Douglas Mason FISHER

FISHER, Douglas Mason 1919-2009 Died peacefully in his sleep in Ottawa, on the eve of his 90th birthday. A 'boy from the bush', and proud of it, Douglas was born and raised in Sioux Lookout, a remote railway town in northwestern Ontario. He was the son of a CNR locomotive engineer, Roy Waldon Fisher, and his wife, Eva Pearl Mason. Doug was predeceased by his parents, brothers Gordon and George, and sisters Joyce and Irene. A miner, soldier, librarian, teacher, Member of Parliament, political columnist ... the list goes on. Doug was a great and very grateful Canadian. He applied his prodigious intellect and energy to a wide range of interests. A trooper with the XIIth Manitoba Dragoons, he served in Canada, England and northwest Europe from 1941-45. Though he lost many friends, Doug had a 'good war', and used his veterans' benefits to attend Victoria College, U of T, where he was greatly influenced by professors Northrop Frye, Frank Underhill and Donald Creighton. He graduated with degrees in Honours History and Library Science. Doug returned to northern Ontario (Thunder Bay) to set up a forestry research library and to teach high school history at Port Arthur Collegiate Institute. He came to national attention in 1957 as the 'giant killer' who defeated CD Howe, the Liberal 'minister of everything'. He represented Port Arthur and Thunder Bay for the CCF/NDP from 1957-1965, winning re-election three times. Doug was a 'House of Commons man', who befriended and supported MPs from all parties. He resigned his seat to focus on his career as a political commentator, writing a nationally-syndicated column three times a week for 44 years (Toronto Telegram and Toronto Sun), and hosting a weekly political television show for more than 25 years at CJOH in Ottawa. He retired as the dean of the parliamentary press gallery in 2006. Beyond politics and journalism, Doug made little-known but large contributions to public policy in sport and recreation, forestry, libraries, educational television, government and parliamentary reform and veterans affairs. A lifelong devotee of sport, he co-authored 'Canada's Sporting Heroes' with his late friend, SF Wise. As a founding director of Hockey Canada, Doug brokered the deal for the 1972 Canada-Russia hockey series and then the Canada Cup, opening a new era in international hockey. He also helped establish the first national coaching programmes for sport in Canada. Doug is survived by his former wife, Barbara, their five proud sons - Mark, Matthew, Tobias (Mireille Nicholas), John (Huguette Houle) and Luke (Kamla Almeida) - and by his six grandchildren - Wendel, Irene, Alex, Emma, Sam and Ruth. The family wishes to thank the staff of Granite Ridge residence for looking after Doug's needs so well for the last two years. It was Doug's longstanding request that there be no funeral or memorial service. However, his family invites friends to remember a long life, well-lived, by sending their memories of Doug to his website: www.douglasfisher.ca. Published in the Ottawa Citizen on 9/19/2009