P.A. celebrates Don Mitchell with music, food and ‘corny jokes’
The man with the unmistakable voice, who told the stories of Prince Albert and area for half a century, has retired – perhaps for the last time.
Mitchell was sent off last night at the Art Hauser Centre’s Ches Leach lounge in an evening of food and drinks, music from Donny Parenteau and the Johner Brothers, and, of course, some trademark Mitchell humour.
Don had retired once from CTV ten years ago, before making a comeback on CKBI. The on-going joke was Mitchell’s opposition to being put out to pasture, but after each presenter razzed the radio host, he was sincerely praised for his commitment to the community at large.
Don’s son, Kevin Mitchell, a columnist with the Saskatoon StarPheonix, said growing up in Birch Hills, his dad was a bit of a local hero. School friends of Kevin’s, the kind of kids who were probably “driving and smoking” by 12, told the younger Mitchell Optimist TV Bingo was their favourite weekend watch.