Western Canada HR Students Compete at HRC West Case Competition 2023

10
Mar 2023
236
A group of people standing next to each other holding a large check.
Photo Credit: 
Chris Bolin / Bow Valley College

On March 3 and 4, 2023, CPHR Alberta, along with our partners at CPHR BC & Yukon, brought together 16 teams of students from post-secondary business programs across Western Canada. These students participated in a classroom learning competition dedicated to HR that merged theory with real-life simulations. The HRC West Case Competition two-day event provided post-secondary student teams with the opportunity to access a unique platform for the exchange of ideas with a comprehensive business case that explores a pressing HR challenge.

The competition hosting alternates between the two provinces, and is held at a sponsored school. After a break in 2021 due to the pandemic, CPHR BC & Yukon hosted the 2022 event virtually. 2023 was back in person, hosted by Bow Valley College in Calgary, Alberta.

“Bow Valley College was proud to host this prestigious competition, witnessing the next generation of HR professionals test their skills and knowledge in challenging scenarios. The collective enthusiasm and brilliant minds and ideas showcased are confirmation post-secondary institutions are graduating talented job-ready individuals,” says Alison Anderson, Dean of Business, Technology, and Centre for Entertainment Arts, Bow Valley College.

Schools competing from Alberta included:

  • Bow Valley College, Calgary, Alberta
  • MacEwan University, Edmonton, Alberta
  • Mount Royal University, Calgary, Alberta
  • Medicine Hat College, Medicine Hat, Alberta
  • NorQuest College, Edmonton, Alberta
  • Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), Edmonton, Alberta
  • Red Deer Polytechnic, Red Deer, Alberta
  • Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), Calgary, Alberta
  • University of Alberta, Edmonton Alberta

Competitors from British Columbia included:

  • Ascenda School of Management, Vancouver, British Columbia
  • Camosun College, Victoria, British Columbia
  • College of New Caledonia, Prince George, British Columbia
  • Douglas College, New Westminster, British Columbia
  • Okanagan College, Kelowna, British Columbia
  • Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, British Columbia
  • Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, British Columbia

Friday night opened with a welcome dinner for all participants, and included a special greeting and words of inspiration from the CPHR Alberta Board of Directors. Dinner was followed by networking amongst the student participants, team coaches, CPHR Alberta staff and board members, and faculty from Bow Valley College.

‘Investing in the future of our industry is important to our association, it helps us build a strong and vibrant HR community. This is why we have developed programs and networking opportunities, like the HRC West Case Competition, for our student members to help them thrive in a career in HR after graduation,” says CPHR Alberta CEO, Ioana Giurca.

Early Saturday, four pools of four teams competed in their first rounds of preparation and presentations. Students were provided a case written by a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR), and given three hours to study the case and prepare a presentation.

By Saturday afternoon, four teams progressed to the final round to present their ideas and strategies to our three esteemed CPHR designated judges.

Congratulations to all of the teams that participated, and to the top four teams who were presented with cheques at the AccessHR Student Awards Reception. The top four teams were:

In fourth place , Bow Valley College; Vitoria Regina Moreira, Jenica Montemayor, Hazelle Astorga, Maria Zakula. Team name, People Connect, coached by Svetlana Miftahov-Rapoport

In third place , Camosun College; Jessi Carr, Sam Montague, Samuel Saunders, Francis Lecours. Team name, Case of the Mondays, coached by Dale Samsonoff.

In second place , Vancouver Island University; Tegan Bond, Paige Lum, Levi Hunter, Jody Marshall. Team name, HARMOUR, coached by Paul Cleaver.

The 2023 HRC West Case Competition winner, in first place, Douglas College; Munoz Hernandez Damaris, Juliana Costa de Avila, Lambert Adrian V Tenorio, and Niloofar Maleki. Team name, Harmony Accord, coached by Jeffrey Ha.

“We were thrilled to place in the competition and congratulate the winning teams and all participants who made this experience memorable.” says Alison Anderson, Dean of Business, Technology, and Centre for Entertainment Arts, Bow Valley College.

Thank you to our 2023 sponsor, AccessHR and our host school Bow Valley College.

HRC West 2024 will be hosted in Victoria, British Columbia at Camosun College.


About CPHR Alberta

CPHR Alberta is the professional association dedicated to strengthening the human resources profession and upholding the highest standards of practice.

With over 6,000 members in major cities across Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, CPHR Alberta is the fourth largest HR association in Canada.

CPHR Alberta is the exclusive registration body in Alberta for the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR) designation, which is the professional standard in Canada. The CPHR demonstrates HR expertise, experience and ethical management of today’s human capital. CPHR Alberta is a provincial member of CPHR Canada.

