George Douglas “Doug” Mackie was born on January 3rd, 1924 in Paris, ON. At the age of four he and his family moved to Beaverlodge. Douglas graduated from the Beaverlodge High School, where he would travel by horse or bicycle to attend. After high school and at the age of 19, Douglas joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and trained as an Air Navigator. He graduated from #5 Air Observer School in Winnipeg in 1943. Doug then became a navigator on a Canadian Landcaster Bomber with the 426 Squadron. He and his crew would fly one complete tour of operations over Europe in 1945. In the October 26th, 1944 edition of The Herald-Tribune, there is mention of Douglas Mackie receiving a promotion to Flying Officer. He would then return and attend the University of Alberta using his veteran credits to obtain a BSc in Agriculture, where he became the first recipient of the W.D. Albright Memorial Scholarship for students in Agriculture. Douglas wrote a thank you letter pertaining to the scholarship which appeared in The Herald-Tribune edition of January 30th, 1947. After several years of working on the farm, Douglas went on to become an inspector with Canada Agriculture, Plant Products Division, which brought him to live in Calgary. He went on to volunteer with the Calgary Seed Fair and Hay Show which awarded him with an honorary lifetime membership with the Calgary Stampede and Expedition. He also received lifetime membership with Millarville Racing and Agricultural Society. Doug volunteered a great deal of time to Meals on Wheels and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. He was a long-time resident of Okotoks and in 2012 became a resident of the Heartland Retirement Centre. Doug did not have children of his own and was predeceased by two wives – Cornelia de Bode and Mary Smith. Doug passed away on February 15th, 2021 in Black Diamond at the age of 97. He is buried in the Rockyview Garden of Peace Cemetery, Calgary, AB.
- Beaverlodge to the Rockies, 1974, p. 59 & 60
- Source: Beaverlodge High Year Book 1947-48 p.26