Couple pledges $2 million to university

Bart Cummins/TRU photo

Mark and Ellen Brown outside their home.

When you’re in a position to do something, you do it. With that in mind, Mark and Ellen Brown made a historic $2-million pledge to Thompson Rivers University at Saturday’s annual foundation gala.

“We’ve always believed in trying to give back. Community is very important to us,” Mark said Sunday.

The Browns made the largest private pledge ever to the TRU Foundation to support construction of the House of Learning and the continued growth of the university.

The couple gave $750,000 during Saturday night’s event in the Grand Ballroom. A further $1.25 million will be donated during the next five years.

A crowd of 350 people erupted in applause at the news of Brown’s donation and gave three standing ovations. Brown said the response was humbling.

“They were very kind,” he said.

Brown is the president and past owner of Northern Trailers, which became a division of Horizon North Logistics Inc. of Calgary in 2007.

He said Northern Trailers has enjoyed a tremendous amount of success since it was created in 1981 and this was a chance to share that success with the community.

“It’s our way of saying thank you back,” said Brown.

Brown will discuss the needs of TRU and its students with the Foundation on an annual basis to determine how the $1.25 million can be best used.

TRU vice-president of advancement Christopher Seguin said the donation goes a long way to completing the House of Learning.

“It’s really important to us,” he said, adding $1.25 million is still needed to complete the building. “It puts us very close to that.”

The House of Learning is scheduled for completion in the fall. The building will provide an addition to the library and learning space for students on campus.

Last year, retired Oakalla Farm Prison guard Alvin Grunert donated $1.5 million to create scholarships at TRU. His was the largest private donation at the time.

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