over 25 years.

We are now calling on Alumni to step up and register themselves, or preferably a team of 4 in the Legacy Classic.

Also, we are looking for Event Sponsors to help financially in putting on the “TFA Legacy Golf Classic” in the following areas:

  • 1 x Presenting Sponsor,
  • 2 x Premium Sponsors
  • 18 x hole Sponsors
  • other sponsor opportunities are available as well

If you can help with any type of sponsorship for the TFA Legacy Classic, or would like more detailed information, please contact:

Braydon Hobbs – braydonhobbs@hotmail.com

Dan Smith – smity12@gmail.com

Let’s all help the Inaugural ”TFA Legacy Classic” get off to a great start.

Cheers,

Danny Smith QB 1974-78

GO T’BIRDS

"He's True Blue"

Welcome to the Alumni 2020 & Winetasting

Wednesday, March 25th
6:30 p.m.
at the Terminal City Club

“He’s True Blue” is an annual celebration of new alum entering the UBC football family. Wine tasting, food, friends @ Terminal City Club

“He’s True Blue” is an annual recognition and celebration of all the new alumni entering the family. “He’s True Blue” is about bringing all the alumni together to recognize new alum, connect with old friends, have some drinks and fun.

This event is open to anyone who is a supporter of UBC football – alum, parent, coach or friend of the program.

Once a T-bird, always a T-bird. Whether you spent 6 months on the practice squad or were a multi-year starter – everyone is an equal member of the UBC football alumni.

Where:

March 25th, 6:30 p.m.

The Terminal City Club

At “He’s True Blue” we will have:

  • Dedicated time for our experienced alum share with young alum and players
  • A premier wine tasting by the inestimable Graham Nordin
  • Graham and other alum sharing about how football changes your life
  • Dinner and drinks

About Our Wine Scholar and Keynote:

Graham Nordin is overseeing all elements of Cedar Creek Estate Winery. In this role he is involved in all aspects of the wine business: operations/production, marketing, hospitality, new business development and wine education. He also has the pleasure to introduce the wines and the region to key opinion leaders and influencers travelling from around the world to visit all five wineries in the Iconic Wineries of British Columbia portfolio in the Okanagan Valley.

Graham joined the senior leadership team for Iconic Wineries of BC in 2017 as the Director of Wine Experience at Mission Hill Family Estate. He brings a wealth of diverse and extensive experience from more than 15 years working in the wine and hospitality industry in Canada. Most recently, he has progressed in a variety of sales related roles – fine wine sales (both Retail & On-Premise), to National Key Account Management and served as the Regional Sales Manager of British Columbia for Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits.

Schedule:

6:30 pm Appetizers

7:00 pm Alumni Connections

7:40 pm Winetasting & Dinner

8:20 pm “Football & Life” & Q&A

9:20 pm End

Tickets

New Alumni & Current Players: Free

Early Career Alumni (<5 Years): $25

Alumni & Supporters: $55

Frequently Asked Questions:

Will there be food and drink?

Yes, your ticket includes appetizers, a full meal, and there is a cash bar. And of course the wine tasting.

Where does this money go?

Like at all our events, the TFA subsidizes the tickets (at every price point). It’s thanks to the generosity of alumni that we can run these events and make them affordable, especially for younger alumni.

Dress code?

Business casual. Dress jeans/pants and a polo or dress shirt. You can see in our photos, a golf shirt and dress jeans is fine, as is a suit.

Who can come?

As UBC football alumni, we believe that any player, alum, supporter, parent, coach, or friend of the program is welcome. If you love UBC football, this is a place for you. It doesn’t matter whether you were on the scout team for 6 months, a parent who’s son played 12 years ago, or just someone who loves UBC football. Join us!

Transit? Parking?

There is parking right by Termianl City Club. The venue is downtown right by Burrard skytrain station.

I’d like to help the alumni, who do I talk to?

Well, talk to anyone on our board (www.ubctfa.com), reach us at ubc(at)tfa.com, or contact our President Christopher Mark at chris(at)vintality.ca.

TFA's 7th MASTERMIND DINNER:

Leveraging Sports as an Asset

Wednesday, November 27th
6:30 p.m.
at the Italian Cultural Centre

The TFA is proudly hosting the next dinner in our Mastermind Series.

We’re excited to announce 3 awesome panelists:

Haleigh Callison

After a prolific UBC hockey career, Haleigh played professional hockey all over the world from Berlin to Toronto to Kazakhstan. She spent 15 years working at Twist Conditioning before recently joining Olympic Industries as a Lumber trader, specializing in Western Red Cedar. 

Haleigh’s career as a high performance athlete, transition into a related field with Twist, and then move into lumber trading is incredibly relevant to our alumni. 

