Voyageur Magazine - February 2013

FEBRUARY 2013 A publication of the Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Corporate

02 / 2013

Partnership

Premier Sponsors

Executive Sponsors

Eric Kenso Ward, ISB Class of 1979

International School Bangkok Bringing out the superhero in each of us since 1951. www.isb.ac.th

Calendar

Calendar of events: 2012/2013 TCCC Executives Patron:

His Excellence Ambassador of Canada

Officers:

President – Peter van Haren Vice President – Derek van Pelt Vice President – John Casella Secretary – Dr. Tim Cornwall Treasurer – Michael Howard

Executive Board: Ali Fancy Derek van Pelt John Casella John Stevens Neil Chiu Michael Howard Peter van Haren Ron Livingston Scott Coates Sranyoo Chanate Dr. Tim Cornwall

Embassy Representative: Ping Kitnikone

Advisors:

Sean Brady Don Lavoie Geoff McIntyre Michael White Picharn Sukparangsee Raymond Bodemer Sam Cohen Surachit Chanovan

Executive Director: Randy Shockley

Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce 139 Pan Road, Sethiwan Tower 9th floor, Bangkok 10500 Tel: +66(0) 2266-6085-6 Fax: +66(0) 2266-6087 Email: info@tccc.or.th Website: www.tccc.or.th

The Voyageur is the monthly magazine of the Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce, covering all Thai-Canadian business, legal and social news of interest to the members and others who are active in expanding Thai-Canadian bilateral trade.

Editor: Randy Shockley, Executive Director, Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce Publisher: Scandinavian Publishing Co., Ltd. 211 Soi Prasert-Manukitch 29, Prasert-Manukitch Rd., Chorakeabua, Ladprao Bangkok 10230 Tel: +66(0) 2943-7166-8 Fax: +66(0) 2943-7169 Design: Disraporn Yatprom Email: disraporn@scandmedia.com Advertising Contact: Mr. Finn Balslev, Marketing Director Scandinavian Publishing Co., Ltd. Tel: +66(0) 2943-7166 ext.116 or 08-1866-2577 Email: finn@scandmedia.com

TCCC

WHEN: WHAT: WHERE: PRICE:

Wednesday, February 27, 2013; 10:30 pm to 11:45 am 23rd TCCC Annual General Meeting (AGM) Grand Millennium Sukhumvit Hotel (Asoke Rd) No Charge (TCCC annual business meeting & board election)

WHEN: WHAT:

Wednesday, February 27, 2013; Noon – 1:45 pm AGM Speaker Luncheon: Dr. Somram Watanachote, Executive Secretary of the People Eye Care Foundation (PECF) will discuss the TCCC’s “I For An Eye” charity initiative and PECF’s focus.

Grand Millennium Sukhumvit Hotel (Asoke Rd) 800 baht – Members; 900 baht – Non Members

WHERE: PRICE: WHEN: WHAT: WHERE: PRICE:

Saturday, March 2, 2013 - Noon to 8:00 pm Sunday March 3, 2013 - 10:00 am to 8:00 pm 45th Annual Diplomatic Red Cross Bazaar: Co-organized by the diplomatic community and the Thai Red Cross Society, selling a wide range of signature products from over 50 embassies in Thailand Royal Paragon Hall - 5th floor of Siam Paragon 50 baht entry fee

WHEN: WHAT: WHERE: PRICE:

Wednesday, March 20, 2013; 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Canuck Connections - “Meet the New Board Night” Bar Su - Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Hotel 200 baht – Members & Non Members. Beer & wine compliments of the TCCC (while supplies last).

