John Douglas will be remembered for many things: his love of family, of boating, travelling and the Rolling Stones. But most of all, he will be remembered for his love of his community.
Douglas died suddenly late last week at home in Port Alberni, after spending his morning out on his boat fishing and then riding his e-bike home.
Douglas was a city councillor with the City of Port Alberni. He first served from 2008-11 as councillor, then as mayor from 2011-14. He lost a bid to return to the mayoral seat in 2018 to current mayor Sharie Minions, but returned successfully as a councillor in 2022.
"John was an early voice of change in Port Alberni and was the first person that I saw in this role to recognize a different future for our community's waterfront," Minions said in a statement on Douglas's death released July 12, 2024. "He inspired many of us with his vision, myself included, and he was always there as a supportive voice for progress, offering encouraging words along the way."
Douglas pushed to reclaim the waterfront at the former site of the Alberni Plywood plant, which has now become Canal Beach. He and former councillor Ron Corbeil had also been developing a small greenspace in a brownfield site at the corner of 10th Avenue and Redford Street.
City CAO Mike Fox said Douglas was generous with advice and invested in Fox and his wife Jane's success and happiness living in Port Alberni. "We will cherish John's friendship and miss him dropping in for coffee and a chat," Fox said. "On behalf of all city staff, our sincere condolences go out to John's family."
John had a varied career, and his older brother Marty Douglas was surprised when John ran for city council in 2008. "He spent his early career in the food industry, photographic industry and paramedic industry," Marty said from Courtenay. "He started as a lifeguard in Vancouver (Kitsilano Beach)."
John worked as a paramedic in Vancouver's lower east side, which remains a tough area to serve as a paramedic due to the ongoing toxic drug crisis. It was this experience that motivated John to move to Port Alberni in 2004, where he worked as a paramedic for eight years. He also taught at the Justice Institute of B.C.
When John decided to run for office, Marty said his brother campaigned by riding public transit and talking to people. Wherever he travelled, John would talk to people "in the middle of nowhere" and invite them to Port Alberni. "It was his overall attitude of people helping people," Marty said.
"John was probably the most quietly determined person I've ever run across."
Donna and John Douglas were married for 17 years. In that time they travelled all over Europe "many times," said Donna, from Scotland to skiing in Germany and Italy. They recently returned from a month-long trip through Turkey with some of John's cousins from England (although John was born in Canada, his family immigrated from England).
"John handed out so many business cards, always asking people to come and visit," she said. They have hosted a couple from Germany three times after such an invitation, as well as people from Los Angeles, New York and a couple travelling across Canada that they met along the way. John invited them to park their vehicle in his driveway and they later told Donna "Port Alberni was their best stop in all of Canada."
"He was so outgoing and sociable with everybody."
"Our whole trip everyone asked us what was the best part and John and I both said the people of Turkey. This is my recent and most beautiful memory of John."
John Douglas was also "an absolute raving Rolling Stones fan," said Marty, and attended the Stones' concert in Vancouver recently.
"He saw them in his heyday," his wife Donna added. "Thank God we got to see the Rolling Stones (in Vancouver). He was in his glory."
John and Donna Douglas were season ticket holders at the Alberni Valley Bulldogs' Jr. A hockey games. They were a billet family as well, hosting eight players over the years. Donna said the players took the news hard. "They loved John because he was a chef and he would cook meals for them. They were big eaters."
The Bulldogs posted a posthumous thank you to Douglas "for your service to our organization, and the entire Alberni Valley. Our thoughts are with his family and friends and the community at large that he passionately served..."
Douglas worked closely with First Nations in tourism management and economic development and more recently focused his efforts on social planning, mental health and addictions, food distribution and housing solutions for the Alberni Valley. Douglas had a long history with Tseshaht First Nation, which acknowledged the relationship in a statement released July 12. Former Tseshaht Elected Chief Councillor Hugh Braker said in 2012 when he joined Tseshaht council "John contacted me and suggested a council-to-council meeting; he was the first one to ever do this. He recognized Tseshaht's historical as well as contemporary contributions to the Alberni Valley."
Present Elected Chief Councillor Wahmeesh (Ken Watts) said "we will always remember him waiting to speak when he felt the timing was right, speaking supportively of our nation, thinking strategically and more importantly speaking with passion and hope for a brighter future for us all."
Many tributes have been posted about Douglas since the City of Port Alberni councillor died suddenly late last week.
Douglas spent six years working with Port Alberni Shelter Society, advocating for change in the way addiction treatment is conducted. He made trips to Portugal and Italy to see for himself different treatment methods. "His contributions to the Port Alberni Shelter Society have left a lasting impact on all of us," PASS posted on social media. The organization plans to share a tribute to Douglas's accomplishments on its website in the coming days.
Douglas's fellow city councillors have posted memorials on their Facebook pages. Mayor Sharie Minions said Douglas was a "supportive voice" in her years on council, and when they ran against each other for mayor in 2018 Douglas and his wife Donna showed up at her house the morning after the election with flowers "and the kindest words of support for my upcoming term as mayor. It was a meaningful gesture that so perfectly highlights the supportive person John Douglas was," Minions said.
The city postponed both a special council meeting and public committee of the whole meeting scheduled for Monday, July 15 out of respect to Douglas's family. The flags in front of city hall have been lowered to half-mast in mourning. A book of condolence has been set up in city council chambers for anyone wishing to pay their respects and leave a message for the family. The book will be available to sign this week from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; council chambers will be open to the public for those who would like to stop in, gather and honour his passing.
Anyone wishing to drop off flowers or a card may do so at city hall during business hours. City staff will ensure all items are delivered to the family.
Douglas is survived by his wife Donna, daughters Charlie and Georgia, stepson Brad, brother Marty Douglas (Lauren) of Courtenay, sister Rowena Rathlef of Ladysmith and brother-in-law David Andrews, who was his fishing partner and close friend. Douglas was pre-deceased by his stepson Bryan Mason.
