This award is presented to a first year Associate of Arts or Sciences student returning to Selkirk College.
Dr. Frank Beinder was born in London, England in 1910, he lived most of his life in Canada. He worked on a farm in Manitoba and spent a year at the University of Manitoba during 1928 –31 before returning to England. He served in the British Army during World War ?, mostly with the North African campaign.
Beinder was well known throughout the education system. He was chair of the Trail School District for many years, and also served with the BC School Trustees Association. He was president of that body for two consecutive years, which was the first time the honor had been extended to a trustee.
After the MacDonald Report on Education was issued he became involved with the recommendation post-secondary education schemes and the formation of community colleges in BC. He became a missionary for the new concept and traveled the province to promote what he referred to as “the life chances of people”.
After retiring from Cominco in 1975 he served as executive director for the fledgling BC Association of Colleges for almost 10 years.
His other community interests included the Red Cross, Boy Scouts and the Chamber of Commerce.
Beinder was rewarded for his endeavors in the post-secondary education field by an honorary doctorate from Simon Fraser University in 1984. In 1991 he became a member of the Order of British Columbia and was a recipient of a Canadian 125 Anniversary commemorative medal in 1992.
Beinder was proud of his awards, but his greatest pride was in the college system and particularly of Selkirk College, “his college”.
For years he sat on the board of Selkirk College, and the road leading to the college was renamed Beinder Way.