Prince George, BC– The plan for the 10th annual UNBC Timberwolves Legacy Night event was always to make it the biggest and best yet, and thanks to the incredible passion and generosity of the UNBC Timberwolves supporters – mission accomplished!

It is with enormous gratitude and excitement that the UNBC Timberwolves announce that the 2024 Legacy Event (presented by Canadian Tire) generated $230,000 - with one hundred percent of those proceeds going towards student-athlete scholarships and bursaries at UNBC. 

“Our 10th Legacy Event was unforgettable. I’m still in awe of the support that we have received from this community both this year and the previous nine,” shared Loralyn Murdoch, UNBC’s Director of Athletics and Recreation. “It’s rewarding to be able to celebrate our history, while highlighting our current successes and paving the way for an even greater student-athlete experience at UNBC in the years to come.” 

“This year’s Timberwolves Legacy Night was a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when a community comes together to champion student-athletes,” added UNBC President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Geoff Payne. “This milestone, the largest Legacy event yet, underscores the lasting impact of supporting students as they grow into leaders who inspire and strengthen northern communities and beyond.” 

The keynote speaker for the 2024 UNBC Timberwolves Legacy Event was Brian Burke, a Stanley Cup champion, best-selling author, community activist and long-time hockey executive who had guests on the edge of their seats as he shared heartfelt, funny, and inspirational stories from his career.  

“We wanted to make a big splash with our keynote speaker for Year 10 of Legacy, and Brian Burke obliterated all expectations,” added Murdoch. “Every single one of the 500-plus people in the room that night could take something positive away from his presentation. His impact will continue to be felt positively for many years to come.” 

For the 10th consecutive year, Canadian Tire served as the Title Sponsor for the Legacy Event, and to no surprise, Canadian Tire owner Selen Alpay and his wife Anita went above and beyond to ensure that Year 10 truly was the “biggest and best” ever.  

As a token of thanks to Selen and Anita for their unrelenting support of UNBC Athletics, the University of Northern British Columbia proudly announced the creation of the Selen & Anita Alpay Leadership Awards. Beginning in September 2025, one student-athlete from each of UNBC’s four Varsity teams will receive a Selen and Anita Alpay Leadership Award. 

This prestigious award has been created to recognize and honour the incredible leadership and profound impact that Selen Alpay and Anita have had on UNBC, the Prince George community, and beyond. The award will support and encourage the next generation of leaders who demonstrate the same commitment to excellence and service. 

“Selen and Anita are always looking to bring about positive change and improve lives and the creation of this award not only honours them, but also serves as another source of inspiration for our student-athletes to pursue and prioritize leadership and community involvement,” reflected Murdoch. 

Learn more about the Selen & Anita Alpay Leadership Award and how you can contribute.  

As the dust continues to settle on the most successful edition of UNBC Timberwolves Legacy Night yet, the plan remains to continually set the bar higher for Year 11 and beyond. 

To each person who helped shape the 2024 UNBC Timberwolves Legacy Event in any way, big or small – thank you.