Mitch Owens

Mitchell George "Mitch" Owens (March 25, 1921 – November 17, 2016) was a city councillor and interim mayor of Gloucester, Ontario, Canada. Born in Hazelridge, Manitoba,[1] he joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1942. Two years later, he served on the St. Roch, during a part of its historic voyage through the Northwest Passage.[2] After time working in the Arctic and in London, he moved to the Ottawa region in 1953, and settled in the rural area south of the city.[1] Owens retired from the RCMP in 1963 as a Corporal.[2] He went into business as the owner of a trailer park.[1]

Owens was born in Cook's Creek, Manitoba in 1921.[2] He was elected to council in 1966, and served four years as deputy reeve. In 1980 he ran for a seat on the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton, but lost by six votes. He was appointed mayor in July 1984 after mayor Fred Barrett died in office.[1] He was challenged in the 1985 elections by aldermen Harry Allen and Royal Galipeau,[3] with Allen emerging victorious by just over a thousand votes. In 1988 he returned to council, defeating Harold Keenan.[1]

Gloucester city council voted in 1990 to rename Regional Road 8, where Owens lived, to Mitch Owens Road, after residents along the lengthy street signed a petition to have it renamed. Owens retired from politics prior to the 1991 elections at age 70.[1]

In 1949, Owens married Stella Futa.[2] She died in 2005.[4] Owens died on November 17, 2016 at the age of 95.[5][6]

Honours and awards

Mitch Owens has received the Polar Medal for his service in the Northwest Passage and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Long Service Medal for his 21 years service with the RCMP. He has also received the Canadian version of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 and the Canadian version of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. On June 11, 2003, he was awarded the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) along with several other RCMP veterans. The CVSM was established in 1943 to acknowledge at least 18 months of service in the Canadian Armed Forces during the Second World War and the medal criteria was amended to expand eligibility in 2003. The amendment enables the CVSM to be awarded to persons who were engaged by the RCMP during the Second World War and who served in close support of the war effort, primarily in Canada.

Ribbon Description Notes
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
  • Canadian Version of this Medal
  • For 18 months Voluntary Service 1939-1947 RCMP
  • [7]
Polar Medal
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Long Service Medal
  • 20 Years of Service with the RCMP.
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal
  • 2002
  • Canadian Version of this Medal
  • [8]
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
  • 2012
  • Canadian Version of this Medal
  • [9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Foley, Dennis. "Both in and Out of Politics Mitch Owens Fought his Share of Battles." The Ottawa Citizen. Sep 13, 1992. pg. A.8
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Stepping back in time". Northern News Services. August 20, 2001. Retrieved 2014-05-24.
  3. ↑ Deveney, Abby. "Electoral Changes Mark New Political Era For City; New Residents Key in 3-Way Mayoral Fight." The Ottawa Citizen. Nov 5, 1985. pg. E.24
  4. ↑ "Stella Owens". Ottawa Citizen. April 4, 2005.
  5. ↑ http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Mitch-Owens&lc=3139&pid=182595367&mid=7172708
  6. ↑ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/mitch-owens-gloucester-mayor-dead-1.3859531
  7. ↑ http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/news/viewrelease/225
  8. ↑ http://www.gg.ca/honour.aspx?id=6559&t=6&ln=Owens
  9. ↑ http://www.gg.ca/honour.aspx?id=208872&t=13&ln=Owens
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/21/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.