Doug Mitchell, former CFL commissioner and Calgary lawyer, has died at 83

Douglas Mitchell, a former Canadian Soccer League participant who went on to develop into commissioner of the league in addition to a outstanding Calgary lawyer and group chief, died on Wednesday on the age of 83. 

Mitchell performed briefly within the CFL with the B.C. Lions and Hamilton Tiger-Cats and later went on to function league commissioner for 5 years within the Eighties. He additionally frolicked on 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 behind his spouse, former Alberta lieutenant-governor Lois Mitchell.

His household stated in an e mail shared on Thursday that Mitchell died peacefully and out of the blue at residence.

“Everyone knows Doug was an inspiration to all who knew him and we’ll proceed to share his legacy each day,” stated Lois Mitchell in an e mail.

“Doug lived an extremely glad, achieved and fulfilled life in his 83 years. Doug made an impression on every of us and we discover solace in understanding his life was filled with pleasure. We all know he would need us all to dwell on with energy, goal and laughter.”

Amongst his many accolades, he was 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 Fame in 2019 and most lately inducted into the Canadian Soccer Corridor of Fame 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 Expertise’s Board of Governors.

Mitchell was the nationwide co-chair of the legislation agency Borden Ladner Gervais and an avid sports activities fanatic.

From 1984 to 1988, he took a go away of absence from the agency to function the CFL commissioner. 

Mitchell was additionally a part of an possession group that purchased the Calgary Stampeders in 2005. In 2012, the Calgary Flames grew to become majority homeowners of the Stamps.

In a tweet on Thursday, the Calgary Stampeders provided their condolences, saying, “Doug’s dedication to our sport [and] our group was unwavering, his achievements acknowledged by an appointment to the Order of Canada [and] Alberta Order of [Excellence]. Relaxation in peace.”

Mitchell was a gifted athlete himself. He attended Colorado Faculty on a hockey scholarship the place he acquired a bachelor of arts diploma in enterprise administration.

He then attended legislation faculty 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 renamed in Mitchell’s honour because the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports activities Centre.

In a tweet on Thursday, UBC president Santa Ono stated he was “deeply saddened to be taught that UBC Thunderbird and group sport chief” Mitchell died. 

“He was an inspiration to many and he can be enormously missed at his alma mater,” wrote Ono. 

After enjoying for the Thunderbirds, Mitchell went on to play within the CFL for the B.C. Lions and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Whereas in legislation faculty, Mitchell married Lois and so they finally moved again to Calgary, the place they’d 4 children and he began a protracted authorized profession.

He sat on quite a few boards and remained concerned with sports activities.

Mitchell made a number of important contributions to athletics, together with the creation of the U Sports activities athlete of the 12 months awards honouring the highest Canadian collegiate performers.

The honour — previously generally known as the Howard Mackie, BLG and Lieutenant Governor Athletic Awards —  had been lately renamed The Honourable Lois Mitchell and Doug Mitchell U Sports activities athlete of the 12 months awards.

U Sports activities named one among its nationwide semifinal soccer video games the Mitchell Bowl in his honour.

“My condolences to the Mitchell household on the passing of 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 beginner ranges.

“It is a profound loss for our sport. His focus and keenness made him a pleasure to work with.”

‘All the time gracious, partaking’

Deborah Yedlin, a good friend and president of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, spoke to Mitchell for about half an hour final week throughout a Stampede reception downtown on the Fairmont Palliser Resort.

They talked about soccer earlier than getting right into a dialog about Calgary’s future, she stated.

“He talked about how optimistic he was in regards to the metropolis,” Yedlin stated. “He was actually, actually enthusiastic about what he was seeing and feeling in regards to the metropolis.”

She stated Mitchell was at all times gracious, partaking and cared deeply about individuals. 

“He actually needed us to rise to the event, and he was at all times encouraging individuals to try this,” stated Yedlin. “And it was all about lifting all people.”

She stated she’ll bear in mind his smile, the “twinkle in his eye” and his optimism.

“I believe we’ve an amazing alternative to honour his reminiscence in Calgary,” Yedlin stated. 

“Let’s construct a brand new soccer stadium and let’s name it the Doug Mitchell soccer stadium.”