Garvin Dezell - 1950 to 1953 and 1960 to 1969
Garvin Dezell was the mayor of Prince George at various times over two decades. Dezell was born in Ottawa and was proudly Irish-Canadian. Dezell arrived in Prince George with his wife and two children in 1946. During the latter years Dezell was mayor of Prince George (1960-1969), the population of Prince George rose from 4,000 to 30,000 people. During this time, three pulp mills were constructed, the Four Seasons Pool was built, and the current location of City Hall was officially opened. Dezell introduced a crucial land policy which prevented excessive land control speculation. Dezell believed in working very closely with his council and considered council members' opinions on issues in great detail. In 1970, Dezell was made a Freeman of Prince George at a banquet attended by Premier W.A.C. Bennett. Harold Moffat is quoted as saying that "No man was more dedicated...and he's the reason Prince George is one of the best-planned cities anywhere". Dezell died on Friday February 4, 1972 at the age of 63.
Gordon D. Bryant - 1954 to 1955
Gordon D. Bryant was born in Nanaimo, and arrived in Prince George from Prince Rupert in 1945. Upon his arrival, Bryant opened a car dealership downtown. While mayor, Bryant started the process of selling the locally owned Electrical Utility Company to the BC Power Commission (now BC Hydro). Bryant also created a new city manager system, gave local fire fighters uniforms, and oversaw the paving of city sidewalks with concrete instead of wood. Bryant successfully secured Crown Land to the west of the Downtown from then-Premier W.A.C. Bennett and then-Lands minister Ray Williston for the Nechako subdivision, the city's first fully serviced and integrated subdivision. After his time as mayor, Bryant opened a Real Estate company. Bryant and his wife, Trudy, were critical influences involved in numerous popular shopping and residential areas: Plaza 400, the Highland Park Development, the Downtown Parkade, Pine Centre, Parkwood, and the Hudson's Bay Company Store.
John Morrison - 1956 to 1957
Prior to his time as mayor, John Morrison was the owner of Morrison's Men's Wear and was described as a very well-dressed man. During Morrison's time as mayor, he oversaw the construction of the Prince George Coliseum. Morrison also concluded the sale of the locally owned Electrical Utility Company to B.C. Hydro. During his years as mayor, Morrison was faced with a considerable obstacle: The Gas War. During this conflict, the issue of contention was the franchise to supply Prince George with natural gas. Despite the obstacles, Morrison was able to successfully pave the way for considerable future local economic growth.
Carrie Jane Gray - 1958 to 1959
Carrie Jane Gray was the first female mayor of Prince George and only the second female mayor in all of BC. She was also the City's first female alderman (Councillor). Gray was born in Oklahoma and arrived in Prince George in 1932. During her time as mayor of Prince George, Carrie Jane Gray witnessed the opening of Fort George Park and Connaught Hill Park. After her time as mayor, Gray was again elected as an alderman in 1965, and held the position for a number of years. Carrie Jane Gray died in 1984. Carrie Jane Gray Park was named after her in 1966.
Harold Moffat - 1970 to 1979
Harold Moffat was born in 1915 in South Fort George, and later owned a hardware store on 3rd and Brunswick. As mayor, Moffat was very concerned our city would fall victim to overspending, causing high taxes and preventing people from investing and living in the city. Moffat added The Oil Refinery and Canfor Pulp Mill to our city's tax base. During Moffat's time as mayor, a referendum passed to expand the City, adding the Hart Highway, College Heights, Haldi Road, Blackburn, Western Acres, Van Bow, North Nechako, and South Fort George to the City. Moffat was a driving force in the development of the downtown and the City's first downtown parkade was built while he was mayor.
