Retired Colonel Robert G. Douglas is a Veteran of the Malaya Emergency (British Army) and served in the Canadian Armed Forces since 1946, when he joined his high school Cadet Corps serving as its Commanding Officer. Following the cadets, he joined the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves in 2 Field Engineer Regiment and later the Royal Regiment of Canada in Toronto.
Mr. Douglas’ greatest contribution is to the Veterans at Sunnybrook Veterans Centre. For the last 25 years, he has served on the Veterans Advisory Committee of the Sunnybrook Hospital Board where he was responsible for many projects that were a great support and comfort to the Veterans. His initiative to obtain electric wheelchairs that could accommodate different body shapes, sizes and disabilities of Veterans was researched by medical and marketing specialists. When completed, a new type of chair was manufactured that accommodates various medical problems. Regretfully, the project was too complicated for mass production, but M. Douglas says, “If you don’t try, you can’t win.”
Mr. Douglas was also an active member of Commissionaires Great Lakes Financial. He was part of a committee that raised over $50,000 for a private, secured garden for Sunnybrook Veterans Centre, a wonderful feature that Veterans can enjoy.
Mr. Douglas is also on the Executive Council of Honorary Colonels, assisting Veterans with civilian employment and education using his connections in the business and educational communities. As well, he is Vice Chair of Commissionaires Great Lakes where he is directly involved in finding security jobs for Veterans who are leaving the Canadian Armed Forces.