For more information about the 2023 HRC West Case Competition contact: Avneet Sidhu, Post-Secondary Coordinator, CPHR Alberta at asidhu@cphrab.ca

 

About CPHR BC &Yukon

CPHR BC & Yukon is a non-profit organization specializing in advancing professional people practices. Committed to providing leadership in HR excellence, CPHR BC & Yukon is the foremost professional association for HR practitioners throughout the province.

Founded in 1942, CPHR BC & Yukon is a democratic organization governed by a volunteer Board of Directors elected by the membership. As the largest HR association in Western Canada, CPHR BC & Yukon has grown to include close to 7,000 members encompassing CEOs, directors of HR, consultants, educators, students, HR generalists, and small-business owners.

The association is the sole BC grantor of the Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation and is responsible for upholding industry standards. In addition, as the largest HR association in Western Canada, CPHR BC & Yukon offers professional learning and networking opportunities including workshops, symposia, events, and an annual conference and showcase.

For more information on the 2024 HRC West Case Competition contact: Carolyne Taylor, Member Relations Manager, Vancouver Island, CPHR BC & Yukon at ctaylor@cphrbc.ca

The views and opinions expressed in this blog post belong solely to the original author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of CPHR Alberta.



A Fresh Start: How Spring Can Inspire New Goals

By Jessica Jaithoo • March 16, 2026
Author: Rheya Patel, 2026 Social Media Committee Member As days become longer and the weather warms up, the first day of spring brings a sense of renewal and new beginnings. A time that feels more energizing and people are more motivated to reset their routines, look for new opportunities and clear away old habits. While spring is commonly associated with “spring cleaning” in the home, perhaps the same principal can be applies to the workplace. For organizations and HR groups, spring can be the perfect opportunity to encourage employees to reflect and construct new meaningful goals and “clean” out the “clutter” of goals that no longer help them grow or have already been achieved. Why is Spring the Perfect Time for Goal Setting? With the rush of returning to work after the holidays and resuming normal life, spring gives a perfect moment to pause and reflect. Employees can check on their progress, realign priorities and continue the year with renewed motivation. For HR teams, encouraging this reflection can re-engage employees and increase motivation. In turn, employees are more likely to be focused and productive while creating a space for meaningful conversations about growth, development, and career progression. How Can We Encourage Goal Reflection? Believe it or not, HR plays a crucial role in goal setting whether it is realized or not. Creating an open work environment where employees feel supported and encouraged with professional development is key in reflection and goal setting. Below are several ways organizations can use the season of renewal to inspire growth and goal setting. Encourage Reflection What accomplishments have employees made that they are proud of? What challenges have they faced? Asking these kind of questions and having one-on-one check-ins with employees can help support employees to openly discuss their goals and aspirations, and potentially create new goals. Promote Professional Development and Growth The arrival of spring can also create the chance to introduce new learning opportunities. Having a fresh mindset combined with training, workshops, mentorship initiatives, or skill-building programs, employees can feel more motivated and supported in pursuing growth.  This helps employees expand their skillsets and strengthen the organization as a whole. Foster Collaboration and New Ideas Tying back to renewed energy, organizations can encourage teams to collaborate and share new ideas. Brainstorming sessions, innovation workshops, or team goal-setting can foster inspiration and connectivity, Having an open space for discussions can help teams align goals with organizational priorities to promote innovation and productivity. Celebrate Progress Recognizing progress along the way is essential. Celebrating achievements and acknowledging progress have a significant impact on employee morale. Employee recognition programs, team shoutouts, or words of appreciation can go a long way to remind employees how valuable their efforts and contributions are and continue to motivate them to strive towards their goals. Final Thoughts The arrival of spring represents renewal, growth, and new possibilities. For HR professionals, it’s also the opportunity to encourage employees to pause, reflect, and move through the rest of the year with renewed purpose. Encouraging goal setting, promoting professional development, fostering collaboration, and celebrating progress, can tie the season of newness to inspire meaningful growth. The new season reminds us that progress doesn’t need to start January 1st. Sometimes, a change in perspective, and a little springtime inspiration, can be the step towards pursuing new goals and growth with confidence.

