Douglas Swanson

Doug was born in Niagara Falls and grew up in Ontario, finishing each school year in a different school from the one where he started. Doug worked as a cameraman for the CBC, climbing around on the catwalks above the ice for Hockey Night in Canada; he also did professional photography. He raced Formula 4 at Mosport and enjoyed driving an MG TD and a Ducati (and much later a Honda Crx Si).

Doug was trained as a radar technician by the Canadian Air Force, then went on to get a bachelor’s degree from Laurentian University and a master’s degree (in psychology) from Simon Fraser University.

Doug was a very patient man. He worked with handicapped children for the Vancouver-Richmond Association for Mentally Handicapped, as well as at numerous other group homes. He also worked with troubled youth at the Maples and the Salvation Army’s House of Concord. After moving to Vancouver Island Doug worked as a substitute teacher’s aide for School District 63.

Following early retirement, Doug volunteered to raise a puppy for Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind. Arran flunked her medical, but easily qualified for Pacific Animal Therapy Society. Doug brought her for weekly visits with residents at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital’s extended and palliative care units for more than a decade.

Doug was predeceased by his childhood buddy Sandy (a German Sheppard), his mother Mary, his brother John, and (yellow labs) Arran and Caper; survived by partner Marian and Tulip (a blind rescued black lab mix).