You can also catch her speaking at the UBC Athletics Women’s Leadership Network Nov. 19th. 

Denny Dumas

Denny, a high school footballer, played university basketball in the US and at UBC. After graduating, he worked 5 years in the restaurant industry. This set him up for his next transition into the real estate industry and helped grow his company from $30 million in sales in 2014 to $120 million in 2017. 

He then became a partner at Garbutt + Dumas Real Estate and hosts his own podcast called “Zero to Here”.

You can keep up with Denny (and his podcast) at his website.

Rob Friend

Rob graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara and went on to a distinguished soccer career with 32 appearnces for team Canada as a striker. He played professional soccer for a number of years in Europe before ending his career in the MLS with the LA Galaxy.

He’s a founder of the DRG Investment Group and the CEO of the Pacific Football Club. 

Rob is a great example of taking a successful sports career and merging it with business. 

Location

Italian Cultural Center
6:30 p.m. 
3075 Slocan St,
Vancouver, BC

Time

6:30 p.m. Appetizers & Social
7:00 p.m.  Speakers
7:40 p.m. Q&A
8:40 p.m. Social
9:30 p.m. Finish

Tickets

Current Players: Free

Early Career Alumni (<5 Years): $20

Alumni & Supporters: $40

Frequently Asked Questions:

Will there be food and drink?

Yes, your ticket includes appetizers, a full meal, and there is a cash bar.

Where does this money go?

Like at all our events, the TFA subsidizes the tickets (at every price point). It’s thanks to the generosity of alumni that we can run these events and make them affordable, especially for younger alumni.

Dress code? 

There is no formal dress code. Most people come in business casual. You can see in our photos, a golf shirt and dress jeans is fine, as is a suit. Whatever makes you comfortable. 

Who can come?

As UBC football alumni, we believe that any player, alum, supporter, parent, coach, or friend of the program is welcome. If you love UBC football, this is a place for you. It doesn’t matter whether you were on the scout team for 6 months, a parent who’s son played 12 years ago, or just someone who loves UBC football. Join us!

Transit? Parking?

There is ample parking at the Italian Cultural Centre. And its right across the street from the skyrain (Renfrew Station).

I’d like to help the alumni, who do I talk to?

Well, talk to anyone on our board (www.ubctfa.com), reach us at ubc(at)tfa.com.

(AUG 30th) ALUMNI SOCIAL @ THE HASTINGS RACETRACK​

Come have a blast out with fellow alumni Friday night (Aug 30th) before heading to the UBC Football home opener Saturday. Beer, pizza, and horseracing! It’s pretty simple.

The TFA is covering the cost – attendance gets you a beer and a free ticket to next day’s home opener.

The TFA has reserved a few boxes for this event, but seating is running out RSVP now

Get tickets here.

Where are we meeting?

A the racetrack, arrive around 6:15-6:30 as the first race is at 7:00. Enter through gates 6-9 and go to guest services and tell them you are with UBC TFA and they will show you to the box.

Looking forward to seeing you there

Welcome to the Alumni: New Alum Breakfast

January 30th, 2019
7:30-9:00 AM @ the Hyatt Regency

The TFA is pleased to host new alumni in a breakfast series introducing and connecting them to the broader alumni, familiarising them with the host of programs the TFA offers, and getting feedback on what they need and are looking forward to as they move from player to alum.

Breakfast is generously provided by the alumnus Digby Leigh.  

Date: Wednesday, January 30th, 2019

Location: Hyatt Regency Mosaic Room,  655 Burrard St, Vancouver

Tickets: FREE

Food: Full breakfast meal

Looking forward to seeing all the alumni there.

6th Mastermind Dinner

May 10th, 2018
6:30-9:00 PM @ Steamworks Brewery

in the T-Bird for Life Career Success Stories

Climbing to the Top: Nailing Your Next Interview

Join us May 10th, as the TFA is extremely excited to host our 6th Mastermind event as we will be joined by our guest speaker Shawn Olson, Director of Recruiting for Western Canada, London Life/Great West Life/Canada Life.

Whether it is an entry level position with a new company or a promotional opportunity from within, we all have a critical interview to prepare for in the weeks, months or years ahead.  

Discussion will Include:

  1. Preparation can make the difference between getting an offer and getting rejected. How to lay a foundation for nailing your next interview
  2. What to do before, during and after
  3. Navigating the behavioural based questions – what are they really asking?

The evening promises to have numerous practical take-a-ways along with quality interaction with like-minded T-bird Alumni.

Date: Thursday May 10th, 2018, 6:30pm – 9:00 pm

Location: Steamworks Brewery – Private Wine Room, Gastown, Vancouver                        

Tickets: Tickets are $30 per person. As this is a private table that sits 30, we anticipate this event will fill up quickly. Please confirm your attendance as soon as possible to secure your seat at the table.

