John Draper Perrin (August 26, 1890 – September 19, 1967) was a Canadian entrepreneur, mining executive and civic leader.Staff report (19 September 1967). J. D. Perrin dies at his home. ''

Winnipeg Free Press The ''Free Press'' (or FP; founded as the ''Manitoba Free Press''; previously known as the ''Winnipeg Free Press'') is a daily (excluding Sunday) broadsheet newspaper in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It provides coverage of local, provincial, natio ...

''Edited by Greene, B. M. (1948). Perrin, John Draper. ''Who's Who in Canada (1947-48)''. International Press Limited, TorontoStaff report (7 July 1948). He Mixes Mining, Horses and Fund-Raising. ''

The Winnipeg Tribune ''The Winnipeg Tribune'' was a metropolitan daily newspaper serving Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada from January 28, 1890, to August 27, 1980. The paper was founded by R.L. Richardson and D.L. McIntyre who acquired the press and premises of the old ' ...

Life and career

Perrin was born in

Medicine Hat Medicine Hat is a city in Southern Alberta, southeast Alberta, Canada. It is located along the South Saskatchewan River. It is approximately east of Lethbridge and southeast of Calgary. This city and the adjacent Town of Redcliff, Alberta, R ...

North-West Territories The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada. At a land area of approximately and a 2021 census population of 41,070, it is the second-largest and the most populous of the three territories in Northern Canada. Its estimated pop ...

, to William Perrin, a former British soldier in the Wolseley Expedition, (1st Battalion, 60th King's Royal Rifles) and

Sergeant Sergeant (Sgt) is a Military rank, rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and in other units that draw their heritage f ...

in the

North-West Mounted Police The North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) was a Canadian paramilitary police force, established in 1873, to maintain order in the new Canadian North-West Territories (NWT) following the 1870 transfer of Rupert's Land and North-Western Territory to ...

and Sarah Lytle; both parents were Irish immigrants. Perrin attended school in Regina and

Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...

, including Aberdeen School. He worked for the

Canadian Pacific Railway The Canadian Pacific Railway () , also known simply as CPR or Canadian Pacific and formerly as CP Rail (1968–1996), is a Canadian Class I railway incorporated in 1881. The railway is owned by Canadian Pacific Kansas City, Canadian Pacific Ka ...

land office from 1906 to 1908, eventually embarking on a

mining Mining is the Resource extraction, extraction of valuable geological materials and minerals from the surface of the Earth. Mining is required to obtain most materials that cannot be grown through agriculture, agricultural processes, or feasib ...

career. Perrin founded and developed the San Antonio Gold Mine, serving as president from 1931 to 1962. The San Antonio mine was the first dividend paying metal mine between the Great Lakes and the Rocky Mountains in Canada.Staff report (17 February 1934). San Antonio Achieves Position of First Gold Mine In Manitoba To Pay A Dividend. ''

'' He financed development of the mining town of Bissett, Manitoba.Theyer, P. (1994). ''Mineral deposits and occurrences in the Bissett area, NTS 52M/4.'' Manitoba Energy and Mines, Geological Services Branch Having successfully secured the financial support of

Noah Timmins Noah Anthony Timmins (March 31, 1867 – January 22, 1936) was a Canadians, Canadian mining financier and developer who is now counted among the founding fathers of Canada's mining industry. Early life and family Timmins was born Noé-Antoine, in ...

and Hollinger Mines Perrin took the stock public in 1934, one of the first in Manitoba on the

Toronto Stock Exchange The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX; ) is a stock exchange located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the List of stock exchanges, 10th largest exchange in the world and the third largest in North America based on market capitalization. Based in th ...

.Staff report (5 April 1934). San Antonio looks big; has untalked of chances. '' The Northern Miner'' The offering made him one of Canada's wealthiest citizens. He was also an early adopter of commercial aviation, organizing charter service Wings Limited, later purchased by Canadian Pacific Airways. Perrin has been credited as the first person in the world to use an aircraft to access a remote mining site.Cole, George E. ''Mining in Manitoba.'' MHS Transactions, Series 3 (1948-49 Season). Manitoba Historical Society He was financier and president of the minor pro Winnipeg Warriors Hockey Club in the 1950s.Stott, Jon C. (2011). ''Ice Warriors: The Pacific Coast/Western Hockey League 1948-1974.'' Heritage House Publishing, Perrin was inducted with the 1955-56 Warriors team into the

Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame The Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum is a hall of fame and museum for ice hockey in Manitoba, located on the main level of the Canada Life Centre in downtown Winnipeg. It was established in 1985, when the first honoured members were named ...

in the Champions category as winners of the Edinburgh Trophy.Beck, Dallis (4 May 1956).The Perrins Gave It A Try - And Now They're Champs. ''The

Winnipeg Tribune ''The Winnipeg Tribune'' was a metropolitan daily newspaper serving Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada from January 28, 1890, to August 27, 1980. The paper was founded by R.L. Richardson and D.L. McIntyre who acquired the press and premises of the old ' ...

