Athletics and Recreation Vancouver

Thunderbird student athletes have long been a source of pride for the University of British Columbia, combining unmatched academic and athletic excellence to produce some our community’s finest citizens. UBC has now won 90 championships in CIS competition, the most of any school in Canada, thanks in part to your support of the Thunderbird programs.

Success in the classroom and in competition requires the support of the entire UBC community. In 2013, UBC had 138 Academic All-Canadians – those student-athletes who achieved more than an 80% average in a full course load while being a member of varsity team – one of the highest number of Academic All-Canadians in the country.

Find a Fund:

Priority Funds

Bob Hindmarch Award
Blue and Gold Women’s Varsity Endowment Award

Department Priority Funds

Baseball +

The Starting 9 - Baseball
T-Bird Baseball Fund
Thunderbird Baseball Award Endowment

Basketball (Men's) +

T-Bird Men's Basketball Fund
T-Bird Men's Basketball Award Fund
Bird Backer - Men's Basketball

Basketball (Women's) +

6th Woman - UBC Women's Basketball
T-Bird Women's Basketball Award Fund
T-Bird Women's Basketball Fund

Field Hockey (Men's) +

Bird Backer - Men's Field Hockey
T-Bird M Field Hockey Award Fund
T-Bird Men's Field Hockey Fund

Field Hockey (Women's) +

Women's Field Hockey Short Corner Club
T-Bird Women's Field Hockey Award Fund
T-Bird Women's Field Hockey Endowment

Football +

UBC Football Champions Fund for Athlete Excellence
Bird Backer - Football
Frank and Casey Smith Football Endowment Fund

Golf +

Bird Backer - Golf
T-Bird Golf Award Fund
Thunderbird Golf Society Endowment

Hockey (Men's) +

UBC Men's Hockey Power Play Fund
T-Bird Men's Hockey Award Fund
Father David Bauer Memorial Hockey Scholarship

Hockey (Women's) +

Bird Backer - Women's Hockey
T-Bird Women's Hockey Award
Old Birds Women's Ice Hockey Endowment

Rowing +

Power 10 Fund - Rowing
Rowing Alumni Scholarship
Frank Read Thunderbird Rowing Award

Rugby (Men's) +

Thunderbird Rugby Thunderrenewal Fund
Thunderbird Men's Rugby Award Fund
Thunderbird Men's Rugby Endowment

Rugby (Women's) +

T-Bird Women's Rugby Fund
Maria Gallo Women’s Rugby Award

Soccer (Men's) +

Bird Backer - Men's Soccer
T-Bird Men's Soccer Award Fund
Josef Molnar Memorial Men's Soccer Award

Soccer (Women's) +

Bird Backer - Women's Soccer
T-Bird Women's Soccer Award Fund

Softball +

T-Bird Softball Fund
T-Bird Softball Award Fund
Thunderbird Women’s Softball Award Endowment

Swimming +

Thunderbird Swimming Endowment
Thunderbird Swimming Award
Thunderbird Swimming Excellence Fund

Track & Field/Cross Country +

Bird Backer - Track and Field Cross Country
T-Bird Track & Field and Cross Country Award Fund
Thunderbird Track and Field Endowment

Volleyball (Men's) +

Bird Backer - Men's Volleyball
Men's Volleyball Legacy of Excellence Fund
Thunderbird Men's Volleyball Award

Volleyball (Women's) +

Bird Backer - Women's Volleyball
Sandy Silver Volleyball Award
Rick Hansen Difference Maker Award in Women's Volleyball

Recreation Priority Funds +

UBC Intramurals Fund
Nestor Korchinsky Recreation Award

Projects and Success Stories:

  • Priority Project

    Bird Backer Banner

    Thunderbirds Sports Club

    UBC Thunderbirds Sport Clubs (UBC TSC) within the Department of Athletics and Recreation, is a competitive club sport program that features eleven sports, and over 300 student athletes. Launched in 2015, these student-led sport teams compete in non-CIS/NAIA level competition across Canada and the United States, some even going as far as Europe. more

  • Priority Project

    UBC Varsity Weight Room

    The Varsity Weight Room

    The UBC High Performance Support Fund supports the efforts of our Strength and Conditioning team. Your gift will provide scholarships for Student Coaches and Graduate Assistant Coaches in the field more

    Student Learning

  • Priority Project

    UBC Varsity Baseball team on the field

    Support The Starting 9

    The Starting 9 Fund supports UBC Thunderbirds Baseball, one of the top collegiate programs in North America. Your gift will provide scholarships, awards, and academic support for players. It will more

