YOUR SPECIAL EVENTS Book a private event during The Vancouver The Fair! Details at pne.ca Board of Trade’s a g u Let Playland and The Fair make your event even more special. Book now l d and get access to rides, attractions, catering, games and private dining P y r th o n areas, providing you with an exciting experience with the fun built right in! 127 Annual Contact Group Sales for your custom-built package. General Meeting [email protected] | 604-252-3585 | See page 3 for more details. “We must consistently and visibly illustrate that we take nothing for granted.” VBOT President and CEO Iain Black, page 5 JUNE 2014 • VOLUME 54 • NUMBER 6 THIS ISSUE VBOT enters the UFC octagon McKinsey’s Dominic Barton talks B.C. · 2 Top execs from the Ultimate Fighting Championship discuss the world’s fastest growing sports organization Message from the Chair · 4 BY GREG HOEKSTRA as Commissioner of the Canadian Football Message from the League (CFL). President and CEO · 5 It’s the fastest-growing sports organization Q: Many of our readers might recognize in the world – and arguably one of the most your name as past commissioner of the Opening skies between exciting sports to watch. Canadian Football League. How has your YVR and Iceland · 6 On June 14, the Ultimate Fighting Cham- experience at the CFL helped you in your pionship (UFC) will return to Vancouver for a new role with UFC Canada? Are there similar Aquarium announces pay-per-view event at Rogers Arena – the first challenges the two sports face? new research institute · 7 in our city in nearly four years. In my time as Commissioner, I learned in One day prior to the main event, on June the CFL that it was the fans that really owned Photo highlights · 9 13, The Vancouver Board of Trade will host the sport – keeping them as the focal point outspoken UFC President, Dana White, and on everything that the league did was critical the UFC’s Managing Director for Canada, to our success. There are similar challenges CYP Leadership Forum Australia and New Zealand, Tom Wright, for between both sports in that we both compete draws record crowd · 10 a discussion on the business side of the sport for the media’s attention against the NHL and – now the largest pay-per-view provider in the other “major” sports leagues – the CFL because Are you ready for the new world. The discussion will be moderated by it is “smaller, Canadian only”, and the UFC anti-spam law? · 11 radio personality “Bro” Jake Edwards from because it is “younger and still fighting for cred- TEAM 1040 Radio. ibility and acceptance” amongst some media. Building relationships Today, the UFC produces more than 45 live Q: Conversely, what are some of the with First Nations · 13 events annually, which consistently sell-out unique obstacles that UFC has faced while Tom Wright, UFC Canada’s Managing Director, will speak some of the most prestigious arenas around trying to grow the sport here in Canada? to The Vancouver Board of Trade on June 13. Wright, Why more women leaders the globe. These events often have a huge eco- I never worried about the sport of football a former CFL Commisioner, will be joined on stage by are needed · 15 nomic impact on the communities in which being sanctioned, regulated or legal for that outspoken UFC President Dana White. they visit, bringing thousands of visitors who matter. With mixed martial arts (MMA), that @boardoftrade spend money at local hotels, restaurants and is an ongoing responsibility that a new sport It is easily misunderstood if one doesn’t take stores. such as ours needs to address. The unique the time to understand it objectively and with /VancouverBoardofTrade Sounding Board spoke to Wright recently obstacles would include having to dispel the a fact-based perspective. boardoftrade.com about UFC’s controversial past, its expansion myths regarding our sport while informing plans in Canada, and his past experience the perspective of many towards our sport. TURN TO PAGE 3 Serving B.C. Businesses With our large, versatile fl eet we can take you to remote sites or global metropolises at a moment’s notice. Call us today: hours 604.272.8123 7days 1.877.399.8123 www.londonair.com 2 events and speakers Sounding Board June 2014 B.C.’s place in the global economy McKinsey’s Global Managing Director shares global perspective at VBOT on June 26 The Vancouver Board of of the AIB Fellows’ International international association of and the issues and opportuni- Trade is pleased to partner Executive of the Year Award, will scholars and specialists in the ties facing markets worldwide. with Simon Fraser University’s discuss B.C.’s Place in the Global field of international business. Barton is also a member of Beedie School of Business for Economy — how does our local In 27 years with the McK- the Canadian Prime Minister’s a luncheon featuring Dominic identity affect our international insey & Company, Barton has