Jack Bickell
Encyclopedia
John Paris "Jack" Bickell (September 26, 1884 – August 22, 1951) was a Canadian
businessman, philanthropist, and sports team owner.
, near Listowel, and raised in Toronto
, Bickell started his own brokerage firm at the age of 23 and made his fortune as a mining executive, serving as president and later chairman of McIntyre Porcupine Mines Ltd.
in Timmins
. He held that position until his death. His work in mining earned him a place in the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame
.
went bankrupt and Charlie Querrie needed financial reorganization to ice a team in Toronto. The Toronto St. Patricks
were formed and won a Stanley Cup in 1922. When Querrie sold his share of the team in February 1927 to a group headed by Conn Smythe
, Bickell kept his stake in the team, which was renamed the Toronto Maple Leafs
. With Smythe, Bickell helped construct Maple Leaf Gardens
for the Leafs in 1931. He was made the first president of Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. and also served as chairman. Bickell served as a director of the Toronto Maple Leafs baseball club, joining the board in 1931. That year, he also built a mansion, adjacent to the Mississaugua Golf & Country Club, in Port Credit, Ontario
where he would live for the rest of his life. His name is on the Stanley Cup 6 times 1932, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1951. He was not included on the cup with 1942 Toronto, because of overseas the whole year serving in WWII.
, Bickell was a key member of a group under Canadian Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook
, the British Minister of Aircraft Production
, which ensured an adequate supply of airplanes for the British forces. Bickell served two years with the British Airplane Supply Board. Along with other important businessmen and industrialists, Bickell was recruited by C. D. Howe
to become one of the famous "dollar-a-year" men who headed up wartime industry and special projects. In 1942, he also became the president and chairman of the board of Victory Aircraft
Ltd. in Malton, Ontario
, the largest airplane manufacturer in Canada.
needed to buy Toronto radio station CKEY. In business, Bickell served as a director of Canadian Bank of Commerce, International Nickel, Imperial Life Assurance, and National Trust. He was also an active philanthropist, serving on several boards, including that of Wellesley Hospital. He was also honorary president of the Health League of Canada.
Bickell died in New York City
in 1951 at age 66 and was buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery
in Toronto. Bickell willed the bulk of his $14.6 million estate to the creation of the John Paris Bickell Foundation. It donates half of its income each year to the Hospital for Sick Children
. In 1953, the Toronto Maple Leafs
established the J. P. Bickell Memorial Award. Bickell was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
in 1978.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
businessman, philanthropist, and sports team owner.
Early life and mining
Born in MolesworthMolesworth, Ontario
Molesworth is a small community located in the town of Huron East in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Molesworth was founded in 1852 by John Mitchell and his family, who operated a general store which served the influx of settlers to the area...
, near Listowel, and raised in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Bickell started his own brokerage firm at the age of 23 and made his fortune as a mining executive, serving as president and later chairman of McIntyre Porcupine Mines Ltd.
McIntyre Mines
The McIntyre mine s an abandoned underground gold mine in Schumacher, Ontario, Canada, which has earned a place in Canadian mining history as one of the nation's most important mines. Its iconic headframe, located near downtown Timmins, has come to represent the entire Porcupine Gold Rush...
in Timmins
Timmins
Timmins is a city in northeastern Ontario, Canada on the Mattagami River. At the time of the Canada 2006 Census, Timmins' population was 42,997...
. He held that position until his death. His work in mining earned him a place in the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame
Canadian Mining Hall of Fame
The Canadian Mining Hall of Fame aims to recognize the accomplishments of leaders in the mining industry.It was conceived by Maurice R. Brown as a way to recognize and honor the legendary mine finders and builders of this Canadian industry. The Hall was established in 1988...
.
Involvement in sports
Jack came into the hockey business when the Toronto ArenasToronto Arenas
The Toronto Arenas, Toronto Blueshirts or Torontos was a professional men's ice hockey team that played in the first two seasons of the National Hockey League . It was operated by the owner of the Arena Gardens, the Toronto Arena Company...
went bankrupt and Charlie Querrie needed financial reorganization to ice a team in Toronto. The Toronto St. Patricks
Toronto St. Patricks
The Toronto St. Patricks professional men's ice hockey team started as an amateur ice hockey organization. In 1919, the club purchased the Toronto National Hockey League franchise from the NHL. The club renamed the franchise the Toronto St. Patricks club and operated the franchise until 1927, when...
were formed and won a Stanley Cup in 1922. When Querrie sold his share of the team in February 1927 to a group headed by Conn Smythe
Conn Smythe
Constantine Falkland Cary Smythe MC was a Canadian businessman, soldier and sportsman in ice hockey and horse racing. He is best known as the principal owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League from 1927 to 1961 and as the builder of Maple Leaf Gardens...