An Update from your Board of Directors – March 2026

March 16, 2026
As the governing voice of CPHR Alberta, the Board of Directors meets quarterly to provide oversight and guidance in several key areas. The Board, alongside CPHR Alberta operations, have began delivery on the association's new strategic priorities developed in the 2026-2028 strategic plan. To ensure transparency between our Board of Directors, members and key stakeholders, we are sharing post-meeting messages to inform the steps taken towards advancing our profession and ensuring a financially stable association. The Board of Directors met on March 14, 2026 to review organizational performance, governance matters, and strategic priorities for the coming year. The Board’s key messages for the membership are as follows: Strong Association Performance in 2025 The Board reviewed the 2025 year-end financial statements and Q4 Management Discussion & Analysis. Key highlights include: 7,332 active members in 2025 (+409), a 6% year-over-year increase Student membership drove much of the growth, strengthening the profession’s long-term pipeline 76 professional development events delivered, reaching 7,000+ participants across Alberta 2025 CPHR Alberta Conference exceeded attendance targets with strong sponsor engagement 2026 conference outlook is strong, with sponsorship commitments nearing target levels The Board approved the 2025 audited financial statements, confirming the organization remains financially stable and well-positioned to support continued growth. Strengthening the Value of Recognition of the CPHR Designation The Board reviewed updates on thought leadership, marketing, and labour-market recognition of the designation. Key insights include that 52% of qualifying HR job postings now require or prefer a CPHR designation, demonstrating strong labour-market recognition. Strategic partnerships also continue to expand, including advancement in opportunities with the Academy to Innovate HR (AIHR). Marketing initiatives and industry engagement are focused on building awareness of the designation across employers and HR professionals. The Board remains focused on protecting and strengthening the credibility and value of the designation. Self-Regulation and Advocacy The Board discussed the current self-regulation review. Governance and Board Leadership The Board received updates from its committees and discussed key governance matters, including the Finance & Audit Committee’s oversight of audited financial statements and financial performance and the Governance Committee’s work on governance policy and board practices. The Human Resources Committee also provided updates on governance processes, including expressions of interest and board director voting results. The Board also reviewed board effectiveness practices, succession planning, and interest in the Vice-Chair role as part of ensuring strong leadership continuity. Looking Ahead The Board discussed priorities for the coming months, including: Preparation for the 2026 Annual General Meeting (May 7) Continued membership growth and engagement Delivering a successful 2026 CPHR Alberta Conference (June 2-3) The Board remains focused on supporting members, advancing the HR profession, and ensuring the organization remains strong and sustainable. The next Board meeting takes place in June 2026, after which we will again share our key messages. If you have any questions regarding these key messages or the Board of Directors, please contact chair@cphrab.ca . We welcome your feedback!

Mount Royal University Team Takes First Place at 2026 HRC West Case Competition

By Jessica Jaithoo • March 16, 2026
The 2026 HRC West Case Competition, hosted by CPHR BC & Yukon and CPHR Alberta, concluded with outstanding student performances from across British Columbia and Alberta, showcasing the next generation of human resource professionals. The first-place team, ThriveSpire from Mount Royal University’s Bissett School of Business (Alberta), consisting of Nicole Sivertson, Brooke Jenkins, Jam Roda, and Gabrielle Vadnais, secured the $1,500 grand prize for their winning case presentation. Second place was awarded to HRInnovate from Bow Valley College (Alberta), followed by HRmony Solutions from Acsenda School of Management (British Columbia) in third and Innocore from Douglas College (British Columbia) in fourth place. This year’s competition featured 16 teams from post-secondary business schools across BC and Alberta. The exceptional quality of presentations reflected the passion, innovation, and practical expertise students will bring to the human resources profession as they begin their careers. CPHR BC & Yukon and CPHR Alberta extend their sincere thanks to all participating students, coaches, and judges for their dedication and contributions to the success of the event. Special appreciation is also extended to KPU’s Melville School of Business for hosting the 2026 HRC West Case Competition. Plans are already underway for the 2027 HRC West Case Competition, which will take place at Mount Royal University in Alberta on March 5 and 6, 2027. For more information visit: https://cphrbc.ca/hrc-west About the HRC West Case Competition The HRC West Case Competition is an annual student competition organized and co-hosted by CPHR BC & Yukon and CPHR Alberta, bringing together post-secondary students from across Western Canada to apply human resource theory to real-world business challenges while fostering professional growth, collaboration, and industry readiness. About CPHR BC & Yukon CPHR BC & Yukon is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, advocacy, awareness, and professional development opportunities. Established in 1942, the association is the Voice of the HR Profession with a mandate to enhance the profession and advance member value. The organization provides leadership to more than 8,500 members and is both a founding member of the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of Canada (CPHR Canada) and the exclusive grantor of the Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation in British Columbia and the Yukon. www.cphrbc.ca Media Contact: Quinne Davey Senior  Member Relations Manager, CPHR BC & Yukon quinnedavey@cphrbc.ca 604-694-6943 www.cphrbc.ca
MORE NEWS