Cyril Harper was originally from the island of Saint Kitts. He came to Mount Allison in the fall of 1953 from Curaçao to study Commerce. He played Varsity soccer for two years and also played on the "Polar Bears" hockey team in connection with the Club Tropicale of which he was an active member. He earned his Bachelor of Commerce in 1955, becoming the first person of colour to obtain the degree at Mount Allison University, two years after it had been implemented.