Doug Ferguson was the president of the

Liberal Party of Canada The Liberal Party of Canada (french: Parti libéral du Canada, region=CA) is a federal political party in Canada. The party espouses the principles of liberalism,McCall, Christina; Stephen Clarkson"Liberal Party". ''The Canadian Encyclopedia'' ...

from 2008-2009. Born to

Ralph Ralph (pronounced ; or ,) is a male given name of English, Scottish and Irish origin, derived from the Old English ''Rædwulf'' and Radulf, cognate with the Old Norse ''Raðulfr'' (''rað'' "counsel" and ''ulfr'' "wolf"). The most common forms ...

and Dolores Ferguson and raised on a farm near Watford, Ontario, he received a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the

University of Ottawa The University of Ottawa (french: Université d'Ottawa), often referred to as uOttawa or U of O, is a bilingual public research university in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on directly to the northeast of Downtown Ottawa ...

and a law degree from the

University of Western Ontario The University of Western Ontario (UWO), also known as Western University or Western, is a Public university, public research university in London, Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land, surrounded by resident ...

. He was a lawyer for twenty years in

London, Ontario London (pronounced ) is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada, along the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor. The city had a population of 422,324 according to the 2021 Canadian census. London is at the confluence of the Thames River, approximate ...

practising civil litigation and estates before he joined the Faculty of Law, at the

as an adjunct professor and as Director of Community Legal Services. This legal clinic provides legal services to low income persons who cannot afford a lawyer. In the community, Ferguson served as President of Covent Garden Market, and led this city-owned public market through the planning and constructing a new $17 million building. From 2004-2006 he served as a board member of Mission Services of London, a social agency providing assistance to the homeless. From 2006-08, he was President of the Canadian Club of London, an organization dedicated to promoting patriotism and Canadian unity. He also served as President of a local Optimist club and as a Lieutenant-Governor in the Optimist organization. In the Liberal Party, Ferguson served as riding president for both the London West federal and provincial associations when Sue Barnes and Chris Bentley were elected as MP and MPP respectively. He was campaign manager for

Sue Barnes Susan Barnes, (born September 8, 1952) is a Canadian former politician. Barnes represented the riding of London West from 1993 (following her election in 1993) until 2008 as a Liberal member of the House of Commons of Canada. She was the first ...

in London West and Glen Pearson in London North Centre when they first won office. In 1994, Ferguson was elected as Vice President Organization for the Liberal Party of Canada (Ontario), and from 1998-2003 served as the National Organization Chair for the

. During his term he created Liberal University, a training program for grassroots Liberals. A few years later, at the Liberal leadership convention in December 2006, Ferguson was elected Vice President English Speaking of the Liberal Party of Canada. In April 2008, he was elected as President of the Liberal Party of Canada by the party's national executive to replace Senator Marie Poulin after she resigned due to illness. During his term as President, Ferguson oversaw changes to the party's governance, implemented a national party membership, co-chaired the Change Commission after the 2008 election, and promoted internal party reform, openness, and accountability. In 2009, Ferguson was replaced by

Alfred Apps William Alfred Apps (born 1957) is a Canadian lawyer, businessman and prominent activist in both the Liberal Party of Canada and the Ontario Liberal Party. Apps is associated with a number of philanthropic and charitable causes and is currently ba ...

as the president of the Liberal Party of Canada. At a nomination meeting held on September 10, 2009, Ferguson was elected to stand as the Liberal candidate in the riding of London West. In the 2011 federal election, he was defeated by Conservative incumbent

Ed Holder Edwin Anthony Holder (born July 14, 1954) is a Canadian retired politician who served as the 64th mayor of London from 2018 to 2022.

Election results

External links

Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ferguson, Doug Living people University of Ottawa alumni University of Western Ontario alumni Canadian lawyers Academic staff of the University of Western Ontario Presidents of the Liberal Party of Canada Candidates in the 2011 Canadian federal election People from Lambton County Politicians from London, Ontario Liberal Party of Canada candidates for the Canadian House of Commons Year of birth missing (living people)