Mitch Owens

Mitch Owens was a city councillor and interim mayor of Gloucester, Ontario, Canada. Born in Hazelridge, Manitoba he joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1944. That same year he served on the St. Roch, during a part of its historic voyage through the Northwest Passage. 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. He went into business as the owner of a trailer park.

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. He was challenged in the 1985 elections by aldermen Harry Allen and Royal Galipeau, with Allen emerging victorious by just over a thousand votes. In 1988 he returned to council, defeating Harold Keenan.

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.

References

• 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
• Foley, Dennis. "Both in and Out of Politics Mitch Owens Fought his Share of Battles." The Ottawa Citizen. Sep 13, 1992. pg. A.8