Douglas William Barker, D.S.M. (1919-2003) served in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II and Korea. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal during his World War II service.
After retiring from the military, he moved to Duncan, where he served on City Council for seven years before being elected Mayor of Duncan in 1983. He served as Mayor of Duncan from 1983 to 1987.
As Mayor, Douglas Barker created a lasting legacy. Among other projects, his term of office saw the creation of the City of Totems project, the start of the weekly Duncan Farmers’ Market in City Square and the diking of the Cowichan River in MacAdam Park to control flooding in the adjacent residential districts.
Here is some biographical information about Mayor Douglas William Barker from his 2003 obituary in the local newspaper:
“BARKER – Douglas William D.S.M., C.D., passed away of December 19, 2003. he was the second son of the late William Barker and Mabel Barker. Predeceased by his brothers Kenneth and Warren and his sister Beryl. He is survived by his loving wife Evelyn of 64 years; four children, Douglas, Elizabeth, James and Katherine; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Douglas was born in Somerset, England and came to Canada at the age of three. He joined the Royal Canadian Navy as a boy seaman and served in WW2 and the Korean War. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal in WW2. He retired and moved to Duncan and became involved with the Sea Cadet movement and was commanding officer of the Cougar and Admiral Mainguy Seacadet Corps. The cadet barracks at Maple Bay was dedicated to him and he was subsequently awarded the Centennial Medal for his 15 years of service. Douglas was the President of Duncan Rotary Club and of the Downtown Business Association and was responsible for bringing the hanging baskets to the downtown area. After seven years as alderman he became Mayor of Duncan in 1983 and used his love of gardening to start landscaping the city. As Mayor he found a home for the city’s Museum; he also initiated the Farmer’s Market. He started the Honour Scroll at City Hall to recognize the many citizens who contribute to our community. Douglas negotiated with the Province to bring about the diking of the Cowichan River; he also initiated the landscaping of the highway through Duncan. He brought about the Totem Pole Project, giving the city the name of “City of Totems“. Douglas was a member of United Services Lodge, No.24; Victoria and Sunset Chapter, No.44, Duncan. He was a member of the Chief and P.O.’s Association of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #53, Duncan. As a member of the Cancer Society he initiated the Daffodil Campaign and he sat on the Board of Variance for North Cowichan serving as chairman for a number of years.
A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, December 23, at 10:00 a.m. at the Sands Funeral Chapel, 187 Trunk Road, Duncan, B.C. A reception will follow in the Sands-Arbor Reception Centre.”
(Source: Cowichan Leader-Pictorial, December 2003 – from Cowichan Valley Museum & Archives collections)
Mayor Douglas William Barker is buried in St. Mary’s Somenos Anglican Cemetery in North Cowichan.
The GPS location of the grave is: N 48° 47.984 W 123° 44.166′
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