Material Type

Mixed Media

Date Range

1960-1992

Physical Description

Fifteen items consisting of 11 certificates and four photographs.

Physical Condition

Excellent

History Biographical

Dennis Sidney O'Connell was born on 8 April 1922 in London, England. Mr. O'Connell was educated in England and lived there until World War II, when he joined the Royal Air Force as a pilot trainee in 1941. Mr. O'Connell was first posted to Virden, Manitoba, and graduated as a pilot in June 1942 from No. 12 Service Flying Training School in Brandon, Manitoba. On graduation, Mr. O'Connell was posted to No. 8 Bombing and Gunnery School at Lethbridge as an instructor. He was posted to London, England in September 1943 and served with No. 239 Night Intruder Squadron until his discharge from the Royal Air Force in June 1946. Mr. O'Connell met his wife Barbara while both were serving at No. 8 Bombing and Gunnery School at Lethbridge. Mrs. O'Connell, originally from Regina, Saskatchewan, was at that time a Corporal in the Royal Canadian Air Force. They married in May 1943. Mrs. O'Connell returned to Regina when her husband was posted overseas, and it was there that their son was born. They also have a daughter. The O'Connells settled in Lethbridge in June 1946, and Mr. O'Connell was hired as a Passenger Agent with Trans Canada Air Lines in August 1946. Promoted to Agent in Charge in November 1946, Mr. O'Connell remained with the airline for two years before joining the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce as their Manager in November 1948. Mr. O'Connell remained with the Chamber of Commerce until October 1969, when he became Director of Economic Development with the City of Lethbridge. He held that position until his retirement in April 1988. While with the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. O'Connell was instrumental in the successful effort to establish the University of Lethbridge. He was seconded to the University of Lethbridge from September 1968 to October 1969 in order to establish and manage the Three Alberta Universities Capital Fund Campaign in southern Alberta. While with the City of Lethbridge, Mr. O'Connell also served as Managing Director of CentreSite Lethbridge, a joint federal-provincial-municipal-private sector project to remove the Canadian Pacific Railway yards from the centre of the city and to redevelop the land for residential and commercial uses. Mr. O'Connell has also been active in Lethbridge and southern Alberta as a volunteer. He has contributed time to the Canadian Mental Health Association (Southern Alberta Region), University of Lethbridge, St. Augustine's Anglican Church, the 4th Lethbridge Scout Troop, the Canada Winter Games, and the YMCA among other groups and organizations.

Language

English

Acquisition Source

O'Connell, Dennis Sidney 1102 12A Street South Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 1R6

Scope and Content

Certificates and photographs relating to the professional and volunteer activities of Dennis S. O'Connell and his wife Barbara O'Connell.

Access Restrictions

Public Access

Accession No.

19991097000

Collection

Archive

Less detail