Born September 18, 1937 in Guelph, Ontario, Douglas passed away peacefully on April 9, 2019. The second son of Kathleen and Grant Campbell, Doug is survived by Catherine – his loving and supportive wife of 38 years, his children Andrew, Fiona, Clayton, Duncan, and their families, his siblings Duncan, Scott, Rosemary and their families, and many nieces, nephews and grandchildren.
Doug was educated at rural schools in Ontario, St. Andrew’s College and the Ontario Agricultural College. He was then selected into Canada’s foreign service where he proudly served for 38 years living and working in countries in Asia, the Middle East, North America, Latin America and Australia.
In 1997, Doug and Catherine retired to Victoria where he became active with the BC Liberal Party, Newcomers Club, Property Assessment Review Boards, Canadian International Council and Probus. Doug was also a Life Master in duplicate bridge and a grateful friend of Bill W. for many years.
A Christian Funeral Service will be held in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC on Monday, April 29th at 2.00 p.m.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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obert Bolduc
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Dave Ericson From my time working with Doug in Miami as his trade officer, my wife, Marilu, and I will always remember fondly the wonderful and beautiful gatherings that Doug and Catherine hosted at their home. Doug was the best boss I ever had in my life. I am just now discovering that he passed. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Catherine and their family.
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Robert Shaw-Wood I really admired Doug. He was the best trade commissioner I knew, and I always looked up to him. He made a great contribution to the Trade Commissioner Service.
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Robbie Keith Sincere condolences to Catherine and the children. I knew Doug from our time together at SAC and OAC and enjoyed reunions with Doug and Catherine when our class gathered. May those special moments that come to mind lighten your hearts as you celebrate Doug’s life. Robbie Keith.
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Andrea Kilner I’m sorry to hear of the passing of Doug, I’m sure you will look back on the lifetime of memories you have for some comfort
Sincere condolences
Andrea
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Dr. Tom Sanderson Dear Catherine
I was so sorry to get your news about Doug. My relationship with Doug goes back to when we were sixteen…..working with show cattle on Doug’s family farm. We had many things in common and shared many experiences. Things like going on double dates,(he had access to a car,)sharing a bowl of birds-nest soup(and suffering the consequences at Leechee Garden in Toronto.)It goes on and on.Our son is named after him…Craig Douglas.
I enjoyed his humor and admired his decisiveness. He was a good man and there aren’t many like him. He will be greatly missed.
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Miguel and Nicole Soto Our condolences, Catherine. We will miss Doug’s friendship and for me especially, my long conversations with Doug, in Spanish of course. Doug told me some of his adventures in South America and I wish I had heard more of it; he had traveled so much, lived through so many experiences, that I could listen to him for ever. We will miss him and all we can do now is offer you our support and friendship. We love you Catherine.
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Tom Bearss Doug trained me to be a Canadian Trade Commissioner back in the 80’s when we were together in the Latin America & Caribbean Branch. Not only the consummate TC, he was a helluva fun guy. Golfing together in Miami was a blast. I wish I could have attended more of his Trade Commissioner lunches in Victoria. Doug was a champion. Our thoughts are with Catherine and we share your loss.
Tom & Sandra Bearss, Delta, BC
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Bill Ross You know that you have Judith’s and my deepest sympathies, Catherine. While Doug and I served for many years together as trade commissioners, and knew each other, we never had the opportunity to work directly together. It was when Judith and I moved to Victoria that we got to know Doug and Catherine. They very generously welcomed us into their home several times, and introduced us to bridge in Victoria. And Doug was the driving force behind, and stalwart organizer of, TCS lunches at least 2 or 3 times a year, the last one attended by about a dozen of us this past December. He truly kept the TCS spirit together in this part of the world. And he did this, being largely wheelchair bound for the past few years. He was always a great conversationalist with sage opinions on many subjects. When I visited him in the hospital a few weeks ago, we chatted about the “old days” and he regaled me with names and stories from decades ago, including mention of a few of those that have contributed to this “gathering of condolences”. Judith remembers his kindness and a touching story he told her about his first date with Catherine. Doug will be sorely missed.
