40th Anniversary

1979
The BCIT Alumni Association incorporates as a society.

1982
Volunteers produce the first Alumni Association newsletter, called BCIT Alumni News.

1985
Alumni are approached for the first general fundraising appeal, raising funds for the student aid endowment fund.

1986
BCIT Alumni Association and Pacific Vocational Institute Alumni Association merge.

‘Willingdon Club’ is created to give alumni members benefits and discounts, and to help fund Association activities.

1988
The Alumni Association’s Tower Group committee backs the BCIT Campus Centre project through fundraising and awareness campaigns.

1989
The Alumni Association Endowment Fund is established to support student scholarships and bursaries.

1991
The number of BCIT alumni reaches 25,000.

1992
The Alumni News becomes the Alumni Ambassador.

1994
BCIT begins planning for a new downtown campus.

The Pacific Marine Training Institute joins BCIT and becomes the BCIT Marine Campus.

1995
Legislation gives BCIT degree-granting status.

1996
BCIT introduces the Bachelor of Technology.

The Alumni Association introduces the Alumni Ambassador Club (forerunner to Alumni Card).

1998
The Alumni Association secures ongoing operational funding from BCIT administration.

1999
The Alumni Association launches its first website.

2000
The number of BCIT alumni reaches 70,000.

2001
BCIT becomes formally recognized as a polytechnic institution.

2002
The Alumni Association launches a more contemporary logo and a new tagline, “In Demand, Delivering Results.”

2003
The inaugural BCIT Distinguished Alumni Awards gala is held with 340 guests in attendance.

2004
The number of BCIT alumni reaches 100,000.

The Alumni Association Endowment Fund reaches $300,000.

The Alumni Association marks its 25th anniversary.

2006
The Alumni Association launches a welcome CD-ROM to be sent to students as they graduate.

BCIT launches a virtual classroom called the Graduate Learning Space for BCIT alumni.

2007
The Alumni Association Scholarship and Bursary Endowment Fund reaches $500,000.

2008
The Alumni Association hosts the first annual golf tournament in support of BCIT students.

BCIT Alumni Association creates its first social media presence with a profile on Facebook.

The number of BCIT alumni reaches 125,000.

2010
For the first time, alumni-related news from the paper-based BCIT Alumni Ambassador newsletter becomes available online on BCIT’s Update blog.

2011
The Alumni Association Scholarship and Bursary Endowment Fund grows to over $1 million, making it the largest endowment supporting BCIT students.

2012
The BCIT Alumni Association announces their commitment to donating $500,000, through the Legacy of Leadership, to BCIT in support of students.

Alumni-related news becomes available exclusively online on BCIT’s Update blog.

2014
BCIT celebrates 50 years, merging the Distinguished Alumni Awards with its anniversary gala, with 1,300 guests in attendance.

2015
The Alumni Association hosts a Speaker Series, featuring keynote speakers from business and industry.

2016
The Alumni Association engages with alumni in more than 29 countries on six continents.

2017
The Alumni Association launches the Past Presidents’ Council, to tap into the knowledge of past leaders.

2018
The Alumni Association celebrates donating a total of $1.3M to BCIT, funding more than 850 student scholarships and bursaries, and helping nearly 1,000 students.

The number of BCIT alumni reaches 180,000.

The Alumni Association Board of Directors adopts a new vision: A global community of passionate alumni promoting the excellence of BCIT. And a new mission: To foster alumni success, give back to our BCIT community, and engage alumni for life.

2019
The Alumni Association celebrates its 40th anniversary, with a commemorative logo and events, and a $40,000 donation to create the BCIT Alumni Association 40th Anniversary Entrance Awards.

The Alumni Association launches its first international chapter in Hong Kong.