A lawyer specializing in commercial transactions, corporate law and governance, and taxation for 27 years, Doug retired from the practice of law in 2006 as a partner in a large law firm.

Doug had been involved with L’Arche Winnipeg as a board member and president since 1992. In 2005, upon his arrival in Santiago de Compostella, he received a call from his wife to tell him that he was being considered for the role of Vice-President of L’Arche International, and could he make a side trip to Paris for an interview and discussions about the possibilities. Then, in March of 2010, just before setting off on a walking pilgrimage to Rome, he took on the role as President when the current president was appointed to an important and time consuming role in the government of Honduras. Doug has decided to put off making prilgrimages for a while as they somehow seem to take him in unexpected directions.

Since taking on the roles with L’Arche International, Doug has participated in the first Structures Committee which recommended the changes presently being implemented and experimented, as well as the many board and committee meetings which accompany the role as Vice-President and President. In addition, he has connected with the community of Horizon in Montpellier, and given sessions on governance to various community and regional boards and member groups. Currently, as President, Doug is concentrating his efforts on the implementation of the plans presented to the Federation Council in Bologna, and to the transition of International Coordinators which will happen at the next General Assembly in Washington in 2012.

When talking to community groups about governance, Doug is quick to note that “It is all about understanding one’s role, one’s mission”. Now Doug says he is working hard to understand his role as President so that he can better contribute to the mission of L’Arche over the next two years.