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Frank Parnell receives honorary law degree

Frank Parnell, the CEO of TRICORP, the Tribal Resources Investment Corporation, received an honorary Doctor of Law from UVic on Friday.
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Frank Parnell

A business man in Prince Rupert who has spent much of his career propping up First Nations' businesses in the region has been recognized for his work by the University of Victoria.

Frank Parnell, the CEO of TRICORP, the Tribal Resources Investment Corporation, received an honorary Doctor of Law from UVic on Friday for being an "outstanding advocate for economic self-reliance in B.C.'s north coast region, especially among Indigenous Peoples," as stated on the university website.

Parnell is a member of the Haida Nation and TRICORP provides business loans to support First Nations' entrepreneurs. The company started in 1990 with a mandate to reduce unemployment and foster business ownership within the First Nations communities.

In 2013, UVic's Gustavson School of Business and TRICORP created the Northwest Aboriginal Canadian Entrepreneurs, another avenue to support people who want to start their own business. The program was launched in Prince Rupert in May 2013.

The university also acknowledged Parnell's influential role in the All Native Basketball Tournament since 1980. It was Parnell's initiative to bring the Masters division to the tournament.