Innovator in archives
Gary Allan Mitchell
June 27, 1954 – February 9, 2026
by Irene Zaffaroni and Laura Millar
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Gary died peacefully in Victoria Hospice on February 9, 2026, after a two-year ordeal with cancer, which he faced with grace and dignity.
Gary was born in Murrayville, Township of Langley, to Allan Ardiel Mitchell and Mary Teresa (née Kochmarski). He was raised on the family strawberry farm in Sperling District, Langley.
Gary attended the University of British Columbia, earning a BA (History) in 1976 and, in 1985, a Master of Archival Studies (MAS) degree from the university’s newly created archival school: the first in Canada. His post-graduate thesis, The Appraisal of Canadian Military Personnel Files of the First World War, offered a multi-national analysis of archival appraisal for military personnel case files. In his analysis, Gary examined issues that archivists still grapple with today: the strengths and weaknesses of different retention practices; the challenges of sampling; the potential of conversion to “machine readable” form, and the implications of destruction.
After receiving his MAS degree, Gary embarked on what became a lifelong career as a records and archives professional with the BC government. He served as a Senior Records Analyst from 1985 to 1988, then becoming Manager of Advisory and Training Services for the BC Archives, a position he held from 1988 to 1991. From 1991 to 1998, he was Deputy Provincial Archivist and Director of the BC Archives. In 1998 Gary became Provincial Archivist, leading the institution through many years of growth and change.
Gary initiated and led many innovations in records and archives services, including:
- establishing protocols with the Office of the Speaker to allow public service support for parliamentary offices;
- pioneering the application of standardized recordkeeping schedules across government;
- introducing on-line search capabilities for archives;
- negotiating the move of BC’s Sisters of St. Ann’s archives into the BC Archives
- advocating for a common “pan-Canadian” federal, provincial, and territorial approach to the care of electronic archives.
Gary retired from government service in 2014 as Provincial Archivist and Vice-President, Archives, Collections and Research at the Royal British Columbia Museum. He was recognized for his decades of service with his appointment in 2014 as Provincial Archivist Emeritus.
As well as being a lifelong Canucks and Whitecaps fan, Gary pursued interests in Canadian history, vexillology, public administration, and heraldry. He volunteered many heritage organizations, including the BC Historical Federation (President), the Archives Association of BC (President), Association of Canadian Archivists Foundation (Director and Secretary), the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada (Fellow), the Royal BC Museum Foundation, and the Friends of the BC Archives.
Gary’s commitment to the goals of heritage organizations was recognized with several awards, including the following:
2001: Distinguished Service and Leadership Award, University of British Columbia
2002: Recipient, Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for “exemplary public service leadership”
2004: Grant of Arms from the Canadian Heraldic Authority
2012: Recipient, Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for “services to heritage and preservation”
2014: Honorary Life Member, Archives Association of British Columbia
2014: Provincial Archivist Emeritus, Royal British Columbia Museum
2017: Distinguished Leadership Award, British Columbia Museums Association
2022: Fellow, Royal Heraldry Society of Canada.
Gary was actively committed to his Catholic faith and volunteered for many years at St. Patrick’s Parish and on the archives and records management committee of the Diocese of Victoria and the Sisters of St. Ann. At Mount St. Mary Hospital, he represented the Bishop and the Sisters as a member of the Marie Esther Society.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Gary will be remembered for being a loyal, caring, selfless, and kind person who believed in a life of duty, integrity, and humility. He was proud of his agrarian roots in Langley, British Columbia and his Polish and Scottish ancestry. He felt deep love for his country, his province, his community, and, most of all, his friends and family.
After retirement, Gary and Irene travelled, gardened, and enjoyed many happy times with family and loved ones. His greatest joy was the arrival of Max Gary Kavan in 2020, the much-loved son of Annelies and Dan. Gary is survived by his wife, Irene; Annelies and Dan and grandson Max; his much-loved cousins Gail and Darlene; godson Matthew Isaac; and a wide circle of friends and family.
Donations in Gary’s memory are welcome to the BC Historical Federation Legacy Fund.
A Funeral will be held on Tuesday February 17, 2026, at 2 pm, at St. Patrick’s Parish, 2060 Haultain Street Victoria, BC.
Rest in peace, Gary.
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Laura Millar has been a records, archives, and information management consultant and author for nearly 45 years and is the author of dozens of publications on archives and records practice. She is a Fellow of the Association of Canadian Archivists and the International Council on Archives, and she serves on UNESCO’s Canadian Advisory Committee for Memory of the World. She is currently Vice President of the Friends of the British Columbia Archives, which is expanding its role to advocate for archives and archival research across British Columbia.
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The British Columbia Review
Interim Editors, 2023-26: Trevor Marc Hughes (non-fiction), Brett Josef Grubisic (fiction)
Publisher: Richard Mackie
Formerly The Ormsby Review, The British Columbia Review is an on-line book review and journal service for BC writers and readers. The Advisory Board now consists of Jean Barman, Wade Davis, Robin Fisher, Barry Gough, Hugh Johnston, Kathy Mezei, Patricia Roy, and Graeme Wynn. Provincial Government Patron (since September 2018): Creative BC. Honorary Patron: Yosef Wosk. Scholarly Patron: SFU Graduate Liberal Studies. The British Columbia Review was founded in 2016 by Richard Mackie and Alan Twigg.
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