The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Gordon Mitchell worked for Canadian Pacific Airlines out of Winnipeg, as an aircraft engineer. Since the airlines was flying in and out of Flin Flon he would often come up here to work on planes. In 1943, Gordon was asked to stay in Flin Flon and he had no problem with that decision because by then he had met Joyce Ross. So, Gordon transferred to the Channing base. In 1944, Gordon and Joyce were married and through their marriage had five children. Gordon tells a story of being an aircraft engineer and having to cover most of Northern Manitoba, often staying overnight. He explained that when a pilot had to go overnight there was a requirement that an engineer fly with him. He said that aircraft engines didn't last like they do nowadays because they didn't have the parts available that they do now, because of the war effort. "It was nothing to change a engine in the bush," said Gordon. "A plane would fly another engine in and take the old engine back with them." "One time we were going to have lunch before putting the new engine into the plane," he recalls, "only to find that a bear had ransacked our camp and had even bitten through a can of peaches and sucked out all the juice." Gordon worked for Johanneson Flying Service until 1947 when he established Mitchell Aircraft Marine Ltd. which was his business for 50 years. In 1952, Gordon also took on the Mercury Outboard franchise. See 'Former' P.# Con't from P.# In 1961 he also had snowmobile franchises Ð Autoboggan, Polaris, Mercury, Cat and Ski-Doo. Gordon related a story of a Parsons Airways Norseman that was on floats and caught fire just after take-off (in 1962) and had to force land with the pilot and his three passengers jumping into the water and swimming away from the burning aircraft. "I got to the scene about half a mile south of the base by boat and was able to rescue the pilot and two passengers, unfortunately the other one drowned," he said. A highlight of his life was in 1972 when Gordon went to Moscow with his father-in-law to see the hockey games between Russia and Canada. When asked about what it was like to be in Russia at that time, Gordon said: "The preparation for the hockey was excellent and there were business tours offered everyday. In the three days of touring I never saw one gas station. They were there, but just not plentifulÉ I finally did see one. Their main thoroughfares were extremely wide but there was not a lot of traffic. "I thought that the hotel we stayed in was about 100 years old and then I found out that it was only about 16 years old. They made the buildings look old for some reason. The doorways were very high and wide. In this particular hotel there were 16 floors and it had six elevators divided into threes. One set would go to the ninth floor and then if you had to go higher, you'd get off and the other set would take you up as far up as the 16th floor. The elevators were very old with ornate doors on them, and they had operators running them. "I felt very comfortable in Russia. We could wander all over, going into the underground subways. The subway stations were beautiful, some with stained glass and others had statues all over the place. Each station had its own character. My only worry was that I might get lost and be lost for a long time!" In 1986, Gordon was elected Mayor of the City of Flin Flon, a position which he held for two terms. Gordon has served on many boards such as the NorMan Regional Development Board, Flin Flon Air Board, Flin Flon General Hospital Board, Canadian Aviation Maintenance Council and Registration Board, served on the Civil Aviation Tribunal for 12 years, was president of the Channing Home and School Association, chairman of the 9th Group Scouts and Cubs, member of the Kinsmen Club for nine years, member of Rotary Club for 32 years, Flin Flon Chamber of Commerce for 46 years, was president of the Flin Flon Junior Bomber Hockey Club for 10 years as well as League Governor in the Western Canada Hockey League, served on the executive of the Flin Flon Chamber of Commerce, as well as chairman of the Regional Health Authority. When asked about what changes he has seen in his years in Flin Flon he said: "The roads were all gravel at one time and I can remember one summer evening in Ross Lake and the dust was unbelievable. As you would drive up over the hill the dust was laying on the horizon. It was like driving through a cloud. "Also, Flin Flon always seemed hard pressed to get government grants or assistance in comparison to The Pas. We were always promised that we would get some offices, but it always seemed that they'd give us one and then take another one away." In commenting on the change that has taken place with the new business development at the Flintoba site, he said: "Flin Flon actually now has a second industry. I do feel sorry for small businesses but I think many could hold their own if they change their stock accordingly." Regarding the subject of tourism, which he has observed over the years, he said: "I am tired of hearing that tourism is our second industry. Take the Trout Festival, for example, that was originally started by Fred Lockhart who had his office over the Fruit and Produce on Main Street. He envisioned the tourist industry really getting involved in the Trout Festival encouraging tourists to come to Flin Flon." But Gordon noted that this never really came to pass. "Communities such as Snow Lake are more tourist orientated," he commented. When asked what he does in his 'spare time' he laughingly said: "Well now I am on the School Board. We have a very good school system in Flin Flon, I should know I had five kids go through this system!" "The school board is very versatile," he noted, "taking care of issues such as the care of the buildings, keeping costs reasonable and other things indirectly concerned with education, but like anything is hard to do." Gordon finished our interview by saying that when his kids went to school all they needed was a pencil and a scribbler and nowadays some kids actually have lap top computers accessible to them, indicating how much things in the school system have changed. Thanks so much for sharing your time with us, Gordon, and also for all you have done for the community!
