J. B. Mitchell said:
"There's nothing too for the children, and it should be known, appreciated and remembered by every parent in this Dominion that education is more important than good streets, roads or sidewalks, and more public money should be spent to thoroughly equip the children for the battle of life than is now being devoted to that purpose."

Colonel J. B. Mitchell saw action in World War I with the 100th Winnipeg Grenadiers. He bravely fought at Saint Eloi and Vimy.

In 1929, he retired along with his superintendent, Daniel McIntyre. Fittingly, they both have had schools named after them. In 1939, he was presented to Their majesties King George VI and his queen, Elizabeth.