David J. Mitchell

David J. Mitchell
File:David Mitchell.jpg
MLA for West Vancouver-Garibaldi
In office 1991–1996
Preceded by	first member
Succeeded by	Ted Nebbeling
Personal details
Born	(1954-03-15) March 15, 1954 Montréal, Quebec
Political party	Liberal / Independent

David Joseph Mitchell (born March 15, 1954) is a Canadian writer, former politician, university administrator, businessman and political commentator. His most recent position was as President & CEO of the Public Policy Forum, an Ottawa-based NGO dedicated to improving the quality of government in Canada through enhanced dialogue among the public, private and voluntary sectors. Mitchell abruptly left his position as President & CEO of the Public Policy Forum on August 20, 2015.

Education, writings

Mitchell holds a Master's degree in Canadian and American history from Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia. He served as Editor and Archivist at the British Columbia Provincial Archives. He is a self-confessed 'political junkie', who is a frequent commentator on Canadian politics and public life on radio and television. He has won awards for his writing, and is a former newspaper columnist (Vancouver Sun 1996–98; Business in Vancouver 1995–98).

He has authored a number of books about politics and history in BC:

• W.A.C. Bennett and the rise of British Columbia, Vancouver 1983, Douglas & McIntyre, (ISBN 0-88894-395-4). A biography of W. A. C. Bennett.
• Succession: the political reshaping of British Columbia, 1986 (ISBN 0-88894-566-3). A synopsis of the Social Credit administrations since W.A.C. Bennett.
• All aboard!: the Canadian Rockies by train, 1995 (ISBN 1-55054-419-5)
• The Hongkong Bank of Canada Story – Origin & Early Years, 1996
• British Columbia's business leaders of the century, 1999 (editor)

Family, business career

He is the father of two daughters, and is married to author and media critic, Shari Graydon.

Mitchell has also worked as an executive in the forestry industry and in resource industries in western Canada (1984–1990).

Political career

He gained experience in parliamentary procedure and legislative processes as Deputy Clerk of the Saskatchewan Legislature (1981–84). He was elected in 1991 to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, for the Liberal Party, in the riding of West Vancouver-Garibaldi. He was the party's House Leader, but resigned his position as a result of a rift over the Charlottetown constitutional accord. He sat the remainder of his term, until 1996, as an "Independent". During his term, he was a watchdog on a broad range of issues including resource management, labour relations, advanced education, and parliamentary reform.

University administrator

He served as Vice-President of External Relations at Simon Fraser University from 1997 to 2002, where he was responsible for fundraising, alumni relations, media and public relations, and government affairs. SFU raised over $65 million under his direction and significantly expanded its campus in downtown Vancouver.

He became Vice-President of University Relations at the University of Ottawa in September 2002. He led the university through a major re-branding initiative, and helped launch the largest fundraising campaign in the university's history, which exceeded its $200 million objective a year ahead of schedule. While in Ottawa, he served on the board of directors of the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra.

In September 2007, he moved to Queen's University, assuming the post of Vice-Principal (Advancement). In January 2009, he returned to Ottawa to take a new position as president and CEO of the Public Policy Forum, an independent, non-partisan NGO that specializes in convening Canadian leaders on issues of public service and governance.

Community Service

Mitchell serves on the board of the Parliamentary Centre, on the advisory committee of the Centre for the Study of Democracy at Queen's University and is Governor and Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.