Memorable Manitobans: James Bertram Mitchell (1852-1945)

James Bertram Mitchell Click to enlarge

Policeman, architect.

Born at Gananocque, Leeds County, Ontario on 14 October 1852, son of George Mitchell and Jane Brown, he was educated at the Gananocque High School and Montreal Art School. He joined the Canadian militia as a bugler at the age of 14, rising to corporal by 1870. Upon promotion, he was assigned to guard the Welland Canal at Carlton, Ontario against a Fenian invasion of Canada, an event that never took place. During his time in the militia, he met Colonel George A. French, soon to be the head of the newly minted North West Mounted Police (NWMP). It was a defining meeting for the young Mitchell.

James Bertram Mitchell Click to enlarge

At age 18, Mitchell returned to civilian life and studied architecture at the Montreal Institute of Art for three years. He had read newspaper accounts of the difficulties at Red River and the whisky problem in the West. Stemming from his desire to serve his country and his strong sense of adventure Mitchell enlisted and at age 21 and was assigned NWMP regimental number 50, E division with the rank of Staff Constable.

The NWMP departed Fort Dufferin on 8 July 1874. During his time with the force, Mitchell signed as witness with Governor Morris’ Treaty with the Wood and Plain Cree Indians at Fort Carleton and Fort Pitt on 23 August and 9 September 1876. Having passed through Winnipeg during his time with the NWMP, when Mitchell returned to civilian life, he remembered the opportunity he felt existed in this new prairie city. He settled in the Point Douglas area.

He was elected to the Winnipeg School Board in 1888 and in 1892 was appointed Architect and Commissioner of School Buildings and Supplies. Along with his contemporary, School Superintendent Daniel McIntyre, Mitchell designed and created what some saw as North America’s safest and most architecturally eloquent collection of schools. Together the two men oversaw the design and construction of 48 Winnipeg schools and numerous additions. During his tenure, Mitchell witnessed the value of school buildings grow from less than $350,000 to nearly $10 million.

Some of the Winnipeg schools that Mitchell designed:

School	Location	Year	Status
Somerset School	775 Sherbrook Street	1901	Demolished (2005)
Alexandra School	Edmonton Street	1902	Demolished (1969)
Pinkham School No. 2	765 Pacific Avenue	1903	Burned and rebuilt (1945)
Carlton School	Graham Avenue	1903-1904	Demolished (c1929)
Strathcona School	McGregor Street	1904	Demolished (1963-1964)
John M. King School	Ellice Avenue	1905	Demolished (1968)
Wellington School	Wellington Avenue	1906	Demolished (?)
Luxton School	111 Polson Avenue	1907
King Edward School No. 1	Selkirk Avenue	1908	Demolished (1975)
Mulvey School	Maryland Street	1908
Riverview School No. 1	Casey Street	1908
Cecil Rhodes School No. 1	136 Cecil Street	1908
Clifton School	Clifton Street	1908
Lord Selkirk School No. 1	Brazier Street	1908-1909	Demolished (early 1970s)
Aberdeen School No. 2	444 Flora Avenue	1909	Demolished (c1988)
Greenway School No. 1	850 St. Matthews Avenue	1909	Demolished (?)
La Verendrye School	290 Lilac Street	1909
Kelvin High School	55 Harrow Street	1910	Demolished (1965-1966)
St. John’s High School	Machray Avenue	1910	Demolished (?)
Dufferin School No. 3	545 Alexander Avenue	circa 1910	Demolished (?)
Lord Roberts School	Daly Street South	1910	Demolished (1970)
Principal Sparling School	1150 Sherburn Street	1912-1913
Laura Secord School	960 Wolseley Avenue	1912-1913
Isaac Brock School	1265 Barratt Avenue	1913
William Whyte School	200 Powers Street	1914	Demolished (c1976)
George V School	265 Grey Street	1915
Earl Grey School	340 Cockburn Street North	1914
Julia Clark School	611 Academy Road	1918
Anna Gibson School	77 Kelvin Street	1919	Demolished (2005)
Greenway School No. 2	465 Banning Street	1919	Demolished (1997)
Cecil Rhodes School No. 2	East Street	1920	Demolished (?)
Montcalm School	Tecumseh Street	1920	Demolished (?)
Ralph Brown School No. 1	Andrews Street	1920	Demolished (?)
Florence Nightingale School	31 Shaughnessy Street	1920	Demolished (?)
Machray School No. 3	Mountain Avenue	1921	Demolished (?)
David Livingstone School	270 Stella Avenue	1922
Grosvenor School	Grosvenor Avenue	1922
Faraday School	405 Parr Street	1925

Influenced by British Board Schools, Mitchell created powerful, stately buildings that he felt nurtured the physical and intellectual potential of all children, no matter what their country of origin. British Board Schools were massive red brick buildings, usually three storeys, with similar design and layout. Hundreds of them were built between 1870 and 1900. Their style captured the imagination of the public and became the defining characteristic of enlightened education. Mitchell used the Board Schools as his basic design, enhancing the already handsome buildings with decorative details from Queen Anne, Gothic, Classical and Georgian Revival architectural styles.

Always eager to learn new techniques and designs, Mitchell traveled across Canada and the United States, touring educational facilities and discussing their design with his peers. He brought home many new ideas for his schools. But always foremost in his mind was that fundamental education would be provided, children would be enlightened and all of Canada would benefit. He retired in 1928.

He was married twice, first to Helen Richmond Brough of Gananocque with whom he had three children: Rosslyn Brough Mitchell, Edith Helen Mitchell (1879-1961, wife of John Ralston Davidson), and Elinor Mitchell (?-?). His second wife was Margaret “Maggie” Booth (1886-?) of Scotland. He served as President of the Canadian Club of Winnipeg (1908-1909). During the First World War, Mitchell served as Lieutenant-Colonel of the 100th Grenadiers from 1912 to 1920, taking them to Valcartier in August 1914 (11th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force). He raised the 78th Battalion in 1915 and the 100th Battalion which he took overseas in 1916. He saw action at St. Eloi and Vimy.

He died on 14 November 1945 and was buried in the Brookside Cemetery. He is commemorated by J. B. Mitchell School in Winnipeg. There are papers at the Archives of Manitoba.

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Mitchell House (45 East Gate, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: J. B. Mitchell School (1720 John Brebeuf Place, Winnipeg)

Sources:

Who’s Who in Western Canada: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Men and Women of Western Canada, Volume 1, edited by C. W. Parker, Vancouver: Canadian Press Association, 1911.

The Leading Financial, Business & Professional Men of Winnipeg, published by Edwin McCormick, Photographs by T. J. Leatherdale, Compiled and printed by Stone Limited, c1913. [copy available at the Archives of Manitoba]

Pioneers and Prominent People of Manitoba, Winnipeg: Canadian Publicity Company, 1925.

“Last tributes paid to Mitchell,” Winnipeg Tribune, 19 November 1945. [Manitoba Legislative Library, Biographical Scrapbook B9]

“Buried today [Mrs. Mary M. Booth],” Winnipeg Tribune, 10 April 1935, page 10.

Dictionary of Manitoba Biography by John M. “Jack” Bumsted, Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 1999.

Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada, 1800-1950 by Robert G. Hill, Toronto.

Winnipeg Building Index

We thank Jordan Makichuk for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Reid Dickie and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 6 September 2023

Memorable Manitobans This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!