WHEN: WHAT:

Monday, April 13 & Tuesday, April 16,2013 Songkran (Thai New Year & National Holiday)

Upcoming events in the region:

CCBA

Hong Kong: http://www.cancham.org WHEN: March 06, 2013 WHAT: 2013/2014 Hong Kong Budget - An Analysis from the Tax Perspective WHERE: The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong PRICE: HK$150 for members and HK$250 for non-members Hong Kong: http://www.cancham.org WHEN: March 14, 2013 WHAT: Food for thought: Investment opportunities in Mainland China's food & agribusiness sector WHERE: The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong Price: HK$150 for members and HK$250 for non-members

The 46th Diplomatic Red Cross Bazaar Saturday, March 2 & Sunday, March 3, 2013 Siam Paragon

Make sure you join the Embassy of Canada and the Thai Canadian Chamber of Commerce at this year’s Diplomatic Red Cross Bazaar as we jointly promote Canadian products at this event. The fair is open to the public from 10 am to 8 pm on Saturday, and 10 am - 8 pm on Sunday. The entrance ticket is only 50 Baht and includes an entry into the bazaar’s lucky draw.

The fair features a wide range of signature products from over 50 embassies, stage shows (including mini concerts), raffle draw with big prizes (air tickets, hotel stay vouchers, etc), fun games and many other activities. Proceeds donated by the participating foreign embassies and companies will be used to support charitable projects run by the Thai Red Cross Society.

Last year’s 2-day event attracted over 40,000 eager shoppers to Paragon with 54 embassies offering products and food for sale.

TCCC News

LOCATION

LOCATION

LOCATION

A

lberta, the oil-rich western Canadian province, and its neighbour Saskatchewan combined with the Canadian Dollar are safe havens for investors. The demographics of Alberta and Saskatchewan are the envy of the world. The area has affordable housing and a rising population alongside a dropping unemployment rate. Retail sales are growing faster than the area’s population, inflation is low and economists project the region will add 600,000 new jobs in the next decade to a population of 4 million. Where else in the developed world are things better than this? No where!

A low-risk, relatively high-reward investment opportunity takes advantage of the booming Western Canadian economy and its knockon effects in a commercial real estate sector that rivals anything in the developed world.

Redev Properties is not about speculating.

It is about benefiting from the stability of existing, well-located prime commercial real estate in rapidly growing areas. The model captures positive trends in both the Canadian economy and the stability of commercial real estate, typically offering

Today’s turbulent global economy has left many investors unsure where to turn. Most residential real estate markets have flat-lined, while many stock exchanges are experiencing their worst performance in years, bond yields and bank interest at record lows.

However, Alberta and Saskatchewan are two provinces where the economy continues to boom.

five-year fixed rate mortgages and five- to 10 year escalating leases with established names.

The global recession has had little impact on Western Canada , which is in the midst of a resources boom thanks to its rich deposits of oil, gas, agricultural land, potash, diamonds and uranium. Conventional oil and gas reserves cover half of Alberta , and technological innovations in the past decade are now opening up the rich oil sands deposits and well as the Bakken shale oil in Saskatchewan . The world’s largest energy companies, including Total SA,Sinopec and CNNOC have made massive investments in the area, with the goal of helping Alberta double its oil production by 2018.

Investors living in Asia may wonder how they can access this strong pocket of growth. Enter Redev Properties (www. redevproperties.com), which offers a lowrisk, high-reward investment opportunity.

With a track record back to 1981, REDEV Properties offers investors the chance to become a part-owner in existing prime commercial real estate in growing Canadian cities. Redev helps to maximize the revenue potential of the shopping plaza in various ways. Investment horizons are four to seven years, when each property is usually sold or refinanced, distributing substantial profits to its investors.

In its 32 years of operation, the Redev founders have developed more than 11,000 residential units and helped more than 5,000 investors become part-owners in 30 plazas in Canada since 2001. Two-thirds of its investors are Canadian residents, many of whom live near the plazas, which speaks highly for their location and value. The model offers investors immediate and continuous cash flow and significant capital gains.

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provides a hedge against inflation that is more established than residential real estate and less volatile than stock markets.

However, commercial real estate is often difficult or impossible for investors to access on their own. Redev provides investors easy access to this low-risk, high-return investment opportunity at an affordable entry level. With the uncertainties today in the global economy, isn’t it time to move into a safe investment, and sit back and watch the returns accumulate in your bank account, wherever that may be.

