George Gibbon came to Canada at age 14 with his family and relocated in Oliver Township in May 1883. From 1901 to 1904 he was employed by the Port Arthur street railway as a conductor. Gibbon then partnered with James D. Campbell to open a grocery store under the name of Campbell and Gibbon. Gibbon remained involved in the grocery business as late as 1950.
Gibbon was founder of the Children's Aid Society of Port Arthur, instituted in March 1916 when it split from the Fort William society, and held the position of local superintendent. He was actively involved in child welfare throughout his life. In 1935, Gibbon was appointed Relief Administrator, by the Ontario Department of Public Welfare, and oversaw the districts of Thunder Bay, Kenora and Rainy River.
Gibbon sat on Port Arthur’s City Council from 1916 to 1919, as a mid-year replacement in 1922, and from 1923 to 1928. He was acclaimed as Mayor in 1929, and again in 1930, a time when the country was facing the Great Depression. As unemployment rates soared, Gibbon went to Ottawa to seek help on behalf of the city.
Gibbon ran again in the 1931 Mayoral election, but lost to Percy Victor Ibbetson.
Born: December 3, 1867 in Marske or Woodby, Yorkshire, England
Died: September 17, 1951 in Port Arthur, Ontario at the age of 83
Councillor: 1916-1919, 1922 (August-December), 1923-1928
Mayor: 1929-1930
Mayoral Candidate: 1931
Previous Mayor: Mayor John Oswald Hourigan
Next Mayor: Mayor Percy Victor Ibbetson
Back to Port Arthur City Councils 1920 - 1929
Back to Port Arthur City Councils 1930 - 1939
Back to Port Arthur Mayors
Back to Past Councils Main Page
Contact Us
Connect
