Every Monday, Cochrane Today will recognize a member of the community who has soared to new heights as a person or group who demonstrates the character of the mighty eagle.
This week, we are pleased to bring you someone who is well known in the seniors sporting world, Doug Campbell.
Stu Bradley, who brought attention to the long history of volunteering Campbell has done to support senior wellness in the community, nominated Campbell.
Campbell's resume is extensive in that regard:
• Chair of the Seniors Friendly Games in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2019.
• Chair of Seniors on the Bow Society from 2012 to 2014 and on the board from 2010 to 2016.
• Chair of the Big Country Senior Sports Society (Zone 2) AB 55 plus and Chef de Mission, 2013 AB Summer Games.
• Director of the curling club from 2008 to 2012 and part of the new rink design team from 2010 to 2012.
• Director for the Warm Water Therapy Pools Society from 2009 to 2012 and co-director of the new pool design team from 2011 to 2013.
• Co-ordinator senior’s bonspiels from 2010 to 2019.
Meeting for coffee at one of his usual morning haunts, the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre just prior to a curling meeting, Campbell discussed his longstanding commitment to sports and wellness.
"I was fortunate. I was born into a sporting family. Southern Saskatchewan, rural roots and everybody played whether you were good or poor," he said. "My grandfather coached ball and hockey and he put his five sons into curling and they won the Canadian Championship. They are in the Sports Hall of Fame."
With that kind of family legacy in sport, especially curling, it was a natural draw for Campbell to be involved.
"Growing up with that gives you a little extra pride and desire to give back," he said. "The basic objective is to get people off the couch and improve their social, physical and mental well-being."
He adds that Cochrane's amenities and location make it an ideal place for people to retire and remain active.
When Campbell moved to Cochrane in 2004 he said he would golf when he could afford but, as many will attest, curling is a more accessible sport.
Not only has Campbell been instrumental in helping to grow the sport of curling in Cochrane, he has been a competitive role model as well.
In 2009, he began curling in the Alberta 55+ Games and won the provincial title in 2011and then bronze at nationals in 2012.
As a member of the Warm Water Therapy Pools Society and the design of Cochrane's warm water therapy pool, Campbell's motivations stemmed from his grandfather's history with Parkinson's disease, a condition that has seen benefits from warm water therapy.
"There were about 40 Parkinson families and 700 people signed petitions for the warm water therapy," he said.
Aside from his sports involvement, Campbell has also been an active participant in democracy.
He has worked on political campaigns, moderated debates between municipal, provincial and federal candidates.
"I'm a trained economist and it might sound too simplistic, but if you can put together a good logical plan on any given policy you have a good chance of it getting accepted," he said of his interest in politics, that have derived from seeing his work in agriculture, transportation and international trade acted on by government.
"I was involved in writing a whole bunch of trade agreements that Mr. Trump is busily tearing apart. Economists can't be politicians that way, but we do try our best to make things better."
If you know someone deserving of recognition, email Editor Chris Puglia at [email protected].