  • Priority Project

    UBC Varsity Women's Soccer Team

    Starting XI

    For a soccer team to succeed on the field, each member of the starting 11 must work together and follow the game plan. When each member of a united team more

  • Priority Project

    The Lane 4 Club

    The Lane 4 Club

    As a member of the Lane 4 Club, your generosity will help sustain excellence over the long term, benefiting the swimming program directly by providing ongoing support towards coaching, scholarship more

    Community Engagement, Student Learning

  • Priority Project

    100 Years of Impact: Mapping Donor Support

    100 Years of Impact: Mapping Donor Support

    If you take a walk around our campus, you will see the impact of our supporters everywhere. Click on the points below to find out more—where will you make a more

    Community Engagement, Research Excellence, Student Learning

  • Priority Project

    Short Corner Club photos

    Join the Short Corner Club and Support UBC Women’s Field Hockey

    The UBC Women’s Field Hockey “Short Corner Club” is a new avenue for alumni, friends and supporters to be part of the Thunderbird Women’s Field Hockey program and help drive more

  • Priority Project

    Frank Read and UBC Rowing

    Honouring a Legend: the Frank Read Endowment

    On June 17, 2015 Frank Read, a Canadian athletics pioneer and celebrated UBC rowing coach, was inducted into the Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. Gold for Life, a group of more

  • Priority Project

    POWER 10 Club

    POWER 10 Club

    A “Power 10” has always been a call to action in rowing. The Power 10 Club is a monthly giving program that is an easy way for alumni and friends more

  • Priority Project

    UBC Women's Volleyball players

    The Rick Hansen Difference Maker Award in Women’s Volleyball

    The Rick Hansen Difference Maker Award in Women’s Volleyball recognizes individuals as leaders within the women’s volleyball team and as contributing members of the UBC community. The more

  • Priority Project

    UBC Men’s Volleyball - Legacy of Excellence Fund

    UBC Men’s Volleyball – Legacy of Excellence Fund

    The UBC Men’s Volleyball Legacy of Excellence Fund supports Men’s Volleyball in its pursuit of winning National Championships and its continued establishment as a top program in the country. The more

    Community Engagement

  • Priority Project

    UBC Women's Ice Hockey team

    Support Thunderbirds Women’s Hockey – Canada West Champions

    In 2014, the Thunderbirds women’s team celebrates 100 years of hockey at UBC. It comes at a time of unprecedented success for the team, having won the 2012-13 Canada West more

    Community Engagement

Contact Us

Point Grey Campus:

Sarah Barclay
Director of Development
Tel: 604.822.9959
Email: sarah.barclay@ubc.ca

Gareth Bowley
Program Manager
Tel: 604.822.1972
Email: gareth.bowley@ubc.ca

Brigitte Scholte
Development Coordinator
Tel: 604.822.6183
Email: brigitte.scholte@ubc.ca

Gareth Saunders
Development Coordinator
Tel: 604.827.2490
Email: gareth.saunders@ubc.ca

RSS University of British Columbia Athletics

  • T-Birds fall to Dinos in straight sets February 15, 2019
    CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos clinched at least second place in the Canada West standings on the penultimate day of the regular season with a straight-sets win (25-19, 25-18, 25-20) over the UBC Thunderbirds Friday afternoon in the Jack Simpson Gym.
  • Hometown hero Matt Neaves' career-high 21 kills help UBC clinch playoff spot February 15, 2019
    It was very much a playoff atmosphere at the Jack Simpson Gym Friday afternoon, as the UBC Thunderbirds defeated the host Calgary Dinos in a five-set thriller (22-25, 28-26, 18-25, 25-17, 15-12).
  • UBC swimmers excel in final test before U SPORTS Odlum Brown Swimming Championships February 15, 2019
    The UBC Thunderbirds swimmers did well in their final tests before they get the chance to defend their national titles at the 2019 U SPORTS Odlum Brown Swimming Championships, which begin next week on campus. UBC took part in the West Coast Collegiate meet Feb. 9-10 in Victoria, against the host Vikes, and the Simon […]
  • Cascades use lethal long range shooting to down T-Birds in playoff opener February 14, 2019
    Vancouver – The UFV Cascades were lethal from long range and used balanced scoring to hand the UBC Thunderbirds a surprising 92-79 home court loss in game one of their best-of-three Canada West quarter-final series Thursday at War Memorial Gym.
  • ‘Birds battle for final playoff berth in Calgary February 14, 2019
    Win, and they're in. Riding high on a 2019 resurgence, the UBC Thunderbirds (9-11) are now just one win away from clinching the eighth and final Canada West playoff berth with two games remaining in the regular season.