Call Hong Kong (852) 2815 9131, or visit www.redevproperties.com, or email: infocanada@redevproperties.com for more information.

Investors pay relatively low tax when sold and benefit from Canada’s strict commercial law.

Canada’s resource boom has spurred growth in other sectors of the economy, and retail space is in short supply. Canada has about half of the retail space per capital than the US , and retail demand continues to soar in Canada . This is especially true in Alberta and Saskatchewan, where residents have the highest disposable incomes in Canada and the lowest unemployment rate.

Rising demand for retail space in Canada keeps occupancy rates high – occupancy rates have remained consistently above 95% since 2003, according to international research consultancy Colliers – which puts upward pressure on rental rates.

Rents are still relatively low in Alberta and Saskatchewan, providing plenty of space for future increases in rent and capital value.

Canadian commercial real estate offers investors a safe haven in today’s turbulent global economy. Commercial real estate February 2013

5

TCCC News

RIGHT

TO PLAY

‘‘Look after yourself, look after one another”

R

ight To Play is an international non governmental organization (INGO) based in Canada that uses sport and play programs to improve health, develop life skills, and encourage social and emotional development of children and youth in the world’s most disadvantaged communities.

Right To Play Thailand Foundation, registered in Thailand, implements programs in Thailand using sport and play as an innovative and dynamic learning tool within a comprehensive and holistic approach to children and youth education and development.

WHAT "RIGHT TO PLAY" DOES

Right To Play’s programs promote the physical, cognitive, social and emotional development of children, and are an effective way to teach important values and life skills. Working with our partners, funders and local communities, Right To Play designs every program to meet identified community needs.

To foster longterm sustainability, R i g h t To Play works with local volunteers and teachers to implement its programs, focusing on four strategic areas: basic education and child development; health promotion and disease prevention; conflict resolution and peace education; and community development and participation.

In Thailand, Right To Play is working with 36 Thai schools across the country to improve the quality of education by addressing key life skills issues. With a specific focus on life skills education using play and sport based learning activities.

Right To Play’s program supports holistic child development through the formal school system in Thailand. The program improves the quality of childcentered education, integrating life skills education into the classroom and the national curriculum.

Right To Play also works in three juvenile training centers across the country, offering Thai youth leadership and team building opportunities both practical skills for

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rehabilitation. Right To Play works closely with the Royal Thai Ministry of Justice, the Royal Thai Ministry of Education, Education Service Area Offices, teachers, UNICEF, and other stakeholders to support child-centered learning, reaching over 6,500 children on a regular basis, through over 300 trained Right To Play Teachers.

Right To Play also has a large program working with displaced persons from Burma living in refugee camps in Thailand. The program trains refugee community members who provide children living in this protracted refugee situation with a sense of normalcy as they deliver a holistic child development activities.

Right To Play is currently working in 7 of the 9 camps on the Thai/Burma border, partnering with community groups and 53 refugee schools, reaching over 35,000 children on a regular basis, through over 600 trained Right To Play Leaders.

HOW RTP OPERATES

Right To Play has a unique delivery model. A global and national team train local volunteers and teachers who then create a foundation in their community for longterm Sport for Development programs that promote individual and community growth and development.

Right To Play empowers teachers and volunteer community members to deliver childcentered participatory learning using play and sport based activities. These methods used by Right To Play allow teachers and community volunteers to use the power of sport and play to teach children valuable life skills such as managing emotions, developing healthy relationships, creative problem solving and valuing oneself and others.

Right To Play’s work offers children affected by conflict opportunities for developing conflict resolution skills, troubled youth are given opportunities for leadership, and children across the country are given opportunities for learning valuable life skills.

