Memorable Manitobans: Frederick John “Fred” Douglas (1913-1998)

Cleric.

Born on a farm in the RM of South Cypress on 10 July 1913, son of Walter Douglas (1877-1961) and Esther Alice Moore (1881-1937), he was educated at Glenboro School, University of Manitoba, and United College. He was ordained as a United Church minister in 1940. From 1940 to 1943 he directed the Stella Avenue Mission then he moved to Thunder Bay as Superintendent of United Church missions there.

Douglas returned to Winnipeg in 1947 as minister of St. Andrew’s United Church and Superintendent of the Central Winnipeg Mission. He became director of the church’s inner city council for responsibility for downtown churches. He also worked with the YMCA, the Boy Scouts, and the Age and Opportunity Bureau. He ran for election to Parliament on two occasions, in 1963 and 1965, losing each time to Gordon Churchill. The Winnipeg Tribune named “Citizen of the Year” in 1954, the United College gave him an honorary doctorate in 1957, and he was given a Golden Boy Award in 1962.

On 27 December 1941, he married Marie Evelyn Hames (1914-2007) at Glenboro and they subsequently had two sons.

In 1966, he moved to Toronto to become a director on the Board of Finance for the United Church of Canada. He later returned to Winnipeg. He died at Winnipeg on 13 January 1998. He is commemorated by a Winnipeg seniors’ residence.

Sources:

1911 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

Birth registration, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

1913 Canada census, Ancestry.

Canada voters lists, Ancestry.

“Minister brings Glenboro bridge to Winnipeg,” Winnipeg Free Press, 31 December 1941, page 10.

“12 Manitobans receive awards for service to province,” Winnipeg Free Press, 12 May 1962, page 19.

“Douglas leaves behind thousands of friends,” Winnipeg Free Press, 10 May 1966, page 3.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 17 January 1998, page 45.

“Heritage House an innovative approach for seniors,” Winnipeg Free Press, 28 November 1999, page 6.

Obituary [Marie Hames Douglas], Winnipeg Free Press, 21 November 2007.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 16 November 2020

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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