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Lynn Hunter Catherine and family. I am so sorry for your loss. Doug was a good neighbour. Doug and I had a lively conversation about SNC Lavalin in our condo parkade about a month ago. We also talked frequently about the scourge of MS as my daughter also has the disease. May Doug rest in peace.
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Bob Turner Vicky and I send our most sincere condolences Catherine. Doug loved being a Trade Commissioner – connecting Canadian business people with the contacts he carefully made in his various foreign postings. Increasing bilateral trade was his constant goal and he and Catherine made a huge contribution to this global effort. RIP Doug.
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Michael and Lynn Clark Lynn and I are very saddened to hear of Doug’s passing and our sympathies are with Catherine who will have to face a major gap in her life. Lynn and I met Doug and Catherine in Jakarta on posting in the late 80’s and learned so much from their approach to representing Canada. One class act memory of Doug was him coming to the Jakarta airport with CD35-01 to meet new born son James and mother Lynn and escort them home with Canadian flag flying. We will miss him.
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Peter and Joanne McLachlan Peter and I are very saddened by this news. Our deepest sympathy to Catherine and family. We have the fondest memories of Doug from our Hong Kong days, where he was a supportive and kind colleague and friend. He was always encouraging, funny and to the point. Everyone who knew Doug will greatly miss him.
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Robert Thomson My heartfelt sympathy goes out to you, Catherine. I want to thank you and Doug for the many dinners and parties that you invited Gloria and me to.
I returned from a month in Mexico to discover that Doug had died the day before I got back. He and I had lunch regularly and they were a source of huge pleasure in my life. I could talk about almost anything with Doug and we shared many common values: e. g., we were both appalled by the excesses of the Politically Correct zealots who seem to occupy so many seats of power and influence. Doug saw clearly through the smoke screen of lies that the North American media have laid in order to unjustly vilify Maduro. He also deplored the extravagant mishmash of expensive road changes (to accommodate bikes) ordered by the Victoria municipal government. Like myself, Doug believed in God and did not accept the writings of God-negators: Darwin, Marx, etc. Enjoy the banquets of Elysium, my good friend, and the company of angels. http://www.godwinbooks.com
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Paul and Jocelyn D'Orban Our love and deepest sympathy to Catherine. We have known Doug & Catherine for at least 16 years and have enjoyed their warm hospitality innumerable times. Doug has always been more than a friend in need. We shall miss having him there to give us advice and support. RIP Doug.
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Don Butler Sympathy to Catherine and family. Roslyn and I have warm memories of Doug and Catherine in Jedda. He was an excellent trade commissioner and good leader; courageous, of sound judgement and decisive. I am very glad that I had the chance to work with him.
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François Laberge J’ai eu deux fois l’occasion de travailler avec Doug à Fort Pearson. Il était direct, franc et parfois tonitruant! Mais on se rappelle surtout son bagout! Fort sympa. Il m’a marqué.
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John Noble To Catherine and family,
Our most sincere condolences on Doug’s passing. We spent time together in Ankara 46 years ago and Fiona and Andrew were the same ages as our two oldest. Doug was a real professional and not afraid to make his views known in a long and distinguished career in the service of his country. Last saw Doug in Victoria at a RHOMA reception several years ago. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
John and Linda Noble, Ottawa
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Siew-Bee Lee Lee Siew Bee, Kuala Lumpur
My sincere condolences to Catherine. I had the privilege of working with Doug under his dynamic leadership in the trade team in Jakarta. Thanks to Doug and Catherine I am still with the government of Canada now in Kuala Lumpur. RIP Doug.
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Roman Hruby My Condolences, Catherine and the rest of the family. I had the privileged of working for Doug for one year, before my posting to Brasilia. He was always very loyal, understanding and supportive. I recall his kindness. I will miss him greatly- and will keep him in my thoughts and prayers. May he rest in peace and eternal happiness with the Almighty.
