Frank Beinder - Rossland

Frank Beinder came to Canada as a youth but returned to England to serve in the British Army during the Second World War. He returned to Canada in 1947 and went to work on the public relations staff of Cominco in the Trail area until his retirement in 1975. He now lives in Richmond.

Mr. Beinder served as chairman of the Trail School Board and as president of the British Columbia School Trustees Association. In this latter capacity, he took a leading role in establishing the Educational Research Institution of B.C. and the Teacher Qualification Board, two bodies which continue to provide important services. In addition, he has served as chairman of the British Columbia Chamber of Commerce.

To people throughout British Columbia, Frank Beinder is known as Mr. College. He has been passionate in his conviction that learning should be available to people throughout the province and, over the span of 30 years, demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to that goal. He was intimately involved in the formation of Selkirk College and served on its board and as its chairman for many years. He helped to found the B.C. Association of Colleges and spent nine years as its executive director, two as its president.

During that time, the college system blossomed in British Columbia. Blessed with a magnificent speaking voice and a commanding platform presence, Frank Beinder has argued the case for education in general and community colleges in particular to every corner of the province and across Canada and the United States. Few have contributed as much to the community college system in British Columbia as Frank Beinder.