, Bickell kept his stake in the team, which was renamed the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. With Smythe, Bickell helped construct Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens is an indoor arena that was converted into a Loblawssupermarket and Ryerson University athletic centre in Toronto, on the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street in Toronto's Garden District.One of the temples of hockey, it was home to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the...
for the Leafs in 1931. He was made the first president of Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. and also served as chairman. Bickell served as a director of the Toronto Maple Leafs baseball club, joining the board in 1931. That year, he also built a mansion, adjacent to the Mississaugua Golf & Country Club, in Port Credit, Ontario
Port Credit, Ontario
Port Credit is found at the mouth of the Credit River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, within the southcentral area of the city of Mississauga...
where he would live for the rest of his life. His name is on the Stanley Cup 6 times 1932, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1951. He was not included on the cup with 1942 Toronto, because of overseas the whole year serving in WWII.
Second World War
During the Second World WarWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Bickell was a key member of a group under Canadian Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook
Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook
William Maxwell "Max" Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook, Bt, PC, was a Canadian-British business tycoon, politician, and writer.-Early career in Canada:...
, the British Minister of Aircraft Production
Minister of Aircraft Production
The Minister of Aircraft Production was the British government position in charge of the Ministry of Aircraft Production, one of the specialised supply ministries set up by the British Government during World War II...
, which ensured an adequate supply of airplanes for the British forces. Bickell served two years with the British Airplane Supply Board. Along with other important businessmen and industrialists, Bickell was recruited by C. D. Howe
C. D. Howe
Clarence Decatur Howe, PC , generally known as C. D. Howe, was a powerful Canadian Cabinet minister of the Liberal Party. Howe served in the governments of Prime Ministers William Lyon Mackenzie King and Louis St. Laurent continuously from 1935 to 1957...
to become one of the famous "dollar-a-year" men who headed up wartime industry and special projects. In 1942, he also became the president and chairman of the board of Victory Aircraft
Victory Aircraft
Victory Aircraft Limited was a Canadian manufacturing company that, during the Second World War, built mainly British-designed aircraft under license. It acted as a shadow factory, safe from the reach of German bombers....
Ltd. in Malton, Ontario
Malton, Ontario
Malton is a neighbourhood in the northeastern part of the city of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, located to the northwest of Toronto. The neighbourhood has a population of approximately 36,400 as of 2002....
, the largest airplane manufacturer in Canada.
Postwar
In 1945, he provided the funds Jack Kent CookeJack Kent Cooke
Jack Kent Cooke was a Canadian entrepreneur and former owner of the Washington Redskins , the Los Angeles Lakers , and the Los Angeles Kings , and built The Forum in Inglewood, California and FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.-Early career:Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Cooke moved with his family to...
needed to buy Toronto radio station CKEY. In business, Bickell served as a director of Canadian Bank of Commerce, International Nickel, Imperial Life Assurance, and National Trust. He was also an active philanthropist, serving on several boards, including that of Wellesley Hospital. He was also honorary president of the Health League of Canada.
Bickell died in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1951 at age 66 and was buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery
Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto
Mount Pleasant Cemetery is a cemetery located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.In the early 19th century, the only authorized cemeteries within the city of Toronto were limited to the members of either the Roman Catholic Church or the Church of England...
in Toronto. Bickell willed the bulk of his $14.6 million estate to the creation of the John Paris Bickell Foundation. It donates half of its income each year to the Hospital for Sick Children
Hospital for Sick Children
The Hospital for Sick Children – is a major paediatric centre for the Greater Toronto Area, serving patients up to age 18. Located on University Avenue in Downtown Toronto, SickKids is part of the city’s Discovery District, a critical mass of scientists and entrepreneurs who are focused on...
. In 1953, the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
established the J. P. Bickell Memorial Award. Bickell was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
in 1978.