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Ted Lipman Dear Catherine
In the late 70s when I was in Beijing as a trade commissioner I often turned to Doug in HK for advice and counsel. Always generous with his time Doug was a trade commissioner’s trade commissioner, a hero to many and will be sorely missed by all.
Sincere condolences to you and Doug’s loved ones.
Ted Lipman
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David Winfield Carolyn and I send our most profound condolences to Catherine and to their family. Doug and I worked together in the old ITC, in the Latin America Division, and then off and on over subsequent years, the last time being when he was responsible for Mexico in the Latin America Division of DFAIT. In spite of a few ups and downs we became good friends and I valued his advice and sometimes contrary point of view. He was a devoted and capable Trade Commissioner who contributed greatly to Canada’s foreign trade development efforts wherever he and Catherine served. Bridge with Doug and Catherine was always a pleasure and for those of us less expert players he was always patient and offered useful tips. We haven’t seen Doug and Catherine for a few years but our memories of our times together are sharp and indelible.
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JACK KEPPER JACK KEPPER………..DOUG WAS A VERY GOOD FRIEND OVER MANY YEARS WHO WAS ALWAYS READY TO EXTEND A HELPING HAND IN OTTAWA OR OPEN HIS HOME TO A HOSPITABLE VISIT ELSEWHERE………
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Arthur Fraser Doug was the consummate Trade Commissioner in retirement. Always involved and connected in the Victoria community. He was generous with his time helping new retirees settle into Victoria. Always checking to make sure you were doing fine. Doug loved organizing the retired Trade Commissioners lunch several times a year and hearing the comings and goings of those gathered. You will be greatly missed Doug. Rest In Peace.
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Roger H Belanger Marie joins me in sending our sincere condolences to Catherine. We truly enjoyed our two years together in Jakarta. Doug was an excellent manager and trade commissioner. I learned a lot from him – his attachment to truly identify the real needs of our clients and how to respond to these. RIP Doug.
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Tony Eyton June and I are saddened by this news, and our hearts go out to Catherine. Doug will always be remembered by his TCS family. My lasting memory of Doug and Catherine was my visit to Puerto Rico in my capacity as the TCS Regional Coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean, one of four new positions created in TCS HQ by Stu Hay. He impressed me with his professionalism, and I greatly appreciated the hospitality and tourism he and Catherine offered during our short stay. The two of them were great “ambassadors” for Canada for the duration of Doug’s foreign service career.
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william clarke Sad news from victoria, a proud senior trade commissioner with more than forty years of service to canada’s business community we will miss our former neighbour doug greatly.our condolences to Catherine and family on their loss.our warmest best wishes,elly and bill clarke,ottawa.
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Bob Fairweather It is always a sad day when a former colleague passes. I had the honour and pleasure to work for Doug on our assignment to San Juan, Puerto Rico. He served Canada with distinction and was always proud of his TCS roots.
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Jim Elliott I have been a friend of Doug’s since we joined the Trade Commissioner Service together in 1960. Our respective careers brought us together many times over the years. We had many good times together, he and Catherine were excellent hosts.
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Dennis Baker My sympathy to Catherine. Doug was friend of many years and shared a career with the Trade Commissioner Service. He was a talented man who gave great service to the country. We last met in Victoria and he impressed me with his variety of activities in retirement.
Dennis Baker, Hamilton Ontario
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milan stolarik My deepest sympathies. Dough was a colleague and friend at Foreign Affairs where we shared responsibility for Latin America and the Caribbean. May he rest in peace!
Dear Catherine
Just now learned of Doug’s passing.
Our days in Hong Kong were amongst the best, and life marking. Doug had a wonderful personality and served Canada well. He will not be forgotten. Suzanne joins me in sending our condolences.
Robert Bolduc, Ottawa