William (Bill) Day was among the first employees of Douglas College. Hired in 1970, he originally served as Dean of Continuing Education until 1975 when he became Dean of Curriculum. In 1978, he became principal of the College's New Westminster campus and in 1981 he was appointed President of Douglas College, a position he held until retiring in 1995.
M.H. (Bill) Morfey was the College's first staff employee, hired in October 1969 as Secretary-Treasurer. His title and role changed to College Bursar shortly thereafter. Together with Principal George Wootton, Morfey was responsible for establishing the College's first education plan, hiring senior staff, and developing the first budget. Prior to joining the nascent educational institution, Morfey was an accountant with Canadian Industries Limited. He managed the College's financial affairs until his retirement in 1988. That year, the M.H. (Bill) Morfey Scholarship was created in honour of his service to the College since its very beginning.
Morfey died in January 1990.
Born in England in 1920, Harold Norman "Andy" Andrews was a veteran of the Second World War, during which he participated in the 6th Airborne Division D-Day landings in Normandy. After the war, Andrews completed his studies in engineering and immigrated to Canada. He worked with the Royal Canadian Engineers and in 1967 he was the Canadian Forces Liaison to the Winnipeg Pan-American Games.
In 1972, Andrews joined Douglas College as the Chairman (and later Director) of Program Development until 1979 when he was appointed Vice-Principal of McBride Campus in New Westminster. He held this position for two years, at which time he became the Director of Program Planning and Development. He retired in 1984.
Upon his death in 2000, Andrews' family established the Andy and Helen Andrews Memorial Award for students who demonstrate both athletic and academic achievement.
Albert L. Atkinson joined Douglas College in 1982 as Director, Student Services & Developmental Education. In 1989, he became the Dean of Educational and Student Services, a position he held until 1995, when he was appointed Vice-President, Educational Services. Atkinson was in this role until his retirement in 2004. Atkinson was a member of the Douglas College Foundation (1991) and the Education Council (1994-1995, 1997-1999).
During his 32 years of service at Douglas, Atkinson championed the needs of students with disabilities or who face barriers to education and employment. As such, a bursary was established in his name at the time of his retirement for students engaged in Vocational Education and Skills Training, or VEST, (formerly known as Adult Special Education) programs.
Penny Swanson was a Technical Services Librarian at Douglas College. She served as interim Director, Learning Resources between 1999 and 2000. Swanson also served on the Education Council (2002-2003) and the Douglas College Board (ex officio).
Penny Swanson was a Technical Services Librarian at Douglas College. She served as interim Director, Learning Resources between 1999 and 2000. Swanson also served on the Education Council (2002-2003) and the Douglas College Board (ex officio).
Lillian Zimmerman joined Douglas College in 1971 as a programmer for the Liberal Arts Division with the expressed desire to develop credit-free courses in the area of continuing education for women. Beginning in 1972, she worked with staff from the Counselling department to offer workshops and inter-disciplinary evening courses, which proved popular. In 1974, she was elected to the position of "Convenor" of Women's Studies at Douglas College. Zimmerman held this role until 1978 when she took a leave from College in order to complete a Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) from the University of British Columbia. Following her return to Douglas College, Zimmerman worked as a regular faculty member in Human Services and Community Programs. She became the Chair of Community Programs and Services in 1990 before retiring in 1991. Subsequent to her retirement from Douglas College, Zimmerman became a renowned advocate for the rights and dignity of middle-aged and older women. She was a Research Associate in Gender Issues at Simon Fraser University's Gerontology Research Centre, contributing significantly to the field and publishing multiple books on this topic including “Bag Lady or Powerhouse?: A Roadmap for Midlife (Boomer) Women†and “Did You Just Call Me Old Lady? A 90-Year-Old Tells Why Aging Is Positive.â€
Born in Alberta in 1928, Henry Waack began teaching in Claresholm, Alberta at a young age. After honing his musical talents teaching and playing across various locales in Alberta, including Lethbridge, Jasper Park, and Mt. Royal college, he and his family moved to New Westminter in 1970. There, Henry became a founding faculty member at Douglas College, teaching piano in the Music Department. He was musical director of over 75 musicals at the college, and taught regularly until his retirement in 1998. After retiring, he continued to teach at the college’s Community Music School, as well as participate in community and music program concerts. Upon his retirement, the Henry Waack Scholarship Fund was established, awarding $1,000 each year to Douglas College Music students. Henry helped support this scholarship by periodically holding fundraising concerts, in which he would participate. He continued to teach privately until only months before his passing in October 2013.
Dr. George C. Wootton served as principal of Douglas College from its inception in 1969 until 1979. Born in Saskatchewan and raised in British Columbia, Wootton graduated from North Vancouver High School and received his BSc, MASc, and PhD (in metallurgical engineering) from the University of British Columbia. Before his appointment to Douglas College, he worked for the Department of Mines in Ottawa, Atomic Energy Canada in Chalk River, and Seneca College in Toronto where served as Dean of Engineering.
During Wootton's tenure at Douglas College, satellite campuses were added in Delta, Langley, Maple Ridge, Port Moody, Coquitlam, Pitt meadows, and White Rock. His principalship saw the development of career programs in the area of psychiatric nursing, clinical health, child care, and community service work. Other programs initiated during this time were in the fields of criminal justice, women's studies, graphic arts, theatre, and environmental studies.
Wootton left Douglas College in 1979 to become director of the Vancouver Public Library.
Born in Vienna (ca. 1921), George Porges was a World War II veteran who came to Canada in 1951. He studied history in Montreal at Sir George William University, and later received his B.Ed and M.A. from the University of Alberta. He taught high school in Edmonton prior to joining the Department of Liberal Studies at the newly created Douglas College in 1970. Porges taught history as a regular faculty member until his retirement in 1988.
Porges died in 2004 at the age of 83.