City honours dedicated trashman

St. Albert’s recycling depot now has a name, one that honours the dedicated garbage man who helped create it.

About 100 friends, relatives and city staffers came to the Campbell Park recycling depot Thursday morning to witness its formal dedication, which named it the Mike Mitchell Recycling Depot.

A former city employee, Mitchell spent 35 years working for the city's public works department, much of them in the refuse and sign division.

Mitchell, who died last year, was instrumental in the construction and operation of the recycling depot, and his family and city staffers felt it fitting to name it after him, said city solid waste programs co-ordinator and long-time co-worker Christian Benson.

“He was probably St. Albert's biggest fan.”

Mitchell was not only a dedicated civil servant, but also an avid fastball player, hockey coach, volunteer and fisherman, said Coun. Wes Brodhead, speaking at the ceremony. He cared deeply for his city, and was passionate about recycling and waste diversion.

“Public servants serve their communities because of their heart for the city in which they live,” he said.

“Mike Mitchell was a true public servant.”

Mr. St. Albert

A lifelong St. Albert resident, Mitchell joined public works 35 years ago after his dad, Larry Mitchell, convinced him that a career in professional sports was a bad idea. Mitchell had been pitching for the Red Deer Diplomats (a fastball team), and had his heart set on becoming a pro baseball player.

“I told him that was not going to happen,” said Larry, addressing the crowd.

“You don't get paid for playing pro baseball. You do get paid working for the City of St. Albert.”

He was also tired of driving Mitchell to practice in Red Deer three times a week, he added, facetiously.

Mitchell signed on with the city and spent the next 35 years plowing streets, collecting trash and wrangling street signs, eventually rising to the position of refuse foreman.

“He knew every person on just about every block,” Larry said, and would address every complaint he heard himself – often in person.

“If someone wanted a weekend off, Mike would work their shift.”

Residents would often call Mitchell directly when their trash wasn't picked up on time, Benson said. One elderly woman told him last year that Mitchell would regularly haul her trash cart to the curb for her.

“It was kind of hard to hear (as this was after his death), but it also put a smile on my face realizing what kind of guy Mike was.”

Glenn Tompolski, the city's general manger of infrastructure services, said Mitchell was the most dedicated municipal employee he'd met in 31 years.

“He didn't do it just because it was his job. It was his life.”

Mitchell immersed himself in all aspects of waste management, and did extensive research to plan and run the Campbell recycling depot, Tompolski said.

After work, Mitchell would fish, golf, play baseball, coach hockey games, and volunteer with the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the SPCA, says his eldest son, Mark Mitchell. He also spent many weekends with the family at Amisk Lake.

“He was the best dad a guy could ask for.”

Mark said his dad's passion for St. Albert inspired both he and his brother, David, to work for the city.

Mitchell died July 7, 2014, from a heart attack at age 56. Dozens of people called public works to express their sympathies afterwards, Benson said.

Naming the depot after Mitchell was a great gesture, said Mark, although he joked that it meant he would now have to step up his game.

“My grandpa (Larry) has a day named after him in this city. Now, my dad has the recycling yard. It puts a lot of pressure on my brother and myself!”

Larry thanked all the city staff for their work and coming out to the ceremony.

“Words cannot express how I feel,” he said, on the verge of tears.

Mitchell wanted to make St. Albert a better place to live, and the result is here in the recycling yard, Larry said in a later interview.

“I'm sure when people drive up there and see that sign, they'll be thinking of him.”