1998 Fredericton Encaenia - Ceremony B
Franklin, Mitchell
Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.)
Orator: Patterson, Stephen E.
Citation:
ENCAENIA, MAY, 1998
MITCHELL FRANKLIN
to be Doctor of Letters
Several decades ago we would have introduced Mitchell Franklin as a successful New Brunswick businessman. Today, he is best known as one of the province's leading philanthropists. His humanitarian interests span numerous fields from the well-being of children to gerontology, from community development to the arts, and geographically from the Maritimes to Israel to Florida and beyond. While he still actively chairs Franklin Enterprises, a private company with real estate, newspaper, lumbering, and beef cattle holdings, he spends most of his time thinking about helping other people. He has become a citizen of the world with a deep sense of responsibility to others, especially to children.
Mitchell Franklin was born in Montreal and was educated in Halifax and Ottawa where he studied piano for a time, and where he graduated from St. Patrick's College, now part of Carleton University. During the Second World War, he served in the Royal Canadian Air Force, and afterwards returned to the Maritimes to rejoin the family business. But for him, financial success was never in itself rewarding. Early in his business career, he felt impelled to share his good fortune by supporting and working for the Canadian Red Cross, the Cancer Society, the Heart Fund, the United Jewish Appeal, and numerous other charitable organizations. He established scholarships for students at several universities, both in the Maritimes and abroad. He made substantial donations to the Confederation Centre for the Arts in Charlottetown and to the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton.
Over the years, there has always been a special place in his heart for the state of Israel and its youth. A student residence at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem is his contribution, bearing the names of Mr. Franklin's late parents. He has endowed scholarships for students at Israeli universities and technical schools and helped found the first maritime port in Israel at Elath. He established the Ivan C. Rand Chair in Law at the Hebrew University, simultaneously honouring the name of one of Canada's great Chief Justices.
Among the most innovative of his philanthropies is the Franklin Children's Centre, located in Bain's Corner near St. Martin's, New Brunswick. Originally conceived as a summer camp for mentally handicapped or disadvantaged children, the facility is now made available to a wide range of users including the Children's Wish Foundation, church groups, school districts, and service clubs. Over 3,000 children are comfortably accommodated each summer and provided with counselling, recreation, musical instruction, and relaxation in a stunning rural setting.
In Mitchell Franklin's long and productive life, his generosity has been acknowledged by governments, universities, and others. Yet it is the simple thanks of someone he has helped that touches him most deeply. For him, helping others has become its own reward. Today we at the University of New Brunswick salute this thoughtful and altruistic citizen of the world.
From: Honoris Causa - UA Case 70, Box 3
MITCHELL FRANKLIN
to be Doctor of Letters
Several decades ago we would have introduced Mitchell Franklin as a successful New Brunswick businessman. Today, he is best known as one of the province's leading philanthropists. His humanitarian interests span numerous fields from the well-being of children to gerontology, from community development to the arts, and geographically from the Maritimes to Israel to Florida and beyond. While he still actively chairs Franklin Enterprises, a private company with real estate, newspaper, lumbering, and beef cattle holdings, he spends most of his time thinking about helping other people. He has become a citizen of the world with a deep sense of responsibility to others, especially to children.
Mitchell Franklin was born in Montreal and was educated in Halifax and Ottawa where he studied piano for a time, and where he graduated from St. Patrick's College, now part of Carleton University. During the Second World War, he served in the Royal Canadian Air Force, and afterwards returned to the Maritimes to rejoin the family business. But for him, financial success was never in itself rewarding. Early in his business career, he felt impelled to share his good fortune by supporting and working for the Canadian Red Cross, the Cancer Society, the Heart Fund, the United Jewish Appeal, and numerous other charitable organizations. He established scholarships for students at several universities, both in the Maritimes and abroad. He made substantial donations to the Confederation Centre for the Arts in Charlottetown and to the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton.
Over the years, there has always been a special place in his heart for the state of Israel and its youth. A student residence at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem is his contribution, bearing the names of Mr. Franklin's late parents. He has endowed scholarships for students at Israeli universities and technical schools and helped found the first maritime port in Israel at Elath. He established the Ivan C. Rand Chair in Law at the Hebrew University, simultaneously honouring the name of one of Canada's great Chief Justices.
Among the most innovative of his philanthropies is the Franklin Children's Centre, located in Bain's Corner near St. Martin's, New Brunswick. Originally conceived as a summer camp for mentally handicapped or disadvantaged children, the facility is now made available to a wide range of users including the Children's Wish Foundation, church groups, school districts, and service clubs. Over 3,000 children are comfortably accommodated each summer and provided with counselling, recreation, musical instruction, and relaxation in a stunning rural setting.
In Mitchell Franklin's long and productive life, his generosity has been acknowledged by governments, universities, and others. Yet it is the simple thanks of someone he has helped that touches him most deeply. For him, helping others has become its own reward. Today we at the University of New Brunswick salute this thoughtful and altruistic citizen of the world.
From: Honoris Causa - UA Case 70, Box 3
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