A key aspect of Right To Play’s innovative methodology is the Experiential Learning

Cycle, which is a teaching/learning strategy that guides learners through a threestep process following an activity:

REFLECT The learner considers: What did I just experience? Young children are taught the vocabulary to share their ideas and feelings and to respect the ideas and feelings of their peers.

CONNECT The learner considers: How does this experience relate to earlier ones?

How does it connect to what I already know, believe or feel? Does it reinforce or expand my view?

APPLY The learner considers: How can I use what I have learned from this experience?

How can I use it in similar situations? How can I use this learning to benefit myself, my community?

RIGHT TO PLAY VALUES

• Cooperation (we put teamwork and fair play first) • Hope (we help make dreams possible) • Integrity (our actions reflect our values, vision and mission) • Leadership (we teach leadership by demonstrating it in our communities) • Dedication (we are dedicated to working with our communities) • Respect (we respect each other) • Enthusiasm (we have fun) • Nurture (we encourage each other with positive feedback)

TCCC News and teachers as programmatic leaders and change agents facilitates appropriate, replicable and adaptable activities by localizing ownership of program implementation.

Furthermore, it fosters intergenerational communication and thus lays a foundation for sustainable change Engagement Space: Right To Play often works in formal educational environments and in many cases Right To Play’s programming is incorporated into national or local curricula. In other programs, Right To Play activities occur outside of the formal school day, but the school grounds are used as a convening center for activities. Work in informal educational environments, such as refugee camps and health centers, enables Right To Play to reach particularly marginalized children and youth, and to foster greater demand for formal educational services.

RTP’s GLOBAL REACH

SPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE

Sport for Development and Peace evolved from a growing body of evidence demonstrating that well designed sportbased initiative incorporating the best values of sport can be powerful, practical and cost effective tools to achieve development and peace objectives.

Sport is now recognized by many international experts in the fields of development, education, health, sport, economics and conflict resolution as a simple means of achieving a diverse range of development goals.

Sport and play activities represent a powerful participatory learning tool, which readily captivates a variety of stakeholders, notably children and youth themselves. In addition to the provision of physical benefits, sport and play programs actively engage children and youth in their own development as the primary agents of change for future generations. Through our sport and play programs, we believe we can empower children and communities to look after themselves and each other. In everything we do, we emphasize the best values of optimism, respect, compassion, courage, leadership, inspiration and joy.

As a not for profit nongovernment organization, Right To Play Thailand’s work would not be possible without the generous support from its donors including the many individuals and organizations that have made contributions to Right To Play, including: DKSH

Holding Limited, EFG Bank employees, and the following foundations: Wietlisbach Foundation, Frey Foundation, and the Alexander Charles Foundation.

RIGHT TO PLAY'S METHODOLOG

Pedagogy: The methodology of using sport and play as convening agents and tools through which preventative health education, life skills development and child-centered learning can take place is a critical element of the Right To Play approach. Right To Play’s methodology is based on the work of educationalists such as Freire, Brown, Piaget, Bransford and others, all of which cumulatively support the concept of an educational process that is active, relevant, reflective, collaborative and applied. Action-oriented learning occurs through activity based lessons that have physical, cognitive, social and emotional foci.

Human Resources: The program delivery model relies on local community members, be they teachers or local NGO/CBO partner affiliates, to help carry out program implementation. The high ratio of school and community-based implementers, to full time staff enables program activities to be managed by community actors with broad oversight and technical support from staff members. Right To Play staff-led trainings of trainers support the professional development of these local partners. The Right To Play delivery model of engaging community members, coaches

Almost 700,000 children were reached in regular weekly activity in all Right To Play programs by the end of 2011. In addition, almost 600,000 children participated in festivals, summer camps and other activity that is less than twice per week. In Thailand, Right To Play is presently reaching over 45,000 children and youth on a regular basis.

These activities were facilitated by nearly 12,000 local Coaches, leaders and teachers and more than 5,000 Junior Leaders. Participation of girls and women in our programs remained high throughout 2011. Almost 50 per cent of children participating were girls and more than 50 per cent of Coaches, leaders and teachers were female.

