Fonds whyte-1044 - K.B. Mitchell fonds

K.B. (Bruce) Mitchell was born in Calgary in 1910 to Alexander and Agnes Mitchell, both Scottish immigrants. While a high school student, Bruce Mitchell worked the summer months on a ranch, west of Calgary, where he learned to stook hay and dance at the Jumping Pound Community Hall. In 1927 he was hired as an office boy with the Dominion Water Power and Reclamation Service in Calgary and then as a junior hydrometric recorder. In 1930 Mitchell worked as a survey engineer doing topographic surveys but lost that job due to the Depression. In 1931 Mitchell was hired as an acting park warden in Banff National Park and from 1933 to 1941 he was clerk and accountant for Banff National Park. In August 1941 Mitchell became Chief Park Warden in Banff National Park and from 1949 to 1954, he was Assistant Superintendent, Banff National Park. Following that, Mitchell was on special duty to Ottawa for six months. In 1955 Mitchell was Superintendent of Riding Mountain National Park, Kootenay National Park, Jasper National Park and finally Supervisor of National Parks Western Regional Office when he retired in 1970. Bruce married Marjorie Kay in 1934 and while in Banff, they lived at 454 Muskrat Street and then at 427 Marten Street. Bruce was a Scout leader and enjoyed skiing, snowshoeing, bowling and dancing at the Cascade Ballroom in Banff. Bruce and Marjorie were active members of the Kinsmen and Kinnette clubs and Bruce served on the Banff Winter Carnival Committees. Bruce and Marjorie had three children. Bruce Mitchell died in 2004 and he and Marjorie (d.1961) are buried in the Old Banff Cemetery.