Advisory Committee on the Barton, Global Managing Direc- competitiveness? advised clients in a range of Public Service. tor of McKinsey. Likewise, where do we fit in industries including banking, For more information on this The event, on June 26, will the duality of being local yet consumer goods, high tech and event, including how you can be the closing luncheon for the global at the same time? industrial. purchase tickets, visit board- four-day Academy of Interna- The AIB Annual Meeting will Barton has authored more oftrade.com/events. For more tional Business Annual Meeting bring together over 1,000 global than 80 articles on the role of on the Academy of International (AIB). thought leaders to Vancouver in business in society, leadership, Business’ annual meeting, visit Dominic Barton, Global Managing Barton, this year’s recipient June 2014. The AIB is the leading financial services, Asia, history aib.msu.edu. Director, McKinsey & Company EVENTSEVENTS CALENDARCALENDAR UPDATE UPDATE See our full events calendar at boardoftrade.com/events WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2014 THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014 Leaders of Tomorrow A Fresh Focus: Global Networking Breakfast Leadership Cafe tourism growth and the Series: Orientation opportunities for B.C. and Roundtable 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. 11:45 a.m. – 2 p.m. 7 – 9 a.m. Canadian Cancer Society British Columbia & Yukon Marsha Walden, President Renaissance Vancouver Division offices and CEO, Destination British Harbourside Hotel Columbia 1133 West Hastings Street 565 West 10th Ave. Marriott Vancouver Event Sponsor: Pinnacle Hotel WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014 Canadian Cancer Society 1128 West Hastings Street Aboriginal Opportunities Presenting Sponsor: Forum 2014: Building TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 2014 British Columbia Hotel Association Sustainable Aboriginal Company of Young Coummunity Sponsors: Relations Professional Development YVR Vancouver International 7:15 a.m. – 2 p.m. Series: Connect Like Airport, TNS Global a Leader The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver 900 Georgia Street West 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Lisa Martin, Packing a Punch: The Bill Gallagher, Lawyer, Author, Lisa Martin International business behind the Resource Rulers BCIT Downtown world’s fastest growing Kim Baird, Owner, Kim Baird 555 Seymour Street - Room 280 sports organization Strategic Consulting 11:15 a.m. – 2 p.m. SPECIAL SPEAKERS THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014 Dana White, President, Ultimate Bob Joseph Jr., Founder, Fighting Championship Small Business Council Indigenous Corporate Development Series: Tom Wright, Managing Director, Training Inc. New Permissions UFC Canada, Australia, and Jody Wilson-Raybould, Regional Marketing —Canada’s New Zealand; and Former Chief, of the BC Assembly of First new Anti-Spam Law Commissioner of the Canadian Nations (CASL) Explained Football League Plus a panel discussion 7 – 9 a.m. Hyatt Regency Hotel Supporting Sponsor: FortisBC Renaissance Vancouver — Regency Ballroom Coummunity Sponsors: Harbourside Hotel 655 Burrard Street SFU Beedie School of Business, 1133 West Hastings Street Supporting Sponsor: Aquilini Development & Event Sponsor: Boston Pizza Construction Inc., Vancity Savings Constant Contact and Credit Union, TransMountain Marketing Partner: Expansion Project WSI International What speaker, topic or issue do you want explored? We’ll look into it. E-mail: [email protected] Register now at boardoftrade.com/events June 2014 Sounding Board events and speakers 3 ‘If you don’t get it, ask your kids,’ says UFC Canada’s Wright FROM PAGE 1 Q: In a recent interview with the Ca- Q: UFC President Dana White has a nadian Press, you noted that, on a per- reputation for his bold leadership style. Q: What is your “elevator pitch?” When capita basis, no other nation consumes He has even been called “the Steve Jobs you’re at a dinner party, how do you as much MMA as Canada. Why do you of the combat sports world.” What has describe the world of UFC and MMA to think there is such an appetite for MMA it been like to work with him, and what someone who has never watched a fight? in the Great White North? can members of The Vancouver Board of The MMA is a high energy, fast-paced There are many reasons but when you Trade expect to learn during our June 13 and unpredictable sport contested look at our sport, it’s global – and Canada is event with UFC? between world-class professional athletes. as multicultural a country as you will find It has been a great experience. Dana They compete in five different Olympic anywhere. Canada is also a sport nation wears our sport on his sleeve; he is ex- sports and other combat sports all at once. and MMA is as true a sport as there is.