The largest undergraduate business competition in Western Canada, JDC West 2007 draws on the talents of each individual on the team. It incorporates nine academic competitions ranging from accounting to international business, one parliamentary-style debate, one intense handball tournament, and seven school spirit challenges into one dynamic weekend.

According to a JDC news release, the U of S team was the inaugural winner of the Jeux du Commerce Denis-Trudel award, named in honour of Yannick Denis-Trudel, the 2003-2005 President of Regroupement Étudiant des Facultés d’Administration de l’Est du Canada that represents 32,000 students in Eastern Canada. Denis-Trudel was instrumental in expanding the Jeux du Commerce tradition to Western Canada.

In announcing the award, Conor Topley, co-chair of JDC West 2007, said “the University of Saskatchewan deserved this award because they applied the spirit of business, professionalism and integrity, the foundations of JDC West and our 2007 theme, in every aspect of the competition. They are a strong united team that demonstrated competitive ethical business principles.”

Team members are:
• Head Coach: Professor Ayten A. Archer
• Team President: Blaine Zaparaniuk
• Team Coach Assistants: Marlaina Hauser, Reilley Dutchak
• Accounting: Sarah Kolla, Sheleen Squair, Brant Stock
• Business Strategy: Tyler Mamchur, Chevy Johnston, Andrea Turner-Prentice
• Debate: Ashley Prociuk, Brad Vermeersch, Derek Robinson, Michelle Lang
• Entrepreneurship: Dean Kennedy, Ainsley Robertson, Dustin Johnson
• Finance: Clayton Weir, Troy Brown, James Lee
• Human Resources: Christina Benzing, Lindsey Fernuk, Kyla Lawson
• International Business: Dawna Gieni, Rachel Olsen, Sari Friske
• Management of Information Systems (MIS): Chelsey Hagerty, Mitch Strom, Kelly Thompson
• Marketing: Carlene Deutscher, Suzanne Johnston, Jessica Karalash
• Tax: Twyla Slipiec, Dugan Batten, Stefanie Jelinski,
• Sport: Monica Kluge, Brennan Gawley, Theo Gonari, Alan Sklapsy, Reem
Matlak, Marc LePage
• Social: Shandra Liss, John Early, Eric Lawson, Erin Dand

The University of Saskatchewan delegation also received an honourable mention for raising over $6500 for the Children’s Health and Hospital Foundation. “The U of S team has spent many hours training, planning and fund-raising for this competition,” said Archer. “A great deal was expected from our students and I am very proud of their academic, athletic and professional achievements. They acted as excellent provincial ambassadors providing the rest of Western Canada a glimpse of our Saskatchewan spirit and pride.”