Elmer Mercier - 1980 to 1986
![Prince George Mayor Elmer Mercier 1980-1986]](/Things%20to%20Do/PublishingImages/Learn%20About%20Prince%20George/History/elmermercier[1].jpg)
Elmer Mercier was the mayor of Prince George during a lengthy recession in the City. Though construction and development remained relatively stagnant, Mercier was a critical force in helping the residents of Prince George to fully accept the process of amalgamation (which took place in 1975) and work towards expansion. Mercier wanted to see an Art Gallery/Theatre complex located near the public library's new Main Branch which opened in 1981. Unfortunately, the concept of the Art Gallery/Theatre was defeated in a referendum, as the costs of creating this new building were deemed too high, and the public favoured expansion of sports facilities. Mercier was a highly skilled ambassador and extensive traveller who promoted Prince George at many important events such as Expo 86.
John Backhouse - 1987 to 1996
John Backhouse was born in Liverpool England and acquired his higher education in England at the Newcastle School of Librarianship and in the United States at the University of Oklahoma. Backhouse worked as a professional librarian extensively, and gained experience in public and academic libraries. In 1980, Backhouse began his political career as a member of the Prince George City Council, and was an alderman for six years. Also during this time, Backhouse served as Chairman of the Senior Citizens' Building Committee. Backhouse was instrumental in the development of the current Senior Citizens' Activity Centre at Fourth Avenue and Brunswick Street. During Backhouse's time as mayor, Prince George saw the opening of the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), a new shopping centre at Parkwood, a new Civic Centre, and a new Multiplex arena at the Exhibition Grounds. In fact, both the University and the new Civic Centre were opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on August 17, 1994. Backhouse served as a Director on the Board of BC Transit, and sat on the BC Forest Sector Strategy Committee, the Minister's Advisory Council on Housing, and the UNBC Campus Committee. Following his time as Mayor, Backhouse was appointed by the Government of BC to be the Northern Commissioner of British Columbia.
Colin Kinsley - 1997 to 2008
Prior to life in public office, Colin Kinsley worked in the natural gas industry. Kinsley served as an alderman from 1984-1993, which included four years as Chairman of the Regional District Board. Mayor Kinsley had been politically involved in important Provincial and National organizations, having served as a Director to the Union of BC Municipalities and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. It was his appointment to a national rural health committee that contributed to local efforts to establish a medical program at UNBC, which opened in 2004. In fact, his contributions to UNBC also included his advocacy for the Northern Sport Centre and Kinsley served on the Board of UNBC after his time as mayor ended. He is a Life Member and Past President of the North Central Municipal Association.
Dan Rogers - 2009 to 2011
Dan Rogers was a well-known local TV broadcaster when he first ran for Council in 1993 and subsequently won the Mayor's seat in 2009. He co-chaired the bid committee that led to Prince George being awarded the 2015 Canada Winter Games. Rogers was involved with the committees that oversaw construction of the Aquatic Centre and the Multiplex and served as Director of both the Regional district of Fraser Fort George and the northern Development Initiative Trust. He was a champion of community-based, renewable energy which led to him co-chairing the BC Community Energy Association and spearheading a downtown renewable energy system in Prince George using sawmill residue to provide heat. Rogers was a Past President of the North Central Local Government Association and Director of the Union of BC Municipalities.
Shari Green - 2011 to 2014
Born and raised in Prince George, Shari Green was a fourth-generation downtown business owner. She is a former president of the Downtown Prince George Business Association and a founder of the Downtown Partnership. She brought this business perspective to City Hall and aimed to ensure that the City's fiscal future would be sustainable and focused on customer service. She co-chaired the Prince George Torch Celebration for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games and served as director of athlete and village services for the 2015 Canada Winter Games bid. She was a founder of the BC Mayors' Caucus.
Lyn Hall - 2014 to Present
Lyn Hall presided over the Canada Winter Games and the City's centennial celebrations, both of which occurred in 2015. He grew up in Dawson Creek, and had a long political career before becoming mayor, including 10 years on the Board of Trustees for School District #57 – including a time as Chair – and one term on Prince George City Council. As Mayor, he has brought a renewed commitment to reconnecting with citizens, stimulating the economy, adding diverse housing options, and fostering the development of the college and university as key infrastructure for the community. He brought the City's arms-length economic development agency into the City and chairs the City's select committee on economic development. He also initiated an annual series of community open houses – called Talktober – in neighbourhoods around the city for residents to meet Council and staff.