David Joseph Mitchell (born March 15, 1954) is a Canadian writer, former politician, university and college administrator, businessman and political commentator. He is a former President & CEO of the Public Policy Forum, an Ottawa-based NGO, which he abruptly left on August 20, 2015. His current position is Vice President, College Advancement and Chief External Relations Officer at Bow Valley College in Calgary, Alberta. Education, writings Mitchell holds a master's degree in Canadian and American history from Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia. He served as Editor and Archivist at the British Columbia Provincial Archives. He is a self-confessed 'political junkie', who is a frequent commentator on Canadian politics and public life on radio and television. He has won awards for his writing, and is a former newspaper columnist (Vancouver Sun 1996–98; Business in Vancouver 1995–98). He has authored a number of books about politics and history in BC: W.A.C. Bennett and the rise of British Columbia, Vancouver 1983, Douglas & McIntyre, (). A biography of W. A. C. Bennett. Succession: the political reshaping of British Columbia, 1986 (). A synopsis of the Social Credit administrations since W.A.C. Bennett. All aboard!: the Canadian Rockies by train, 1995 () The Hongkong Bank of Canada Story – Origin & Early Years, 1996 British Columbia's business leaders of the century, 1999 (editor) Family, business career He is the father of two daughters, and is married to author and women's advocate, Shari Graydon. Mitchell has also worked as an executive in the forestry industry and in resource industries in western Canada (1984–1990). Political career He gained experience in parliamentary procedure and legislative processes as Deputy Clerk of the Saskatchewan Legislature (1981–84). He was elected in 1991 to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, for the Liberal Party, in the riding of West Vancouver-Garibaldi. He was the party's House Leader, but resigned his position as a result of a rift over the Charlottetown constitutional accord. He sat the remainder of his term, until 1996, as an "Independent". During his term, he was a watchdog on a broad range of issues including resource management, labour relations, advanced education, and parliamentary reform. University/College administrator He served as Vice President of External Relations at Simon Fraser University from 1997 to 2002, where he was responsible for fundraising, alumni relations, media and public relations, and government affairs. SFU raised over $65 million under his direction and significantly expanded