Michael Albert, Country Manager, Right To Play Thailand Foundation

A

graduate from McGill University in Montreal and a native of Canada, Michael Albert holds a Masters degree in International Community Health from the University of Oslo in Norway. Michael has worked in a variety of international aid and development countries including Bangladesh, Mali, Malaysia, Azerbaijan, Liberia, Haiti and Thailand.

As the Country Manager for Right To Play Thailand Foundation, Michael provides leadership and takes strategic and operational responsibility for delivering Right To Play Thailand’s diverse program, including using sport and play to provide education programming to refugees living in temporary shelters along Thailand’s border with Burma/Myanmar, as well as its Life Skills Development Program Program that uses Activity Based Learning to provide a more holistic approach to student education in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Justice in Thailand.

Michael is presently the Chairperson for the Committee for Coordination of Services to Displaced Persons in Thailand (CCSDPT) and an active contributor to efforts to improve and enhance education for all in Thailand. www.righttoplay.com (Tel: +66 (0) 2740 3520, malbert@righttoplay.com)

February 2013

7

Member Profile

The British Club:

Silom’s Oasis Bangkok’s British Club has long been called a green oasis in the heart of the city. It’s also been a favourite haunt for many TCCC members over the years as everything from Canada Day to TCCC networking nights have been staged there.

And it’s the only place that stages regular ball hockey matches in the city (held every Saturday on the new court, at the back of the clubhouse.)

T

he British Club is 108 years old, its clubhouse a century old. The land was originally a gift from the Thai crown to the British Community, and funny enough, although today the Club is located in the heart of Silom Road in downtown Bangkok, back then the Club was considered to be in the boonies.

In 1919, the Club doubled its size by purchasing the Siam Electricity Company’s Tennis Club directly across from the clubhouse. That land is now home to a 25 metre-swimming pool, a children’s pool and play area, 4 floodlit tennis courts, 3 squash courts, a fitness centre, a sports shop and massage service.

It’s also home to the Suriwongse Sala, next to the tennis courts, and the Silom Sala, next to the children’s pool. Both salas offer Thai, British and international food as well a range of beers, soft drinks and ice cream.

The Suriwongse Sala also houses a small publications shop to buy weekly magazines, etc. Both salas have a TV screen to show sports and as with the entire Club they are wired up for Wi-Fi. Ironically, though the British Club is host to so many activities what it might be best known for is its food and catering, both on and off premises. There’s also an exquisite fine dining menu with a focus on Mediterranean fusion cuisine. And there’s an extensive selection of Thai cuisine, which makes up about 30% of the BC menu. And it’s not just Royal cuisine, but food from the four main regions in Thailand.

The Verandah is the BC’s casual bar & restaurant. It opens on to the back lawn, and is a great spot for families to dine. It features

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regular buffets, carveries and themed food nights for members’ enjoyment. There is an extensive cocktail and wine list available, including the BC’s six house wines. The Verandah also hosts a media bar, which sees weekly delivery of The Globe & Mail.

The Churchill Bar provides members with an authentic English pub atmosphere.

It includes a central horseshoe bar as well as cozy sofas and table seating for groups or couples. The bar boasts six draught beers plus a wide range of whiskies and variety of other spirits. British pub fare, like bangers and mash, is the bar’s strength but you can also order international and Thai food as well dishes directly from the grill. A “daily special” is displayed on a blackboard in the bar together with this month’s recommendations from the BC’s executive chef.

The Club’s professional catering service for members offers a wide variety of menus for office parties, home parties, barbecues, Christmas parties, etc. The BC delivers everything: food, drink, tables, carvery as required, and its staff can provide waiting service if required.

In the early days, Thais weren’t allowed membership into the British Club, but times have changed, membership is now open to all nationalities, but there is a screening system, which entails sponsorship from two active club members. But what hasn’t changed is that the club is still geared to expats and the lingua franca is English. So the Thais that do join tend to be very Westernized, or have spent time studying, working or living in the West for an extended period of time. There are approximately 1,200 members from 40 countries.

