The community is mourning the passing of a well known and respected philanthropist, volunteer, advocate and lawyer after Doug Deans died at his home, Oct. 20.
Born and raised in Dauphin, Deans completed a law degree at the University of Manitoba. He returned to the community in 1974 to article with Johnston and Company Law Office. After being called to the bar in 1975, Deans practiced at the firm until his retirement in 2024, earning a reputation as an extremely caring and dedicated advocate for his clients.
That reputation was recognized through a Queen’s Counsel appointment in 2020.
Outside of his professional life, Deans was an avid outdoorsman enjoying hunting and fishing, golf, cycling, travel, and quiet time with family and friends.
Deans’ support of the community and numerous community activities was unparalled with him often taking a leadership within the organization he joined, such as the Dauphin Public Library and Parkland Regional Library, where, as chair, he presided over the purchase of a $100,000 bookmobile.
Deans also introduced the first Writer-In-Residence program in rural Manitoba and participated in developing the first on-line public access catalogue in public libraries in the province. He also co-chaired the building committee, which saw the $700,000 construction of the library branch in Dauphin.
Health care was another cause close to his heart, with Deans serving as chair of the Dauphin Regional Hospital board and later as president of the Dauphin Hospital Foundation for more than 15 years before retiring in late 2020.
With the foundation, his accomplishemnts were many, including spearheading a drive to bring the MRI machine to the Dauphin Regional Health Centre. In the role, Deans led the Palliative Care Redevelopment Project, endorsed the purchase of a $50,000 patient manikin to support medical teaching in the facility, and provided leadership in a major capital contribution toward construction of the Dauphin Community Health Services Building.
Perhaps closest to his heart was Duck’s Unlimited, an important conservation organization to which he dedicated more than 45 years.
That contribution was recognized earlier this year with a viewing bench installed in his honour along the Dead River in Vermillion Park.
Doug was predeceased by his parents Keith and Isabel Deans. He is survived by his wife of 51 years Lorrie (nee Moline), sister Marilyn (Ron) Lamoureux, son Greg (London), and daughter Heather (Jeff), as well as his nieces and nephew and their children.