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 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. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!