''Staff report (4 May 1956).Warriors Whip Royals To Win Cup.''

'' Perrin was chairman and a key leader in the Greater Winnipeg Victory Loan organization,Staff report (7 May 1941). J. D. Perrin Named To Lead Victory Drive. ''

'' which put on If Day on February 19, 1942. He also served during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

as National Vice Chairman of The

Canadian Red Cross The Canadian Red Cross Society ()Staff report (25 November 1942). War Prisoner Parcel Total Now 100,000. ''

''Staff report (2 February 1944).Millionth Red Cross Parcel Slides Off The Assembly Line. ''

'' (the only such facility in western Canada) which packaged 2,604,990 parcelsStaff report (8 January 1945). 2 Millionth Red Cross Parcel for Prisoners Packed Monday. ''

''Staff report (20 February 1946). Perrin Delegate To Red Cross Parley Overseas. ''

'' for shipment overseas to POW's. Beginning in 1948 he was also Chairman of

The Children's Hospital of Winnipeg HSC Winnipeg Children's Hospital, formerly known as the Children's Hospital of Winnipeg, is a children's hospital that forms part of the Health Sciences Centre integrated health care facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The hospital serves patients f ...

Building Committee,Staff report (24 April 1948). Children's Hospital Drive Opens May 10. ''

'' which successfully raised the funds necessary to build the Children's Hospital on William Avenue, opened in 1958 and now part of the Health Sciences Centre. Perrin served as a Director on the Board of the Children's Hospital from 1946Staff report (22 March 1946). Mrs. Filmore Heads Children's Hospital Board.''

'' until his death in 1967. He was President of the Manitoba Club in 1953–54. At one time he owned the rural property that now makes up the largest portion of Beaudry Provincial Park (Manitoba), on the

Assiniboine River The Assiniboine River ( ; ) is a long river that runs through the prairies of Western Canada in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It is a tributary of the Red River. The Assiniboine is a typical meandering river with a single main channel embanked ...

near Winnipeg. Perrin died in Winnipeg and is buried at St. Johns Cathedral Cemetery. He is commemorated by John Perrin Marsh at Beaudry Provincial Park (Manitoba) and in the

Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum The Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is a Canadian museum in Winnipeg, Manitoba, dedicated to honoring the history and achievements of sports in Manitoba. The organization began in 1980, and then opened a museum in The Forks in 1993. Afte ...

and the

as president of the Edinburgh Trophy champions Winnipeg Warriors Hockey Club.

Family

Perrin was married for 53 years to Ruth Taylor Litle; they had one son and three daughters, Alix Elizabeth, Sarah "Sally" Ruth and Marion Joan. His son J. D. "Jack" Perrin Jr. worked in the family businesses and in their hockey operations, for which he was inducted into the

and the

. He owned Winnipeg's Olympic Rink and Fort Garry Hotel.Purser, Richard (30 November 1979). Jack Perrrin seeks hotel's revival. ''

'' Perrin's son-in-law Duncan Jessiman served as chair of the Board of Regents of the

University of Winnipeg The University of Winnipeg (UWinnipeg, UW, or U of W) is a public research university in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It offers undergraduate programs in art, business, economics, education, science and applied health as well as graduate progra ...

and was appointed to the

Senate of Canada The Senate of Canada () is the upper house of the Parliament of Canada. Together with the Monarchy of Canada#Parliament (King-in-Parliament), Crown and the House of Commons of Canada, House of Commons, they compose the Bicameralism, bicameral le ...

from Manitoba. Perrin's son-in-law W. J. "Jack" Hopwood served in the 1967 Winnipeg Pan American Games organizing committee and as President of the St. Charles Country Club and the Winnipeg Squash Racquet Club. Musician Johnny Perrin is his great-grandson.

References

External links

Memorable Manitobans: John Draper Perrin (1890-1967)
via Manitoba Historical Society *
Cole, George E. Mining in Manitoba MHS Transactions (1948-49)
via Manitoba Historical Society
Memorable Manitobans: John Draper "Jack" Perrin (1915-1992)
via Manitoba Historical Society

via Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame {{DEFAULTSORT:Perrin, John Draper 1890 births 1967 deaths Canadian mining businesspeople People from Medicine Hat Businesspeople from Alberta St. Andrew's College (Aurora) alumni