User:John D. Perrin

John Draper Perrin (1890 - 1967) Canadian mining entrepreneur and financier. Developed the San Antonio Gold Mine and the Town of Bissett, Manitoba. President of the San Antonio Gold Mines Limited from 1930 - 1962. Director of mining companies and a member of the Advisory Board of the Royal Trust Company. The San Antonio mine was the first dividend-paying metals mine in Canada between the Manitoba/Ontario border and the Rocky Mountains. The San Antonio company was one of the first Manitoba corporations to achieve a listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Perrin's holdings made him for almost 30 years one of Canada's wealthiest individuals. Perrin was interested in aviation and was reputed to be the first person in the world to hire an aircraft to reach a remote mining site, having done so in 1923. In the 1930's he was one of the organizers of Wings Ltd., an early aviation company. J. D. Perrin was principal owner and President of the Winnipeg Warriors Hockey Club of the Western (Professional) Hockey League from 1954 - 1959. Playing in the then brand-new Winnipeg Arena, the Warriors won the Edinburgh Cup in 1956 as World's Minor Professional Champions.

In addition to his business activities, Perrin was active in the community. During the Second World War he was Chairman of the Greater Winnipeg Victory Loan Committee of the Canadian National War Finance Committee, raising over $100 million for the war effort. Mr. Perrin was also an active member of the Canadian Red Cross as Chairman of Winnipeg's wartime Prisoners of War Parcel Packaging Plant. He was honoured as a Life Member of the Canadian Red Cross. In 1957 - 1959 Perrin was Chairman of the Building Committee for Winnipeg's then-new Children's Hospital. He was also a major benefactor of the Lakeside Fresh Air Camp (near Gimli Manitoba) for underpriviledged children. He was President of The Manitoba Club in 1954-1955. Perrin was a co-founder of the Crescentwood Homeowners' Association and Chairman of the Building Committee of St. George's Crescentwood Anglican Church.

J. D. Perrin was offered, but declined, appointment as Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba and was credited as an important builder of Manitoba and Western Canada by former Manitoba Premier Duff Roblin.

Sources: Who's Who in Canada, newspaper articles, Manitoba Archives, Manitoba Historical Society, Manitoba Club