• Competed for the Golden Bears basketball team while a member of the Edmonton Eskimos.
• As head coach, led the Golden Bears basketball team to three WCIAU titles and to the CIAU championships.
• Headed the committee to establish the Alberta Sport Council and chaired the first board of directors of the Recreation, Parks, and Wildlife Foundation.
• Deputy Minister of Alberta Recreation and Parks in the 1980s.
• Served on the Board of Directors of the Calgary Olympics.

As an athlete and a builder, Barry Mitchelson (BA '64 UWO; BPE'66; MA '68; PhD '73 OSU) has left an indelible mark on the University of Alberta and on this province. He came to Alberta in 1964 as the first round draft choice of the Edmonton Eskimos and he found time to complete a second degree, to star on the Golden Bear Basketball Team (1964-65; 1965.66), as well as to compete as a professional athlete. In 1967 he joined the faculty and assumed the role of head coach of the Golden Bear basketball team for the next nine seasons leading them to WCIAU titles and to the CIAU championships on three occasions.

In 1978 Barry was recruited by the Government of Alberta to head a small committee that was to devise a new system for the development of amateur sport in the province. The recommendations contained in the Report produced resulted in the establishment of the Alberta Sport Council. In 1979, Dr. Mitchelson was invited by the Government of Alberta to chair the Board of Directors of the newly created Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation.

Barry's contributions as a builder of sport and recreation accelerated when he was seconded by the Government of Alberta to serve as Deputy Minister of the Alberta Recreation and Parks from 1981 - 1988. In this capacity; he helped forge new legislation (the Alberta Sport Council Act of 1984; the Provincial Parks Amendment Act of 1986), establish new policy directions, and create a wide range of new program initiatives. From 1983 to 1988 Barry directly managed the Olympic Secretariat which was responsible for the Government's capital ($112 million dollars was invested in new sport facilities) and operational initiatives. Barry also served on the Board of Directors of the Calgary Olympics that are recognized around the world as an outstanding sporting success.

Perhaps Dr. Mitchelson's greatest legacy to sport and recreation is found in the results of his tireless work to create and to place two crown corporations, the Alberta Sport Council and the Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation, under the funding aegis of lottery revenues. The creation of this enhanced funding base for the social, recreational, and athletic activities encompassed within the policy jurisdiction of these crown corporations has enabled hundreds of thousands of Albertans to gain benefits from them. This remarkable achievement continues to benefit the people of Alberta.

Barry returned to the University in 1988 and assumed the lead role in the establishment of a new MBA program with specialization in Leisure and Sport Management. Until his retirement, he was an instrumental player in sustaining nationally recognized sport/recreation administration programs in the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation.

The legacies of leaders such as Barry continue to serve our University and the people of our province. The University of Alberta is proud to recognize Barry's accomplishments and his contributions to sport, recreation and to our campus.