Memorable Manitobans: Cyril William Upton Chivers (1879-1969)

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

Geddes House

33 Middle Gate, Winnipeg

1909

 

Shepherd House

124 Middle Gate, Winnipeg

1909

 

Wellington Apartments

264-276 Wellington Crescent, Winnipeg

1909-1910

 

Doupe House

118 Middle Gate, Winnipeg

1910

 

Dorchester Court

162-166 Lilac Street, Winnipeg

1910

 

Crowe House

89 East Gate, Winnipeg

1911

 

Dunedin Court

793 McMillan Avenue, Winnipeg

1911

 

Glasgow House

34 Middle Gate, Winnipeg

1911

 

Monk House (expansion)

134 West Gate, Winnipeg

1911

 

Sutherland House (expansion)

135 Middle Gate, Winnipeg

1911

 

Alcalde Apartments

720 Dorchester Avenue, Winnipeg

1912

 

Aynsley Court

734-738 Dorchester Avenue, Winnipeg

1912

 

Cobourg Apartments

883 Grosvenor Avenue, Winnipeg

1912

 

Cumberland Building

344 Cumberland Avenue, Winnipeg

1912

 

Glenburn Apartments

891.5 Corydon Avenue, Winnipeg

1912

 

Healani Apartments

728 Dorchester Avenue, Winnipeg

1912

 

Hugo Apartments

261 Wellington Crescent, Winnipeg

1912

 

Nokomis Block

344 Cumberland Avenue, Winnipeg

1912

 

Steele Briggs Building

139 Market Avenue, Winnipeg

1912

 

Grosvenor Apartments

812 Grosvenor Avenue, Winnipeg

1912

 

Hugo Apartments

261 Wellington Crescent, Winnipeg

1912

Demolished (?)

Gemmill House

157 West Gate, Winnipeg

1913-1914

 

Thomson House

400 South Drive, Winnipeg

1914-1915

 

After 1919

See Northwood and Chivers

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Law Society War Memorial (391 Broadway, Winnipeg)

Sources:

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

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.

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