Doug was born 1946 in rural Eastern Ontario – one of 12 children. He graduated from the University of Guelph in 1970 with a degree in agriculture, but majoring in Fisheries and Wildlife biology. He accepted a position with the Department of Fisheries and Forestry (now DFO), Sea Lamprey Control Centre in Sault Ste. Marie in 1970 and has resided there since that time. He is married with two children.
Doug recently retired from DFO after 35+ years working in various biological positions. His most recent position was as a Section Head (manager) with responsibility for assessment programs and related research. He chaired the International Lamprey Assessment task force for 8 years and represented DFO on Lake Superior and Lake Huron Technical Committees. Task force and committee work involved collaborative work with representatives of international, federal, state, provincial and tribal organizations. His work also required consultation and collaboration with water user groups in the basin in order to obtain and schedule controlled flows through powerhouses, dams and at municipal water intakes.
Through work and personal interests, Doug has a broad based knowledge of the Great Lakes basin and the Great Lakes. This includes geology, geography and basin demographics as well as historical lake levels, sources of recharge, outflows, connecting channels and control structures. He has witnessed the high (and damaging) water levels of the mid 1980’s as well as the recent low levels in the Upper Great Lakes.
Personal interests include volunteer work, cycling, kayaking, hunting, fishing, XC skiing, camping, and gardening.