Doug Mitchell, a true Canadian icon and leader in the Calgary office and community as well the business, sports, and legal worlds nationwide, passed away peacefully on July 20, 2022. He was instrumental in the foundation of BLG and a leader in the merger which formed the Firm in 2000. Following the merger, Doug was named National Co-Chair of BLG, and he continued in his role as Calgary’s Regional Managing Partner until 2007.
A member of the Order of Canada and the Alberta Order of Excellence, Doug was a well respected member of the community, sitting on many corporate and non-profit boards. Prior to his prodigious legal career, Doug was an exceptional sportsman – playing professional football for the BC Lions and later serving as the Commissioner of the CFL. He was also a strong supporter of the NHL where he was a member of the NHL’s Board of Governors and a champion of university athletics in Canada. In recognition of his efforts he was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. As a show of his commitment, Doug founded the BLG Awards in 1993 (initially the Howard Mackie Awards), which is continued today as the Lois and Doug Mitchell U Sports Athletes of the Year Awards.
His loss has been widely felt.
His loss has been widely felt.