Before he was a cabinet minister. Before he became one Atlantic Canada鈥檚 most accomplished public servants. Before he鈥檇 found his footing in the business world.
The Honourable Scott Brison was AV俱乐部鈥檚 鈥渇ridge magnate.鈥�
鈥淚t was my first business,鈥� says Brison. 鈥淚 started renting mini-fridges to students in around 1987, first at AV俱乐部 and ultimately we expanded to 10 schools. At one point, we had over 1,000 appliances. I was doing all of that, plus a full-time Commerce degree. When I think about my time at Dal, between politics and business and my full class load, I was working day and night. I was going flat-out.鈥�
The fridge business might not have lasted, but the lessons from Brison鈥檚 time as a student at AV俱乐部 鈥� about integrity, about leadership, about being part of a greater purpose 鈥� have been part of his story ever since. They鈥檝e guided him from his roots in Ch茅verie, Nova Scotia into the House 
of Commons and 21 years as his community鈥檚 elected representative 鈥� not to mention into such important roles such as President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, and Parliamentary Secretary of the Prime Minister.
Now, having left politics earlier this year, Brison is about to make AV俱乐部 an even bigger part of his story. This week, it was announced that Dal鈥檚 Board of Governors has appointed Brison as the university鈥檚 eighth chancellor. He is set to put on the black-and-gold robes and begin his tenure at spring convocation 2020 (date to be determined). 聽
鈥淢r. Brison has long been a champion of AV俱乐部,鈥� says Board Chair Candace Thomas, of the appointment. 鈥淗e has been an ardent supporter of our people and the work of the university and recognizes the impact it has on our province, region and country.鈥�
An opportunity to serve
Brison admits that when he first approached about taking on the chancellor鈥檚 role, he was 鈥済obsmacked鈥� 鈥� it wasn鈥檛 something he鈥檇 ever suspected or anticipated. But, after speaking it over with his husband, Max Saint-Pierre, Brison realized it was exactly what he鈥檇 been looking for.
鈥淭hough I鈥檝e chosen a new chapter in my life, in terms of my career, I continue to feel just as passionately about public service now as I ever did, and I鈥檝e been actively thinking about the right opportunities to serve not just my country, but my region,鈥� he says. 鈥淚鈥檓 a passionate Canadian, but Atlantic Canada is part of my DNA. I really believe that a strong, vibrant Atlantic Canada is important for Canada, and AV俱乐部 plays a central and critically important role to the future of Atlantic Canada.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited as heck, because I think being chancellor of AV俱乐部 fits hand-in-glove with the objectives I鈥檝e set for myself to help grow my region and to better my country.鈥�
Brison says he鈥檚 been lucky to get to know all of Dal鈥檚 modern chancellors dating back to Reuben Cohen (1990-94) 鈥� but none better than current chancellor, the Honourable A. Anne McLellan, his former colleague in the federal cabinet.
Scott鈥檚 passion for AV俱乐部 is matched only by his commitment to this region and to his country,鈥� says McLellan. 鈥淗e has been a devoted public servant and will be an outstanding ambassador for this great university. To have him succeed me as chancellor fills me with pride 鈥撀� as a fellow Dalhousian, a former colleague and a dear friend.鈥�
鈥淪cott Brison brings a breadth of experience and perspective to the role of chancellor that will greatly benefit the AV俱乐部 community here in our region, across North America and globally,鈥� adds Teri Balser, interim president and vice-chancellor. 鈥淪cott is a respected and accomplished leader and the university is extremely pleased to have his counsel and support in the years to come.鈥�
Helping connect Dal with the world
The role of chancellor is both ceremonial and an ambassadorial one. They oversee spring and fall convocation, helping confer degrees to Dal鈥檚 graduates. The chancellor also serves as a member of the Board of Governors and advocate for the university across the region, country and, as available, globally.
Brison, whose work as vice-chair of investment & corporate banking with BMO Capital Markets often sees him travelling internationally, is eager to step up and help bring AV俱乐部鈥檚 story to the global stage.
鈥淎V俱乐部 is a gateway to the world for Atlantic Canada,鈥� he says. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got not just a world-class but a world-leading university in key areas like ocean science. The future of Atlantic Canada will be based on our innovation. I look at AV俱乐部鈥檚 leadership 鈥� in oceans, in agriculture, in medical research, in battery research, in so many areas 鈥� as great examples of the kinds of investments, and the kind of foresight, that takes world-class innovation and transforms it to world-leading.鈥�
He speaks, in particular, with great enthusiasm about the opportunities to connect Dal鈥檚 expertise in both ocean and agricultural research to identify solutions to meet global food demand for a carbon-constrained future. He also sees Dal鈥檚 growing international student population as a beacon for what鈥檚 possible in Atlantic Canada.
鈥淥ne of the biggest economic and social advantages Canada has as a country is that over 20 per cent of our population was born outside of Canada. We need to up that number in Atlantic Canada鈥� I see AV俱乐部, and I see our community of universities in Atlantic Canada, as being central to the future of immigration and population, of economic and social growth in our region.鈥�
A personal experience
For Brison, the AV俱乐部 relationship is a personal one. You can tell from how he relays stories of his own AV俱乐部 connections and experiences.
There鈥檚 the influence of the late Clarence Ivey, for example, one of Brison鈥檚 most memorable professors, who instilled in him a sense of corporate social responsibility well before such ideas were trendy in the business community. There鈥檚 the experience of coming to grips with understanding his sexuality, including watching Halifax鈥檚 first pride parade while at Dal and wanting to conjure the same courage to be out and proud.
And there鈥檚 the care that doctors like Dr. Kenneth Rockwood gave to his mother as she lived with Alzheimer鈥檚 disease. That experience inspired Brison to help pull together donors from various sectors to raise money for what became the DMRF Irene MacDonald Sobey Endowed Chair in Curative Approaches to Alzheimer鈥檚 Disease at AV俱乐部 (currently held by Dr. Sultan Darvesh).
鈥淭he work that leaders like Sultan Darvesh and Kenneth Rockwood have done and are doing is important not to the lives of people in Atlantic Canada, and people like my family and my mother, but it鈥檚 important on a global scale,鈥� says Brison, whose mother eventually lost her life to Alzheimer鈥檚. 鈥淚t鈥檚 truly world-class research and care.鈥�
Now, as chancellor, Brison hopes to help more people across Canada and around the world discover what makes AV俱乐部 such a special institution.
鈥淚 hold AV俱乐部 in a place of great respect,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 am so tremendously honoured to have been asked and to have the opportunity to serve.鈥