Architect, war hero.
Born at Chislehurst, Kent, England on 11 April 1879, he came to Winnipeg in 1898 and worked with the Engineering Department of the Canadian Pacific Railway. He helped to survey many of the railway lines from Winnipeg to the West Coast. In 1906 he left the railway to work as an architect. During the First World War he served overseas with the First Canadian Mounted Rifles and rose to the rank of Brigade Major with the Ninth Canadian Infantry Brigade. He was decorated with the DSO and MC and was mentioned in despatches. On returning to Winnipeg after the war he formed the architectural partnership of Northwood and Chivers.
On 30 January 1907, he married Frances Anna Simpson (1882-1972, daughter of Frank George Simpson) and they had three children: John Alexander Chivers, Margaret “Marmie” Chivers (1911-?), and Cyril Douglas “Bung” Chivers (1912-2004). He was a Charter Member and Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, Honorary Life Member (and President, 1928) of the Manitoba Association of Architects, Life Member of the Engineering Institute of Canada, and a Life Member of the Manitoba Club.
He died at Winnipeg on 9 August 1969 and was buried in the St. James Cemetery.
Some of his architectural works in Manitoba included:
Building
Location
Year
Status
33 Middle Gate, Winnipeg
1909
124 Middle Gate, Winnipeg
1909
264-276 Wellington Crescent, Winnipeg
1909-1910
118 Middle Gate, Winnipeg
1910
162-166 Lilac Street, Winnipeg
1910
89 East Gate, Winnipeg
1911
793 McMillan Avenue, Winnipeg
1911
34 Middle Gate, Winnipeg
1911
Monk House (expansion)
134 West Gate, Winnipeg
1911
Sutherland House (expansion)
135 Middle Gate, Winnipeg
1911
720 Dorchester Avenue, Winnipeg
1912
734-738 Dorchester Avenue, Winnipeg
1912
883 Grosvenor Avenue, Winnipeg
1912
344 Cumberland Avenue, Winnipeg
1912
Glenburn Apartments
891.5 Corydon Avenue, Winnipeg
1912
728 Dorchester Avenue, Winnipeg
1912
Hugo Apartments
261 Wellington Crescent, Winnipeg
1912
344 Cumberland Avenue, Winnipeg
1912
139 Market Avenue, Winnipeg
1912
812 Grosvenor Avenue, Winnipeg
1912
Hugo Apartments
261 Wellington Crescent, Winnipeg
1912
Demolished (?)
157 West Gate, Winnipeg
1913-1914
400 South Drive, Winnipeg
1914-1915
After 1919
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Law Society War Memorial (391 Broadway, Winnipeg)
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 11 August 1969.
Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada, 1800-1950.
We thank Nathan Kramer, Doug Chivers, Christian Cassidy, and Jordan Makichuk for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 31 July 2023
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