For the seven year, the Manitoba Research Institute with the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce has organized a program for high schools to participate in a computer-simulated business game. Teams of high school students throughout Manitoba compete for bursaries. This year, 102 high school teams and 408 youth participated in the competition throughout the school year.
This year also saw Manitoba students competing with schools in China. This year, as a result of an agreement between The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce and The Henan Province in China, we were very excited to welcome a team from Zhengzhou of Henan Province as a competitor in the game. This addition will pave the way for an International Challenge in future years. In addition, Manitoba schools compete with students in Saskatchewan in an Interprovincial challenge which will be held in mid-May.
The top 12 Manitoba teams from the year-long competition advance to a Grand Challenge which was held in Brandon on 23 and 24 April during the Capturing Opportunities Conference. These top schools are eligible to receive eight bursaries in the amount of $500 each with a matching $500 from the University or College that they will attend.
As the Capturing Opportunities banquet, William Smith, the Chairman of the Board of Manitoba Research Institute, announced that the following school are receiving the 2008/09 bursaries
- Fort Richmond
- Garden Valley
- Hamiota Collegiate
- Kelvin High
- Reston Collegiate
- Steinback
- Vincent Massey – Brandon
- WC Miller
The top 12 teams also competed in the Grand Challenge which was also held during the Capturing Opportunities Conference. These teams were competing for a total of $3,500 in prize money. Also at the closing banquet, William Smith announced the three Grand Challenge winners.
3rd place presented by The Manitoba Association of School Trustees ($500): Hamiota Collegiate – Jerry Crampain (teacher), Tyler McNish, Gregory Ellis, Lance Burns
3rd Place: Hamiota Collegiate presented by Bill Smith, MRI Chairman of the Board (far r)
2nd Place presented by MTS Allstream ($1000): Reston Collegiate – Dave Adams (teacher), Cam Greig, Rob Van Buuren, Ashley Moore, Julia Jago
2nd Place: Reston Collegiate presented by Bill Smith, MRI Chairman of the Board (far right)
1st place presented by Minister Rosanne Wowchuk, representing the primary supporter Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives ($2000): Swan Valley Regional Comprehensive – Byron Ross (teacher), Justin Doverspike, Kyle Graham, Lindsay Schure, Kayla MacNaughton
1st Place: Swan Valley Regional Secondary presented by Rosann Wowchuck, Deputy Premier, (2nd from r) and Bill Smith, MRI Chairman of the Board (far r)