The Club stages wine tastings, quiz nights, poolside BBQs, movie, comedy and music nights as well as author nights. Balut (dice games) and bridge games every Sunday are also regular features. Other events include a Children’s Christmas ball (No Parents allowed), the Children’s Christmas party, Fireworks Night, Loy Krathong evening, and the New Year’s dinner cruise. The BC also celebrates the four patron saint days in the UK (St. Andrew, St. David, St. George & St. Patrick). In total, it holds over 150 special buffets and parties over a calendar year, the biggest being its Guy Fawkes Day celebration.

The British Club acts as a de facto community center. For an expat family new to Thailand, it’s a perfect way to make friends and social contacts. And the Club can meet the needs of the whole family, e.g., if mom and dad want to get in a game of tennis, the kids can go swimming. Another benefit of British Club membership is it allows you access to 158 similar member clubs all over the world.

There’s also a snooker room and three function rooms all with full audio and visual facilities including a big screen TV with satellite channels. And the Club’s office can provide services in much the same as that of a business centre in a hotel can.

Sports wise there’s tennis, squash, badminton, swimming, aqua aerobics, yoga, cricket, rugby, ball hockey - no lack of activities to take part in. There’s even the occasional croquet game.

The Club has its own fitness trainer, who can put you through the paces and give you a personal training regimen as well as put

Member Profile

you on a fitball course. There’s swimming lessons for both adults and children. There’s even circuit training, Thai boxing lessons and Thai massage as well. The Fitness Centre is open to anyone over 14.

The Club is open from 6am-11pm every day and only shuts down for one day a year for the staff party.

The Club provides a relaxed and friendly atmosphere for a wide range of sporting and social activities for the whole family, while remaining a popular venue for a business lunch or convivial drink.

Snippets of BC History The British Club Bangkok was founded on 23rd April (St.George’s Day) 1903 by a small group of British businessmen and diplomatic civil servants, in order to create a social club in the style enjoyed by their peers in the British Colonies throughout Asia.

The founding fathers, as it was solely a male preserve, were drawn from the British Diplomatic Mission and various companies like The Borneo Company, Louis T. Leonowens, The Anglo-Thai Company and Tilleke & Gibbins, the latter of which would play a significant role in the later years of club history as well. It was initially set up as a debenture membership and was restricted only to the directors and senior managers of those companies, other minions only allowed in as guests.

British interests in Siam and thus those of the club were cut short in December 1941 when the Japanese invaded Siam and The British Club Bangkok ceased operation until 1946. The Club was turned into an Officer’s mess and those members who had been

unable to escape were interned in one of a number of camps set up in and around Bangkok.

Although British and US bombers did bomb Bangkok, there was no report of the club ever being hit, however the departing army in 1945 did excessive damage to the fabric of the property. The Club was lucky in one aspect; its two land leases were mortgaged to the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank thus survived the war and enabled The Club to eventually claim back the property afterward.

After the end of the Second World War, there was some local confusion over the ownership of premises, which was initially given to the YMCA. It took a number of months but eventually one Brigadier Victor Jacques obtained the leases from the bank and ownership was restored.

Victor Jacques was a retired military man from the First World War who was a partner at Tilleke & Gibbins. At the start of the war in Asia he rejoined the British Army in India and was attached to the Free Thai Movement. After the liberation of Bangkok, he became British Commander here and then rejoined Tilleke & Gibbins. Upon returning to civilian life he called together as many past club members as he could and set about re-establishing it. He also wrote the first post-war Constitution, served as Chairman until 1947 and set the club on track to its first century. As part of the War reparations paid by the Siam Ministry of the Interior to the Club, the Club imported two Billiards tables made by Mssrs W. Jelks & Son of Holloway, London for the grand cost of £528 5s 6d.