Food: A 3 course meal is provided. Plus appetizers.

Attire: Business casual, dress like you would for an office job.

Click the link above or Contact Alan Pepper, TFA board member at: Alan.Pepper@gwl.ca or 604-837-6217.

Learn More: http://www.tbirdfa.com/events/

Sponsors: If you are interested in sponsoring part of this event please reach out to Digby Leigh at dleigh@leighco.ca.

5th Mastermind Dinner

September 26th, 2017
6:15-9:15 PM @ Steamworks Brewery

The Thunderbird Football Association (TFA) is pleased to host the
“5th Mastermind Dinner Event”
in the T-Bird for Life Career Success Stories

Money Under 30: Growth, Investing, and Finance in your 20’s

Join us Sept 26th, as Alan Pepper and Jason Boudreau from the TFA host our 5th Mastermind event focused around dealing with Money Under 30.

Not in the game? Get in the game:

  1. Best kept secrets to growing your net worth
  2. Investing in your 20’s
  3. Financial milestones you need to hit by 30
  4. Avoiding the most common mistakes that can haunt you when you are 50

Turbocharge your finances:

  1. Tax efficiencies to save real money
  2. Leveraging your capital
  3. How to hit that hockey stick growth as fast as possible

The evening promises to have numerous practical take-a-ways along with quality interaction with like-minded T-bird Alumni.

Date: Tuesday Sept 26th, 2017, 6:30pm – 9:15 pm

Location: Steamworks Brewery – Private Wine Room, Gastown, Vancouver                       

Tickets: Tickets are $30 per person. As this is a private table that sits 30, we anticipate this event will fill up quickly. Please confirm your attendance as soon as possible to secure your seat at the table.

How do I confirm attendance?

Contact Alan Pepper, TFA board member at: Alan.Pepper@wisenterprise.ca or 604-837-6217.

Sponsors: If you are interested in sponsoring part of this event please reach out to Digby Leigh at dleigh@leighco.ca.

Jason Boudreau

Over the past decade, Jason has built his company VELA Wealth into an established life and estate planning firm, advising successful entrepreneurial families on how to make meaningful choices at the intersection of their life and their wealth. More specifically, Jason’s areas of expertise include inter-generational wealth transfer, life-centric financial planning and estate planning with a focus on insurance-based solutions that incorporate charitable giving and legacy planning. Leveraging these specialties, Jason brings a fresh perspective and outside-the-box thinking to the strategic planning process. His satisfaction comes from watching clients fulfill their vision of life, knowing that VELA’s holistic approach played a role in helping to guide that vision to fruition.

A proud family man, outside of the office Jason enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife Carissa and their three wonderful children, Benjamin, Noah and Eleana. He also supports the community as an active member of the Rotary Club of Vancouver, board member of the Thunderbird Football Association and a member of the Canuck Place Children’s Hospice advisory council. Personally, Jason has a passion for health and fitness and loves road cycling, music and travelling. An avid golfer, Jason can also be found regularly (and perhaps naively) working toward his dream of one day playing on the PGA tour.

Events

Thunderbird for Life Events take two forms:

1) Mastermind Events, and
2) Social Events.

The purpose of Mastermind Events is to provide topical insights and expertise that supports the success of our younger alumni as they develop in their careers and in life.

TFA Social Events take place in casual environments and provide a forum for camaraderie and networking.

4th Mastermind Dinner

April  4th, 2017
6:15-9:00 PM @ Steamworks Brewery


The TFA is pleased to host the
4th Mastermind Dinner Event in the T-Bird for Life CAREER SUCCESS SERIES:

“The 1% Solution: How Small Daily Improvements Produce Massive Long-Term Results”

Come listen to an accomplished businessman and author with more than 25 years of outstanding results. Join us at our Spring 2017 Mastermind Dinner Event as Eamonn Percy, author and CEO of Percy Group Capital shares his compelling story including living in his car and how slow, incremental improvements can lead to massive success.

The evening promises to have numerous practical take-a-ways along with quality interaction with like minded T-bird Alumni.

    Tickets: Tickets are $25 per person, which includes a three course dinner and his book. As this is a private table that sits 35, we anticipate this event will fill up quickly. Please confirm your attendance as soon as possible to secure your spot.

    Date:             April 4th, 6:15 pm – 9:30 pm

   Location:       Steamworks Brewery – Private Wine Room, Gastown, Vancouver

   Tickets:         Contact Alan Pepper, TFA board member at:

    alan.pepper@gwl.ca or 604-837-6217.

