Manitoba Historical Society
     Keeping history alive for over 144 years


Memorable Manitobans: John Alexander Chivers (1909-2004)

Architect.

Born at Winnipeg on 10 August 1909, son of Cyril William Upton Chivers and Frances Anna Simpson (1882-1972), he graduated in Architecture from the University of Manitoba in 1931 and, except for three years of service overseas with the Royal Canadian Engineers in Italy and Holland, practiced architecture most of his working life in Winnipeg, taking over his father’s architectural practice of Northwood and Chivers, downsized it, and renamed it John A. Chivers Architect.

Late in his career he took up restoration work. Lower Fort Garry, Dalnavert Museum, Hecla Island, and buildings at the St. Norbert Heritage Park were projects that he supervised. For his body of restoration work, he was awarded a Manitoba Centennial Medal by the Manitoba Historical Society, in 1970.

He married Margaret Alberta Attwood (1910-?), youngest daughter of Albert Edward Attwood, at Ottawa. He served on the St. Vital School Board in the early 1950s and later designed a new school for it. He retired in 1979, and moved to Mill Bay, British Columbia.

He died at White Rock, British Columbia on 19 January 2004.

Some of his architectural works in Manitoba included:

Building

Location

Year

Status

Winnipeg Canoe Club

50 Dunkirk Drive, Winnipeg

1954

Demolished (?)

Charleswood Collegiate

505 Oakdale Drive, Winnipeg

1955

 

St. George School (expansion)

151 St. George Road, Winnipeg

1961

 

Sources:

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 24 January 2004.

Winnipeg Building Index, University of Manitoba.

We thank Doug Chivers for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 21 December 2022

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.

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!

MHS YouTube Channel

Back to top of page

For queries on the above page, please contact the MHS Webmaster.

Home  |  Terms & Conditions  |  FAQ  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy  |  Donations

© 1998-2023 Manitoba Historical Society. All rights reserved.