John William Mitchell

For other people named John Mitchell, see John Mitchell (disambiguation).

John William Mitchell
17th Mayor of Calgary
In office January 2, 1911 – January 2, 1913
Preceded by	Reuben Rupert Jamieson
Succeeded by	Herbert Arthur Sinnott
Alderman for The City of Calgary
In office January 2, 1905 – January 2, 1911
In office January 2, 1915 – November 22, 1915
Personal details
Born	(1872-04-19)April 19, 1872 Cambridgeshire, England
Died	December 15, 1952(1952-12-15) (aged 80) Vancouver, British Columbia
Occupation	businessman

John William Mitchell (April 19, 1872 – December 15, 1952) was the 17th mayor of Calgary, Alberta.

Early Life

Born in Cambridgeshire, England in 1872, Mitchell arrived in Calgary in 1891. He had a job with a dry goods business then later with the lumber firm of W. Stuart and Company. Mitchell would marry Kathleen Lang in June 1913.

Political Career

In 1905, Mitchell was elected to Calgary City Council as an Alderman representing the original Ward 3, and was subsequently reelected for four more terms. As an alderman, Mitchell spent time as Chairman of both the Fire and Finance Committees.

Mitchell was elected mayor in the December 1910 Calgary Municipal election and held office from January 2, 1911 to January 2, 1913. In June 1911, during this time construction of Calgary City Hall would be completed and opened by Mitchell and then leader of the opposition Robert Borden. As mayor, Mitchell would host the Governor General of Canada Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, and Princess Patricia. Mitchell would also be the president of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association in 1911-1912.

During his time as Mayor, Mitchell would lead the city in skating a mineral claim on oil and gas resources in an attempt to provide a new source of revenue. Mitchell supervised a dig on June 12, 1911 which successfully located natural gas, however the city was late in submitting the claim and instead homesteader Michael Stoos would file the claim, which would become the famed Dingman Discovery Well in May 1914.

Mitchell would again become Alderman in 1915, however he would resign on November 22, 1915 to enlist as a member of the 82nd Battalion for active overseas service.

Later Life

Mitchell was a member of the Central Methodist Church. As a longtime member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, he was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Alberta. Mitchell died in 1952 in Vancouver, British Columbia at the age of 80.