George Brown Polytechnic is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and other Indigenous peoples who have lived here over time. We are grateful to share this land as treaty people who learn, work and live in the community with each other.
Frederick (“Fred”) Jack Van Koughnett’s journey is a powerful reflection of perseverance, integrity, and the life-changing impact of skilled trades education. As a mature student in the early 1970s, Fred came to George Brown Polytechnic seeking new direction and opportunity. He began in the Academic Upgrading Program (AS43-T4) before completing the Electronics Program (EL41) in 1973—a pivotal moment that his family says “changed his life.”
After graduating from George Brown, Fred moved on to build a small but indispensable appliance repair business in Timmins, Ontario. Known in the community for his quiet competence and unembellished honesty, his reputation travelled faster than any advertisement. He repaired what others could not, learned each new generation of electronics as it came, and treated customers with the straightforward decency that small communities both recognize and remember.
Now, more than fifty years after Fred first walked through George Brown’s doors, his story will now help another student step through their own. The Frederick Jack Van Koughnett Memorial Scholarship, established by Fred’s brother, Kevin Van Koughnett, will support a mature student in the T901 Electronics Technician program — the closest contemporary equivalent to Fred’s studies. This award will continue Fred’s legacy of service, perseverance, and making a difference.
100% of your donation will go to George Brown Polytechnic students, no processing fees or administration fees will be applied to your gift. You will receive a tax receipt by email for donations made over $20.
For additional information, please contact Gabriella Goutam at the George Brown College Foundation at gabriella.goutam@georgebrown.ca or 416-415-5000 x 3289. Thank you for your generous support.