The club has always been conscious

of its being part of the greater community within Bangkok thus in 1948 The British Club Bangkok was the major organizer of a Joint Charity Fair for British, US, Dutch and Scandinavian residents to raise funds of Thai causes. This event was held frequently over the next decade and became known as The Ploenchit Fair when in 1957 it moved to its second home of the British Embassy grounds in Withayu Road. The Ploenchit Fair continues to this day but, sadly, no longer in the Embassy Grounds, which have themselves been largely sold off.

The club membership was also changing: the club was refounded after the war with only four nationalities allowed membership – the core nationalities of British, Australian, New Zealand and Canadian. In the seventies, this was changed to allow a limited number of other nationalities to join as Associate members. In addition, the eighties saw women being allowed to have membership in their own right and children became an everyday part of the club – the days of the British male bastion were gone, forever!

In 2005, the Club saw the election of a woman as the Club’s chairman – the first in 102 years – something the founders would never have envisaged in their just post Victorian world – and in 2007 the BC elected its first Australian chairman.

(For more history on the British Club, see its Centenary Book, which was written by local author and club member, John Hoskins.

It not only covers the first 100 years of the club’s history but also takes a look at British interests in Siam since the early traders landed here in 1612.)

February 2013

11

Community News

Ball Hockey is here!

By John Stevens

T

he Thai Stix invite all newcomers to play ball hockey as well as any seasoned veterans who haven’t been out in a while.

For the uninitiated, ball hockey is modeled on North American ice hockey, rather than field or grass hockey. A larger ice hockey style stick is used and the sport’s traditional orange ball is permitted to be handled on either side of the left or right handed stick.

While dangerous play is not allowed, ball hockey is naturally a physical game – so the squeamish need not apply.

Ball hockey (or road hockey), while a mainstay in Canada and popular in certain parts of the United States and Europe, is not a well known sport in Asia. However, this is beginning to change. Leagues in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Cambodia have sprung up in recent years, invariably sired by a Canadian expat.

Annual regional tournaments are now held in many locations – with the granddaddy of them all, “The Mekong Cup” taking place annually in Phuket. Now entering its 19th year, The Mekong Cup is hosted by the Thai Stix Ball Hockey Club - the touring squad selected from The British Club Ball Hockey Section.

Ball hockey is played most Saturdays, barring rain, on the multipurpose court located on the back lawn of The British Club starting at 3.45pm.

If you are interested to join please send an email to bkkballhockey@gmail.com so that you can be added to the weekly ball hockey communiqué. A good pair of running shoes, shorts and t-shirt is all that’s needed as sticks and other equipment for goalies is available at the club. Those with field hockey or indoor football experience quickly get the hang of ball hockey - so come on out and give it a try!

Contact: John Stevens bkkballhockey@gmail.com

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Trouble around the net…

The Thai Stix in a tight match against the dreaded Hong Kong Islanders

The Golden Years

NIST Work Experience Program

TCCC Companies: Can You Help?

The NIST Work Experience Week for Year 11 students will take place from Monday, June 3 to Friday, June 7, 2013.

T

his programme is designed to offer students the opportunity to gain a broader understanding of the world of work as part of their education. It has been a very successful and rewarding experience for students in the past, thanks to the willingness of employers in the NIST and wider Bangkok community to open their doors to our students.

This year, we have 102 students to place and so we are asking for your help in providing them with interesting, enjoyable and challenging work placements.

If you are able to offer a work placement to a NIST student, please contact: Khun Thongkorn (thongkornp@nist.ac.th phone: 02 651 2065, ext. 207). We will then provide you with further details.

If you are unable to offer a placement yourself, but have contacts in the wider community who might be interested in supporting such a valuable programme, please encourage them to contact us.

If you have not participated in the NIST Work Experience programme before and would like a little more information before volunteering, please continue reading!

NIST Work Experience Essentials

• We are seeking jobs for students at entry level positions in a wide variety of fields, in-

cluding media & journalism, law, medicine & health, hotel management, hospitality & catering, engineering, architecture & interior design, product design, fashion design & retailing, marketing & public relations, teaching, fitness & sport, information technology, banking & finance, diplomacy…and many more!

