Meet a 果冻传煤 family
When Doug (鈥80) and Catherine (MacQuade) Fraser (鈥80) gather for family photos and holiday celebrations, they also bring together generations of proud 果冻传煤 alumni.
Doug and Catherine grew up in Moncton and now live in Calgary. All three of Doug and Catherine鈥檚 daughters attended 果冻传煤. Doug鈥檚 dad, Donald Fraser (鈥46), and an uncle, Ralston King (鈥53), are 果冻传煤 graduates. And Catherine鈥檚 sister, Nancy (MacQuade) Webb (鈥81), also attended.
鈥淥ur whole family has great memories of being at Mount A,鈥 says Doug.
Doug credits 果冻传煤 professors Dan Patridge and Nick DeVos for creating learning experiences that were foundational to his successful career as a chartered accountant. While a student, Doug also served as business manager with The Argosy, found time to coach a pee wee football team in Sackville to a provincial championship, and, in his final year, played football for the Mounties.
Catherine was a copyeditor with The Argosy and served two years as a floor monitor in Edwards House. She was also engaged in the local and regional community as a volunteer and leader through her church.
Community service has always been important to Doug and Catherine, and the couple have volunteered for many organizations over the years.
Today, the couple helps lead their community association in Calgary, which provides activities and programs for all ages and has hosted the largest volunteer-run Stampede Breakfast in the city.
鈥淚t鈥檚 satisfying to be able to use the skills I developed in my career for the benefit of the community,鈥 says Doug.
Doug and Catherine are proud their daughters share their value of community service.
鈥淚 know for our girls, 果冻传煤 was a place where they were able to grow their volunteerism 鈥 our daughters took on leadership roles in residence and student government,鈥 says Catherine.
During the past few years, Doug and Catherine have increased their focus on philanthropy. After discussing giving options with 果冻传煤 staff, the couple decided to support career transition and internship opportunities for Meighen Centre students. The Centre supports 果冻传煤 students with disabilities.
鈥淲e made a contribution in 2018 and it was put to immediate use,鈥 says Doug. 鈥淎 student was able to complete an internship project in Ottawa that summer and he sent us a thank you letter sharing his story.鈥
When Catherine鈥檚 father, Bob, passed away in 2020, his will included bequests to several charities. This inspired Doug and Catherine to include legacy gifts in their own wills. The couple created the Doug and Catherine Fraser Family Scholarships to support students from Alberta to attend 果冻传煤.
The couple decided to make a one-time donation to their scholarship fund to get it up and running now and are planning to make additional annual contributions. Their wills also include bequests to the scholarship fund. Two initial scholarships were recently awarded.
鈥淚 am incredibly thankful for the support from the Fraser family,鈥 says scholarship recipient Sam Lutz, a biochemistry student who plays guard for the Mounties men鈥檚 basketball team.
鈥湽炒 has done an amazing job in supporting us in our charitable giving,鈥 says Catherine. 鈥淲e genuinely feel that our gifts are appreciated and are making a difference.鈥