Douglas Alan Wilson

Originally from Vancouver, B.C., Doug is predeceased by his parents, John F. (Jack) Wilson and Olive Wilson (nee Gorman), his sister, Shirley Thompson, and his brother, Stanley Wilson.

Doug led a wonderful and charmed life - one brimming with passionate adventure, love of friends and family, and service. In his formative years, Doug was a C.P.R. ‘Red Cap’ in Vancouver, joined the ski patrol on Grouse Mountain at the age of sixteen with his brother Stan, and soon after earned his pilot’s license. Doug parlayed his passion for snow and water sports into his professional career, first with McCulloch Corp. in Los Angeles, next throughout Europe, and then in their Far East office in Hong Kong. Here, Doug would win the heart of his future bride, as well as the Hong Kong Waterski Championships. Upon returning to Canada, he joined Sears Roebuck and next formed a partnership to create FMH, which became the main equipment sponsor to the ‘Crazy Canucks’. Later, while living in Rhode Island as president of Uvex Winter Optical, Doug fulfilled a dream of owning an aircraft, and flew himself home to Canada every weekend, and piloted countless flights with friends and family throughout the years.

Doug’s greatest business pleasure was the creation of UTC, which became Canada’s largest distributor of snow sports accessories. A life-long entrepreneur and dreamer, he touched the hearts of many friends and colleagues around the world with his wisdom, his enthusiastic charm, and his ever-present good humour. Doug’s civic activities included being a volunteer Big Brother, a gunnery officer with the Toronto Scottish Regiment, a member of the Honour Guard to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, as well as board positions with the Canadian Ski Patrol System, the Ontario Ski Council and the Canadian Ski Council, of which he was a founding member. This latter organization brought together representatives of all facets of the ski industry, many of whom became life-long friends.

Doug was a devoted husband of 54 years to Jan, a proud and loving father to Craig Wilson (Debra Wilson) of San Francisco and Lisa Wilson Duff (James Brown) of Aurora. He adored his grandchildren, Sarah, Emma, Charlotte, Gillian, Charles, Amelia, and Jane, as well as his nieces and nephews in Toronto and Vancouver. He was dearly loved by his entire family, and his twinkling eyes, his brilliant smile, and his generous heart will be cherished forever.

A family service will be held at Trinity Anglican Church, Aurora on Tuesday, December 22nd.

If desired, donations in Doug’s memory may be made to Southlake Regional Health Care Centre, Saint. Elizabeth Foundation, or Alzheimer’s Society of York Region.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ThompsonFH-Aurora.com for the Wilson family.