• Generally it is preferable to place a minimum of two students per work place.

Some organizations have taken larger numbers if they can be accommodated.

We match students to companies or organizations as carefully as possible.

• It is not usual for students to be paid for their week, although some students have returned to companies for summer internships on a paid basis.

• All participating organizations will be sent a copy of the “NIST Work Experience”

Manual which outlines the school’s expectations of the students and provides some ideas which can be useful to employers in guiding the students successfully through the week. Many employers have provided students with a specific assignment that they must complete during the course of the week. Writing an article, designing a room, developing a software programme, designing a new publicity poster are some of the assignments that have kept our students fully engaged.

• NIST will arrange full insurance for the students whilst they are placed with their employers.

If you can help, have any queries or suggestions please contact Khun Thongkorn (details provided above) as soon as possible.

Many Thanks.

Kind regards, Joachim Ekstrom, Secondary Counselor 36 Sukhumvit 15, Bangkok 10110 Thailand Tel (Intl): +66-2651-2065 Ext. 353 Fax: +66-2253-3800 Tel (Thai): 0-2651-2065 Ext. 353 Fax: 0-2253-3800 Email: jekstrom@nist.ac.th Web: www.nist.ac.th

February 2013

13

TCCC News

Study and Go Abroad fair, now in its 18th year, is one of Canada's leading study and experiential learning events, The Spring fair - in Montreal - brings to your doorstep an exciting range of programs; from academic programs at top ranking universities overseas to opportunities to volunteer and work abroad. Ever considered learning a language overseas this summer? How about taking a gap year or career break?

Come and meet with the experts and find the best option for you.

Visitors' Profile High school and university students looking to continue their studies either at home or overseas; young professionals looking to retrain; educators at all levels; anyone interested in learning a language, internships, work abroad, volunteering or adventure travel.

Exhibitors' Profile Universities, community and vocation colleges from Canada and from overseas; companies offering work and volunteer programs overseas; gap year and career-break specialiasts; linguistic stays; summer camps, internships and adventure travel.

A TCCC Member’s New Journey Dear Friends, A few months back, we decided on a great personal challenge to start the new year which would also represent our personal commitment to make a greater contribution to children in need. Supporting education projects in Africa has been important to me in ensuring the ability to create sustainable opportunities for the next generation in Africa.

For myself, it started a few years back in supporting the Mandela Foundation; now it is around a specific school to ensure it continues to provide the foundational requirement for development and opportunity of young children.

I am very excited and privileged to be doing this with like minded individuals as it pertains to our vision for Africa. You can get more information on our cause by connecting to the below link. http://www.justgiving.com/Brian-Barry -Martin-Warrick-Youssef Thank you for your support and thoughts as we embark on this wonderful journey.

Sincerely, Martin Parent

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Air Canada Plans International Expansion with Focus on Key Gateways to Asia

M

ontreal-based Air Canada announced an expansion of its international services.

The expansion includes a new non-stop route between Toronto and Seoul beginning June 2, 2013; additional weekly departures from Toronto and Vancouver to Beijing beginning June 1, 2013 Air Canada will also be upgrading its Calgary-Tokyo Narita route to provide daily service as of May 1, 2014.

Source: Air Canada Press Release

You are invited to our

-XQJOH 3LFQLF Saturday 9th March 2013 The fun starts at10.00am and finishes at 1.00pm

Free Shuttle Bus to and from the MRT at the Thailand Cultural Centre, Exit 2.

Reserve your tickets today! Visit our KIS Facebook page for reservations and event schedule: http://www.facebook.com/kisinternationalschool Email: kim@kis.ac.th

Address: 999/124 Kesinee Ville, Pracha rach ha U Utit tit R Road, oad d, Huay Kwang, Bangkok 10320 For directions go to: www.kis.ac.th