In 1963, Doug worked for Imperial Oil as a Process Operator in Norman Wells, Northwest Territories. After 6 years of freezing cold temperatures and hords of bugs a new career was in the works and the direction was back down to the Prairies. Doug started his main career with Provincial Parks in 1969 at Entrance Park (now W.A. Switzer). The next spring he moved to Thunder Lake to cover off for a Ranger that had fallen ill. Doug's next move came as a shock. A cement worker from the Bon Aventure shop came to repair the foundation on some gas pump and ended up informing Doug he was moving. A few days later Doug was off to Taber Provincial Park. Doug was stationed there for 3 years but spent two of these three years repairing the park as it was lost to yearly flooding. Due to the flooding and another illness, Doug spent part of a year at Writing-On-Stone. Even though Doug enjoyed shovelling mud and living in a hotel, it was time to move on and join the RCMP.
Several years later due to a shoulder injury, he was unable to continue with the RCMP. In 1976, thanks to their loss and Parks gain, Doug returned to Parks and was placed at Jarvis Bay/Sylvan Lake, just about the same time the Beach at Sylvan Lake was made into a Provincial Park for the second time. Doug remained there for 14 years as the Ranger-in-charge. In 1990, Doug was given the District Ranger position for the David Thompson District. Three years later, in 1993, he was moved over to Pigeon Lake as the Park Ranger IV. Doug remained at Pigeon and area through all the Ministry changes, till his retirement in May of this year (2008).
Doug was instrumental in the success of the Alberta Parks Water Safety Program and has become widely known throughout Alberta and several other Provinces. During his career, Doug also filled his boots as a Firearms Instructor, as a co-chair for the NRS Provincial Volunteer Committee, seasonal hiring co-ordinator and largely involved in the success of Peaceful Valley Provincial Recreation Area.
Some of Doug's noted achievements include the: Federal/Provincial Award, Community Service Award, Lifetime Volunteer Award, Duncan and Craig Award, Unsung Hero Award (ANROA) in 2007 and the National Parks Merit Award among others.