Speaker Bio: Eamonn has more than 25 years of business experience in helping companies transform and grow with a track record of creating significant shareholder value. He is a problem solver, board member, investor, and speaker on the topics of business growth, economics and leadership. He is the Founder and President of The Percy Group Capital + Business Advisors, a leading business performance improvement firm which helps determined business leaders permanently solve problems, accelerate performance and get results.

He has held multiple senior leadership roles with top global companies: Powertech Labs, Ballard Power Systems, Pirelli, and Ford, across multiple industries in multiple stages of growth. He also led the successful turnaround of two global companies (in manufacturing and engineering), returning both to profitability and strong working capital positions.

Eamonn knows how to overcome obstacles, as he literally went from a stock room to the board room, from a midnight shift production supervisor to an executive with leading global companies, from sleeping in his car to owning a historic ranch, from a C student in high school to an electrical engineering degree and MBA. He understands the real-life struggles people face each day and knows how to help people overcome those struggles.

What makes Eamonn different is his pragmatic approach to business growth, based on his unique combination of technical, business and leadership skills. He always focused on results.

Eamonn is a media commentator, speaker, and columnist of the topics of leadership and business growth, and is a guest columnist for the Globe and Mail – Report on Business.

He is passionate about performance improvement and encourages business leaders to leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of dominating their sector and creating great businesses.

3rd Mastermind Dinner

November 24th, 2016
6:15-9:00 PM @ Steamworks Brewery


The TFA is pleased to host the
 3rd Mastermind Dinner Event in the T-Bird for Life CAREER SUCCESS SERIES:

“Seizing Opportunities: Youth Can Be Your Greatest Asset”

Imagine becoming the CEO of a gold exploration company at the age of 28. Join us at our Fall 2016 Mastermind Dinner Event as Steve de Jong, CEO of Integra Gold, shares his compelling story including his rapid rise to success, what fueled it, lessons learned, mistakes overcome, what he wishes he knew then, and his “must-do” advice for young professionals driven to succeed.

If you’re serious about success in a corporate environment, this is an event you won’t want to miss.

The evening promises to have numerous practical take-a-ways along with quality interaction with like minded T-bird Alumni.

    Tickets: Tickets are $25 per person, which includes a three course dinner. As this is a private table that sits 35, we anticipate this event will fill up quickly. Please confirm your attendance as soon as possible to secure your spot.

    Date:             November 24th, 6:15 pm – 9:30 pm

   Location:       Steamworks Brewery – Private Wine Room, Gastown, Vancouver

   Tickets:         Contact Cheng Wei, TFA board member at:

    cheng.wei21@gmail.com or 778-316-2709.

Speaker Bio: Mr. de Jong is an entrepreneur who has created success in an extended bear market, from a position of relative inexperience.  He has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Integra Gold since 2012. Mr. de Jong succeeded in attracting a high calibre team of geologists, engineers, entrepreneurs and consultants to advance Integra Gold’s Lamaque project towards production. He has been instrumental in the financing of the Company, having raised over $120 million in equity at subsequently higher prices since assuming the Chief Executive Officer position, despite the recent challenges faced by the mining sector.

Vancouver Sun Article
Integra Gold Website

Sponsors: We would like to give a big thanks to Michael Canic of Bridgeway Leadership and Jason Boudreau of Vela Wealth for stepping up and sponsoring this event. If you are interested in helping to sponsor part of this event or future events please reach out to Digby Leigh at DLeigh@leighco.ca.

 

MASTERMIND DINNER 2

Mastermind Dinner 2The TFA is pleased to host the  2nd Mastermind Dinner Event in the T-Bird for Life CAREER SUCCESS SERIES:

“Becoming an Entrepreneur: Do You Have What It Takes?”

  • Presenting expert insights into the minds of successful business owners. Join us and our panel of three thriving entrepreneurs (Javier Glatt, Digby Leigh & Jason Boudreau) as we discuss the opportunities and dangers of becoming your own boss.

    Date:             April 28th, 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm

   Location:       Steamworks Brewery – Private Wine Room, Gastown, Vancouver

   Tickets:         Contact Alan Pepper, TFA board member at:

Alan.Pepper@freedom55financial.com or 604-837-6217.

MASTERMIND DINNER 1

In November 2015 we hosted our 1st Mastermind Dinner Event in the T-Bird for Life CAREER SUCCESS SERIES:

“The 5 Critical Factors that will Determine Your Success”

  • Dr. Michael Canic kicked off our first Mastermind Dinner Event with an engaging presentation that spotlighted what every young alum needs to focus on to be successful in their careers and in life.

Did you miss this event? You can download the slides at: www.bridgewayleadership.com. At the lower left, enter the password: T4LNov2015. And feel free to reach out to Michael at: mcanic@bridgewayleadership.com or 303.947.4999.