Don Atchison

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Don Atchison is a Canadian politician who was elected mayor of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on October 22, 2003.

Atchison was born and raised in Saskatoon where he attended Queen Elizabeth and Holliston elementary schools, Walter Murray Collegiate and the University of Saskatchewan. A sportsman, he has participated in curling, tennis, football, golf and hockey as both a player and a coach.

Atchison was first elected to Saskatoon's city council as a councillor in 1994 and was re-elected in 1997.

During his nine years on city council, Atchison sat on many boards and committees, including audit, budget, pension, administration and finance, planning and operations, Prairieland Exhibition, special needs transportation and "The Partnership" (an organization of downtown businesses).

Don Atchison has struggled during his term with the issue of rising crime. The murder rate in the city has risen significantly in recent years, as 27 homicides were committed during his term compared to just 8 during the term of previous mayor Jim Maddin.

Don Atchison is the owner/operator of a longtime men’s clothing store in downtown Saskatoon. He and his wife Mardele have five children.

In 2004, Atchison was voted the craziest mayor in Canada in an online poll for the CBC television show "Monday Report," hosted by the popular Canadian comedian and satirist Rick Mercer. His nomination was based on a policy he announced shortly after being elected mayor, wherein he refused to meet with anyone not attired in formal dress, including shirt and tie. Although he defended the policy for a time, he eventually rescinded it under pressure from various community groups who pointed out that many of the poorer city residents did not own formal clothing and could not afford it.

In addition to the formal dress policy, Atchison was also criticized and ridiculed for proposing the creation of a climate-controlled glass 'dome' over downtown Saskatoon.

Atchison was heavily critizied for both matters. In addition to the merits of the ideas themselves, the fact that Atchison owns a men's clothing store located downtown made both policies appear self-serving, and provided fodder for the media^[1].

At a recent electoral debate, Atchinson's views on racial and sexual equality were raised. Over his three years as mayor, his controversial decision to fire city police chief Russell Sabo, who was widely perceived as 'Aboriginal-friendly'^{[citation needed]}, and instated himself as the police commisioner.

He was re-elected on October 26, 2006 as mayor of Saskatoon with 64% of the vote ^[2].