Archive for November, 2015

UBC football’s No 1 booster is David Sidoo, a ‘Birds alum and member of the school’s 1982 Vanier Cup-winning team. (Photo by Bob Frid/UBC Athletics)

Anyone who knows David Sidoo will surely have heard of his incredible football career spanning from the UBC Thunderbirds to the CFL. The opportunities presented to David as part of the TBirds football program were life-changing and his dedication to and support of his alma mater team have been unwavering since.

Recently, The Province reporter, Howard Tsumura, wrote a lengthy blog piece that highlighted David’s support of the TBirds football program from a number of angles, including the 13^th Man Foundation, dreams of hosting the Vanier Cup, and the visions for the TBirds’ future.

In the past year, David has effected considerable change in the TBirds program, through his 13^th Man Foundation, including a huge injection of capital to make major improvements to Thunderbird Stadium, recruiting dynamic freshman quarterback Michael O’Connor (a former Penn State Redman), and successfully hiring wildly successful CIS coach Blake Nill to lead the team.

The change has been a success, as the TBirds are headed to Laval this weekend to battle Montreal in the final for the coveted Vanier Cup. As the TBird’s biggest supporter, David will be there, of course, cheering on his team.

“My stomach is totally wound up right now,” Sidoo said Monday as he prepared to leave for the Vanier Cup site in Laval later this week. “I am excited for the boys, the coaches. I am very emotional about it. It’s been such a transformation. I am so proud of Blake. I know they will represent us well.”

David surely won’t be the only one with a knotted stomach as game day draws nearer. As mentioned in the original article, David and the 13^th Man Foundation members have created a football town energy at UBC this season, so there are sure to be a legion of dedicated followers on the edge of their seats come game day.

Wishing the TBirds the very best success this weekend!

Read the full blog entry at The Province online here.

Once again, David Sidoo has been recognized for his philanthropic commitment and support in his community. Specifically, On November 17, 2015, Vancouver Magazine named David to its 15^th annual Vancouver Power 50 list. This is the second time that David has had the honour, the last being in 2012.

From Vanmag’s Power 50 2015 profiles Online:

47. David Sidoo
    Chair, East West Petroleum
    Age: 56 | 2012: #47Before he struck it rich in the oil business, David Sidoo was a football star at UBC. His love of the game—and of his alma mater—has been a constant through his career: as a CFL defensive back with Saskatchewan and the B.C. Lions, then as a partner at Yorkton Securities, and finally as an investment banker. His first big win, American Oil & Gas, made him wealthy when it was acquired by Hess.His success has allowed him to pursue philanthropy and return the support he received from coaches and friends when his sawmill-worker father died suddenly and he thought he’d have to drop out of university to help his family. His Sidoo Family Giving foundation funds everything from children’s breakfast programs to community scholarships.

    But the initiative closest to his heart is the football program at UBC, which was facing deep, perhaps mortal, cuts. Sidoo stepped up and put together a group of alumni to form the 13th Man Foundation. New corporate sponsorships, new facilities, a new coach, and new recruits have made the Thunderbirds a force once again. Which makes it only fitting that the turf at Thunderbird Stadium is now called David Sidoo Field.

Read more about this year’s nominees here and here.