Background
Mackie was born in Westminster, England in 1860 to Scottish parents.
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James Mackie
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Career
He was the 12th mayor of Calgary, Alberta. Hearing of opportunities in Canada, he emigrated to Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1882. In Winnipeg, he learnt to become a gunsmith with Hingston Smith Arms Company.
They instead decided to go to Syracuse, New York then later San Francisco, California.
While on route back to Canada, Mackie met Grace MacMillan Forgan. Mackie headed to Calgary in 1886 to open a gun store.
Mackie had short-lived business partnerships with Walter Mackay and Joseph Cockel that helped expand his business knowledge beyond gunsmithing. He ended up being involved with taxidermy, sports goods, fishing tackle, cutlery, fur, et cetera
In November 1899, he purchased the Thomson Brothers bookstore.
In 1901, he bought the Thompson Stationary Company. He spent six years as an Alderman of the Calgary City Council. He also held the position of mayor for one term.
Mackie also got himself into real estate.
He built the Mackie Block and the Lancaster building in Calgary, which are today prominent historical structures in downtown Calgary.
Membership
In 1891, Mackie became a charter member of the Calgary Board of Trade, which is now the Chamber of Commerce.
