Former Port Alberni mayor and councillor John Douglas believed industry and recreation both have important roles on the city's waterfront. Douglas, who died suddenly earlier in July, was a fierce advocate for ensuring the public has access to the waters of the Alberni Inlet.
Douglas wasn't an 'if you build it, they will come' sort of person. He was an 'invite them to come here and find a way to keep them' sort. Sandra and Rob Gentleman would attest to that: they were the first to bring a watersports business to the Alberni Valley when Douglas pushed to create Canal Beach (now Canal Waterfront Park), where the Gentlemans operated a kiteboarding business.
While they have moved on to other endeavours, Canal Beach continues to grow — and kiteboarding is now thriving at China Creek.
Douglas was at times unconventional in the way he approached a challenge. Stepping away from the waterfront in the years between seats on council he decided the city had too many brownfield sites; so he went about changing a former gas station site from a gravel pit behind a fence to a greenspace, simply by asking.
People may call the slow-growing 'Redford Corner' garden at 10th Avenue and Redford Street a passion project, but it represents Douglas's forward-thinking view of the community.
When he wasn't at the council table, Douglas spent his time on the waterfront he loved so much. He owned a couple of boats over the years and during fishing season could be found with his best fishing buddy out on the water in the Alberni Inlet.
He could often be spotted walking some of the waterfront areas with friends and visitors that he met all over the world, enticing them to check out his city. He was the unofficial mayor of the Alberni Valley's Polar Bear Swim on New Year's Day, which he helped bring to Canal Waterfront Park.
His efforts will impact generations to come.
People in the community have started talking about how we can honour Douglas's memory. The best way we can do that is by carrying forth with his vision for a vibrant waterfront in Port Alberni.
— Alberni Valley News
