Born on October 12, 1928, the son of the late John W. C. and Olive M. Burns of Edmonton, AB. Doug died on June 22, 2015, in Victoria, BC. Doug leaves to mourn his loss his loving wife, Nancy Ann (Paddy); nephews, John Rose, Richmond and Ian Rose, Dominican Republic; nieces, Pat Cooper, Winnipeg and Shannon Rose, Florida; godsons, Darik Johnson, Edmonton and Tim Stock-Bateman, Calgary. He was predeceased by his sister, Patricia Buckingham (Rose).
A graduate of the University of Alberta, Doug was Student Council President. He was awarded an Executive Gold Ring and membership in the Gold Key Honour Society. He served as a statutory member of the University Senate. In 1954, he was elected the first full-time paid President of the National Federation of Canadian University Students petitioning the federal government for post-secondary student scholarships which ultimately led to a federal program of student financial aid.
On returning to Edmonton from Ottawa, Doug served four years in the Canadian Army on call-out active duty from the Army militia Loyal Edmonton Regiment. He was awarded the Queen 11 Coronation Medal in 1953 and the Canadian Forces Decoration in 1959 and retired with the rank of L Col. In 1960, Doug commenced 28 years’ service as an Administrative Professional Officer (Admissions Registrar) at the U of A and he retired as Special Assistant to the President. He also served as Commanding Officer of the U of A COTC. He was President of the Association of Registrars of Universities of Canada; U of A member ATA Teachers’ Salary Qualification Committee; member of Admissions, Evaluation and Placement Committee of the American Association of College Registrars and Admission Officers; first Canadian chairman of the World Education Series Committee; participant in the international workshop in Puerto Rico on Latin American education and as project director of the Scandinavian Workshop on the placement of international students; Director of both the World University Service of Canada and the Canadian Bureau for International Education and a member of the National Association for Foreign Students Affairs. He was Chairman of the Alberta Selection Committee for United World Colleges for 27 years and a patron of L.B. Pearson College of the Pacific since its inception. A fifth generation Edmontonian, Doug believed deeply in community service. He was a shareholder Director of the Edmonton Exhibition; Chairman of Parade Committee and Finance and Audit Committee of Edmonton Northlands (life member); Parade Marshal for Edmonton Exhibition and Klondike Days Parade from 1960-1985 and Protocol Commissioner for the World University Games in 1983-84. Doug was the Province of Alberta member of the Minister of National Defence Advisory Board on Military Colleges; President of the Northern Alberta Army Cadet League; Chairman of the Kurimoto Japanese Garden of the Devonian Botanic Garden and President of the University of Alberta Faculty Club. After his early retirement in 1988, Doug and Paddy moved to Victoria where he was a deputy chairman for the 1994 Commonwealth Games and Secretary-Treasurer of Loyal Edmonton Regiment BC Association for 15 years. Doug was a life-time member of the Anglican Church and was People’s Warden and Lay Reader at St. George’s Anglican Church, Edmonton and People’s Warden and Synod delegate at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Victoria, BC Diocese. This honourable man was deeply loved and will be sadly missed.
Funeral service will be held in Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria, BC on Thursday, July 2, 2015 at 2:00 pm.
If you wish, donations in Doug’s memory may be made to Victoria Hospice or Primate World Relief and Development Fund.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
Sequoia Gardens Memorial
www.sequoiagardens.com
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Del Brooks
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Betty and Rex Boake Hi Paddy
Our thoughts are with you as we extend our sympathy to you. We have known Doug since 1953 when I joined the Dekes. He was a true friend and both of us remember your kindness when David was having a difficult time in Victoria.
Many of our present friends are Dekes and we have lost a great one.
Love
Betty and Rex
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Janet Coons Doug was an exceptional man who cared deeply for his friends and family. His passing will leave a big hole on all of our lives. Paddy, I send you my deepest sympathy at this very sad time and hope that all your good memories of Doug will help you through this sad time. Love Janet
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Janet Ebert During his lifetime, Doug certainly gave much to the benefit of many. He will be sadly missed. God grant you and Doug’s extended family peace at this time.
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Grant Burnyeat The brothers of Delta Kappa Epsilon have lost one of the great members. For decades, Doug was the guiding force behind the University of Alberta Chapter. Always supportive and always there when needed, Doug was always there to lend a hand to his Brothers. Once he moved to Victoria, he was a loyal supporter of the new Chapter at the University of Victoria. He will be missed by hundreds of Dekes. Our motto, Friends From the Heart Forever was always his motto. May he rest in peace.
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Dr. Gary Krivy Paddy, you are absolutely correct that Doug was loved and will be missed. From my first meeting with him in 1968, Doug was my mentor in all my admissions work and we had many wonderful times together including a trip to Scandinavia in the early 1970’s with both you and Doug. Doug was always a very gracious man and totally unselfish. He was there whenever you needed him and was happy to share his great amount of knowledge of post-secondary education and administration. He found in you the partner he always wanted and you were a dear friend to all of us. My sincere condolences.
Dear Paddy:
Doug was a close friend and colleague of mine during the ten years I was at the University of Alberta. Recently I ran an old movie of a Tri-Service mess dinner in the 1960’s, that included Doug with a number of the senior staff, including the Registrar Alec Cairns and the President Walter Johns. Great memories of old friends! Doug was a gentleman who was always sensitive to the comfort of others. He will be missed. Barb and I and our four children, extend our love to you.
Del Brooks