Douglas Mitchell, a former Canadian Soccer League participant who went on to turn out to be commissioner of the league in addition to a distinguished Calgary legal professional and group chief, died on Wednesday on the age of 83.
Mitchell performed in brief within the CFL with the B.C. Lions and Hamilton Tiger-Cats and later went directly to function league commissioner for 5 years within the Eighties. He additionally frolicked at the league’s board of governors, as a consultant of the Calgary Stampeders, in addition to many different accomplishments in sports activities and the broader group.
Amongst his family members, he leaves in the back of his spouse, former Alberta lieutenant-governor Lois Mitchell.
His circle of relatives mentioned in an e-mail shared on Thursday that Mitchell died peacefully and at house.
“Everyone knows Doug was once an inspiration to all who knew him and we can proceed to proportion his legacy each and every and on a daily basis,” mentioned Lois Mitchell in an e-mail.
“Doug lived a surprisingly glad, completed and fulfilled lifestyles in his 83 years. Doug made an influence on each and every people and we discover solace in realizing his lifestyles was once stuffed with pleasure. We all know he would need us all to live to tell the tale with energy, goal and laughter.”
Amongst his many accolades, he was once appointed to the Order of Canada in 2004, inducted to the Alberta Order of Excellence in 2007, inducted into Canada’s Sports activities Corridor of Status in 2019 and maximum just lately inducted into the Canadian Soccer Corridor of Status in June.
He represented the Calgary Flames because the governor of the Nationwide Hockey League, sat as chair of the Canadian Athletic Basis and the Southern Alberta Institute of Era’s Board of Governors.
Mitchell was once the nationwide co-chair of the regulation company Borden Ladner Gervais (BLG) and an avid sports activities fanatic.
From 1984 to 1988, he took a depart of absence from the company to function the CFL commissioner.
Our inner most condolences cross out to the circle of relatives & pals of Doug Mitchell, who gave up the ghost this week. Doug’s willpower to our game & our group was once unwavering, his achievements identified by way of an appointment to the Order of Canada & Alberta Order of Very good. <br><br>Leisure in peace.
—@calstampeders
Mitchell was once additionally a part of an possession workforce that purchased the Calgary Stampeders in 2005. In 2012, the Calgary Flames changed into majority homeowners of the Stamps.
In a tweet on Thursday, the Calgary Stampeders introduced their condolences, pronouncing, “Doug’s willpower to our game [and] our group was once unwavering, his achievements identified by way of an appointment to the Order of Canada [and] Alberta Order of [Excellence]. Leisure in peace.”
Mitchell was once a skilled athlete himself. He attended Colorado School on a hockey scholarship the place he gained a bachelor of arts level in industry management.
He then attended regulation college on the College of British Columbia, the place he additionally performed soccer as a center linebacker for the UBC Thunderbirds.
In 2009, the sports activities centre on the UBC Vancouver campus was once renamed in Mitchell’s honour because the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports activities Centre.
I’m deeply saddened to be told that UBC Thunderbird and Neighborhood and game chief Doug Mitchell has died at 83. He was once an inspiration to many and he’ll be a great deal ignored at his Alma Mater | Calgary Bring in <a href=”https://t.co/0FykmbfzXa”>https://t.co/0FykmbfzXa</a>
—@ubcprez
In a tweet on Thursday, UBC president Santa Ono mentioned he was once “deeply saddened to be told that UBC Thunderbird and group game chief” Mitchell died.
“He was once an inspiration to many and he’ll be a great deal ignored at his alma mater,” wrote Ono.
After taking part in for the Thunderbirds, Mitchell went directly to play within the CFL for the B.C. Lions and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Whilst in regulation college, Mitchell married Lois they usually sooner or later moved again to Calgary, the place that they had 4 youngsters and he began a protracted felony occupation.
“Doug was once instrumental within the basis of [Borden Ladner Gervais] and a pacesetter within the merger which shaped the company in 2000,” mentioned John Murphy, nationwide managing spouse and CEO at BLG, in a observation.
“Doug was once a very talked-about champion of game in Canada and of female and male college athletes,” added Alan Ross, regional managing spouse of BLG Calgary. “His legacy is huge, and game figures prominently in it.”
Mitchell sat on a lot of forums and remained concerned with sports activities for his complete lifestyles.
He made a number of vital contributions to athletics, together with the advent of the U Sports activities athlete of the 12 months awards honouring the highest Canadian collegiate performers.
The respect — previously referred to as the Howard Mackie, BLG and Lieutenant Governor Athletic Awards — had been just lately renamed The Honourable Lois Mitchell and Doug Mitchell U Sports activities athlete of the 12 months awards.
U Sports activities named one in every of its nationwide semifinal soccer video games the Mitchell Bowl in his honour.
“My condolences to the Mitchell circle of relatives at the passing in their patriarch Doug on the age of 83,” tweeted Jim Mullin, president of Soccer Canada.
“Few have contributed extra to the sport of soccer in Canada, each on the professional and novice ranges.
“It is a profound loss for our game. His focal point and fervour made him a pleasure to paintings with.”
‘At all times gracious, attractive’
Deborah Yedlin, a pal and president of the Calgary Chamber of Trade, spoke to Mitchell for roughly part an hour ultimate week throughout a Stampede reception downtown on the Fairmont Palliser Resort.
They mentioned soccer prior to entering a dialog about Calgary’s long term, she mentioned.
“He mentioned how constructive he was once concerning the town,” Yedlin mentioned. “He was once in point of fact, in point of fact occupied with what he was once seeing and feeling concerning the town.”
She mentioned Mitchell was once all the time gracious, attractive and cared deeply about folks.
“He in point of fact sought after us to upward push to the instance, and he was once all the time encouraging folks to try this,” mentioned Yedlin. “And it was once all about lifting everyone.”
She mentioned she’ll bear in mind his smile, the “twinkle in his eye” and his optimism.
“I believe we have now an excellent chance to honour his reminiscence in Calgary,” Yedlin mentioned.
“Let’s construct a brand new soccer stadium and let’s name it the Doug Mitchell soccer stadium.”