A Lifelong Connection to Education: Meet Mark Frison

Mark Frison’s connection to Cape Breton University is deeply rooted, not only through his own experiences as an active student leader but also through a legacy of education that began with his parents. Now, as the President of Assiniboine Community College, Mark has built a strong relationship with CBU, driven by a desire to give back to the place that played such a crucial role in his life.

Growing up in the East Bay and Coxheath area, Mark saw firsthand the opportunities that learning could unlock. His mother, Barbara MacInnis, was a single parent who went to the College of Cape Breton when it was still on George Street. “Even at seven years old, the power of education is not lost on you,” Mark recalls. “We went from eating supper out of a can every night to fresh fruits and vegetables, and we knew it was a direct result of my mother going back to school.” This opportunity allowed Barbara to re-enter the public school system as a teacher.

Later, Mark’s father, Dieudonné Frison, also returned to school and took the Bachelor of Arts Community Studies. Mark’s father worked as an athletic trainer for the CBU CAPERS and often brought him along to campus, which sparked his early interest in campus life and student involvement.

Education continued to be a family tradition when Mark’s sister, Monique Frison, enrolled in the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) at the University College of Cape Breton (UCCB – now CBU) right after high school. Mark followed in her footsteps and earned his BBA in 1994 followed by a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 1995. Both siblings were recipients of the Allister McIntyre Memorial Trophy and Scholarship, awarded to graduating students with outstanding leadership, scholarship and character.

Throughout his time as a student, Mark was deeply involved with the Students’ Union, serving two terms as President, three years on the Board of Governors and a year as Chair of the Students’ Union of Nova Scotia. “This was an incredibly influential time in my life, from the skills I developed and the people I met, which has led in many ways to all the major developments in my career,” Mark shares. Mark also received the President’s Award for the Pursuit of Common Purposes as a student, an honour previously reserved for staff who inspired collective efforts toward the University’s mission.

After leaving Cape Breton to pursue his career, Mark returned to the Island for two pivotal opportunities, both thanks to his former professor, Dr. Keith Brown. He worked with the Government of Canada on projects on the transition of the Cape Breton economy post coal and steel. These experiences were important career breaks and provided him with both professional growth and an opportunity to contribute to the local community.

Before settling in his current role, Mark served as the President of Cypress Hills Regional College before its merger into the Great Plains College, where he continued as President and was recently honoured as President Emeritus. Both Assiniboine and Great Plains Colleges maintain a partnership with CBU through the delivery of CBU’s Master of Business Administration in Community Economic Development program in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Mark had the opportunity to work with George Karaphillis, former Dean of CBU’s Shannon School of Business and his former professor, on the establishment of these valuable relationships.

Earlier this year, Mark had the chance to visit home and reconnect with his former peers at the CBU Students’ Union Reunion. “It is amazing to witness the strides CBU has made, particularly over the last few years,” he shares. Mark is impressed by the expansion of CBU’s academic programs in education, nursing and social work, along with the upcoming medical campus. “For far too many years, people had to leave the Island to train for occupations needed in Cape Breton. CBU is now what steel making was to the Island at the beginning of the 1900s, and it’s central to rebuilding the population of Cape Breton.”

As we look to the future, Mark is optimistic yet aware of the challenges that lie ahead. “The next several years are going to be very exciting at CBU and for Cape Breton as lots of important developments are taking place,” says Mark. “The growth has not only attracted students from across the globe but has also encouraged them to stay and build their lives on the Island. We need to make sure the Island has the infrastructure so that we can convert this burgeoning interest in CBU into longer-term Cape Breton residents.”

To stay up to date on the 50th celebration, visit cbu.ca/50.