Obituary of Eric Harper Mitchell

With sadness, gratitude and admiration we share the news of the passing of Eric Harper Mitchell on October 16, 2018 at the age of 91. His life was one that was lived well. A life of adventure, from seaman, arctic explorer and father to a champion and promoter of Inuit art and culture. His life was marked by perseverance and a lifelong thirst for learning.  

Born in Edinburgh Scotland on August 9, 1927, his adventure began while serving his country in the Royal Navy during WWll and was followed by a time as a merchant marine and a whaler in the Antarctic. Having grown weary of the seaman’s life of four hours on and four hours off, he joined the Hudson Bay Company where he spent over a decade as trading post manager in the Canadian arctic. With a young family in tow, Eric moved to Ottawa in 1965 where he co-founded Canadian Arctic Producers, the Inuit art marketing and distribution company. Later he moved to Kleinburg Ontario where he continued his passion for Canadian art - Inuit, First Nations and wildlife - by opening Kaiser House Galleries.  Throughout his adult life Eric has been a chronicler of both Inuit life and art and whaling through his books and articles.  

He will be remembered lovingly by so many as a great orator and story teller, an accomplished bagpiper known to many as “maestro", and for his camaraderie with friends and a deep appreciation for a good scotch and rum.

He made an impression on all he met and built lasting connections with people throughout his life. At Christmas gatherings, his dear friend Bruce Pearson would raise a toast and say “to friends who are family, and family who are friends” -  a fitting phrase that captures how he endeared himself to others.

His memory will be honored by his children Cameron Mitchell (Ester), James Mitchell (Caroline), Andrew Mitchell, Ann Mitchell (Erik), their mother Jane, and his grandchildren Steven, Henry and Juliet. He has now joined his beloved grandson Ryan Mitchell who pre-deceased him in 2017. Also honouring his memory are his children Eva Aariak and Ike Haulli.  He will be remembered by his brother Ian Mitchell and his close friends John MacDonald, Urban Joseph, the Pearson family, and his friends Brian and Shirley Galbraith who were so generous in their care and support of him in his later years in Matchedash.

Maestro, has moved on to his next great adventure. He has enriched the lives of all who knew him with his enthusiasm and passions. Eric's legacy is that he encouraged us all to inquire, challenge, debate and to be passionate about our beliefs and convictions. To our father, “may you have fair winds and following seas."

A celebration of his life will be held at Bonaire Golf Club, 1699 Woodrow Road, Coldwater on Saturday May 11th from 1-3pm.