To mark Giving Tuesday last week, Assiniboine Community College President, Mark Frison and his wife, Edith, announced directing $50,000 of their giving to the Assiniboine Foundation toward ACC’s proposed Prairie Innovation Centre for Sustainable Agriculture.

The Prairie Innovation Centre will be constructed at Brandon’s North Hill Campus across from their agricultural and greenhouse buildings.  It will be ‘a hub for teaching & learning, applied research, and industry engagement’ with a combination of indoor and outdoor learning spaces for hands-on training experiences.

“This is a really important project, and it’s the biggest fundraising campaign that the college has ever run,” shares Frison.  “We’re looking to raise $15 million; we’ve already got commitments for over $9 million and so it’s incredibly important project for both our institution and the agricultural sector here in Manitoba.”

 “We have raised $9 million so far from private donors and we’re looking to the Province of Manitoba and the government of Canada to support this project.  We’re very pleased with the community’s giving and we’re certainly hopeful that the Province will see it’s way to support the project and the Federal Government as well.”

“Our staff give a lot to the college through their dedication and efforts at work. It is amazing to see so many go above and beyond and choose to support our students and development with their personal resources as well. It makes me proud to work here.” added Frison.

“As someone who works with the Agricultural sector and the farming community, I know how important skilled and talented people are to business success,” said Edith Frison, CPA-CA, who works as a tax specialist. “It’s an easy project to get behind.”

‘Over the past five years, nearly 200 Assiniboine employees have donated to the college through the Assiniboine Foundation. That has meant close to $250,000 in donations,’ states ACC’s most recent media release.

‘The Frisons have donated to several initiatives at the college including the Building on Demand Campaign, Growing the Greenhouse, Simulation Mannequins and scholarships since moving to Brandon in 2010.’

“Assiniboine staff have been extremely generous in their support of students and college initiatives,” said Heather Dodds, chair of the Assiniboine Foundation. “Every donation, big and small, helps the Foundation to support students in their journey toward a high-quality education.”