Vision
The Dalhousie Investment Society (DALIS) is a student-run organization operating under the Dalhousie Commerce Society (DCS), dedicated to bridging the gap between academic learning and the financial services industry.
Our mission is to provide students with meaningful opportunities to gain hands-on experience, develop practical skills, and deepen their understanding of capital markets and finance. This fundraising initiative has been created to support our efforts in offering educational events, workshops, networking opportunities, and case competitions that enrich the student experience.
Thanks to the generous support Dr. Hebb, Douglas C. Mackay Chair in Finance and the Faculty of Management, for committing to match the first $5,000 in donations to the fund.
Story
Through hosting speaker panels, technical workshops, educational sessions, and networking events with industry professionals, we equip our members with both the knowledge and the connections they need to succeed. We also strive to increase participation in case competitions, giving students the chance to apply their learning in competitive, high-pressure settings that mirror real financial challenges. We rely heavily on external support to grow the scale and accessibility of these opportunities.
This fundraising initiative is essential in enabling us to reach more students, send more teams to represent Dalhousie on larger stages, and provide resources that enhance our members’ learning journeys. Every donation, eligible for a tax credit, helps us move closer to our vision of building a well-rounded, confident, and competitive community of future finance professionals.
Strategy
DALIS is focused on expanding student access to high-impact, experiential learning opportunities that bridge the gap between the classroom and the finance industry.
A key part of this strategy is increasing the number of students we send to Battle on Bay, one of Canada’s most prestigious undergraduate finance case competitions. Our goal is to send multiple teams giving more students the chance to compete, gain real-world insights, and connect with industry professionals.
We aim to attend the Quinnipiac University GAME Forum for the first time—a world-renowned finance conference in New York City where students can engage directly with global leaders in asset management, investment banking, and macroeconomic policy.
Additionally, we plan to participate in the HEC Montréal Investment Banking and International Finance Case Competition, a rigorous platform for students to develop and showcase their financial modeling and valuation skills.
These events, along with others like the CFA Institute forums, provide transformative experiences for students and elevate Dalhousie’s presence in the broader finance community. Paired with internal training, alumni mentorship, and educational workshops, these opportunities help us build a confident, capable, and well-connected community of future finance professionals.
Impact
In recent years, DALIS has faced limitations in the number of students it can send to case competitions. Due to budget constraints and limited funding, opportunities to attend external events have been selective, meaning many capable and motivated students miss out on valuable experiential learning opportunities.
As a smaller university compared to larger institutions across Canada, Dalhousie often lacks the same level of exposure and access to resources that other university students benefit from. Despite these constraints, our students consistently demonstrate that Dalhousie is home to top-tier talent—performing exceptionally in competitive environments and proving they can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with peers from larger, better-funded schools. This makes it all the more important to invest in our students and actively promote their development nationally and internationally.
By increasing funding and support for case competition participation, networking, and development opportunities, DALIS can broaden its reach, enhance its presence, and give more students the chance to apply their skills. Expanding access to these experiences is not just about representing Dalhousie and the Rowe School of Business—it’s about equipping our students with the tools they need to grow personally and professionally, and ensuring they have every opportunity to succeed beyond the classroom.
With increased funding, we can remove financial barriers, grow our reach, and empower more students to learn, lead, and thrive in competitive financial environments.
With your support, we can continue to empower the next generation of finance professionals and create lasting value for our members. Your generosity will directly impact the quality and reach of our programming, helping us foster a stronger, more knowledgeable student community within the world of finance.
If you would like more information about this campaign, please reach out to Elizabeth Benoit at elizabeth.benoit@dal.ca.
To mail a cheque please send to the Office of Advancement, 6389 Coburg Road, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS B3H 2A5.