Howard Douglas (1851 - 1929)

Born 8 May 1851 in Halton, Canada West

Husband of Alice Maud (Johnston) Douglas — married 11 Oct 1872 in Port Nelson, Burlington, Halton, Ontario, Canada

Descendants

Died 6 Jan 1929 at age 77 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

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Biography

Howard Douglas, son of Thomas Douglas, was born 8 May 1851 in Halton District, Ontario.

He married Alice Maud Johnston in Port Nelson, Ontario on October 11, 1872.

Around 1883 Douglas moved west to Manitoba and worked as a construction bridge foreman for the Canadian Pacific Railway. Howard Douglas supervised the laying of the C.P.R. track across the Prairies in 1882-3, the family accompanying him in a house car in the summer of '83. They settled in Calgary where Howard built the first house on the recently-surveyed C.P.R. townsite.

He was instrumental in bringing the last great buffalo herd to Alberta. These animals lived in Banff for many years, then were moved to Wood Buffalo National Park. In 1896 Howard Douglas was appointed as the second superintendent of Banff National Park. He was promoted to Commissioner of National Parks in the West in 1911. During his term of office Jasper, Elk Island, Wainwright and Waterton Lake Parks were opened. Mount Douglas, west of Banff, was named in his honour, as was Howard Douglas Creek, a stream in Alberta. When he retired from the Parks position in 1921 he was appointed the first moving picture censor for the Province of Alberta. ^[1]

He died in Edmonton on January 6, 1929. Howard died 6 Jan 1929 (aged 77) in Edmonton and was buried in Edmonton Municipal Cemetery in Edmonton, Alberta. ^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Douglas History, [https://www.douglashistory.co.uk/history/howard_douglas.html Howard Douglas
2. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/156018384/howard-douglas: accessed February 19, 2024), memorial page for Howard Douglas (8 May 1851–6 Jan 1929), Find a Grave Memorial ID 156018384, citing Edmonton Municipal Cemetery, Edmonton, Edmonton Census Division, Alberta, Canada; Maintained by Alison (contributor 46917968).

See also:

• Douglas History, [https://www.douglashistory.co.uk/history/howard_douglas.html Howard Douglas