Obituary of Douglas Harold Elliott

ELLIOTT, Douglas

April 23, 1951 - September 25, 2018

It is with a broken and bleeding heart that I must tell you that I have lost my husband Doug Elliott.  He slipped through my arms and passed away on Tuesday, September 25, 2018. He faced each day with courage, strength, and a desire to enjoy that day, to live that day, and not lose any of it. He always said that “every day is a good day.”

Doug has been my love and soul mate for 42 years. We were married on September 11, 1976 and that was when our great journey began. For our honeymoon, we went to the Rockies and Doug’s passion for the mountains began. For years to follow, we camped and hiked through Alberta and British Columbia.  Doug wanted to hike the high country and we began with the Mount Robson trail. We walked the Valley-of-a-Thousand-Falls and slept next to the mountain. Doug's love of the mountains and of camping never stopped. This past summer when Doug's health made so many thing harder to do, we still went to Duck Mountain Provincial Park, set up camp, built the fire, and toasted another good day.

Doug's travel plans also went further afield. On our 24th anniversary, we travelled to Italy. Doug was instantly in love with the country. Though we made a number of trips across Europe, we always went back to Italy, always back to Venice. A place that he felt at home. 

One of the joys of traveling in Europe was to sample and enjoy the wines. Doug joined the Opimian Wine Society on October 1, 1983. This was the beginning of a very happy hobby. He enjoyed selecting and ordering a large variety of wines. In true Doug fashion, he embarked on this hobby with perfection. He read the books, attended the lectures, and mostly sampled the wine. Doug really enjoyed a fine Chianti with supper. A supper he was likely to have made. He was a great cook whether in the kitchen, on the barbeque, or over the fire.    

Doug was also a gardener and I believe he found this passion through his father. He was happy to dig in the earth. Doug would go through the seed catalogues each year, always open to trying something new. In the end, he always planted Homesteader peas and Beefsteak tomatoes. 

Doug was a wood worker and loved his shop. He was a craftsman and a turner. Doug built cabinets and cupboards, he turned bowls and platters, and he built great grandfather clocks. He loved the feel of the wood and the crafting of something lovely. 

Years ago, Doug thought he would like a pet, and found an advertisement for wolf husky pups from the Northwest Territories. Together, we welcomed a wonderful 'wolfdog' (more wolf than husky) into our home. The bond between Lupis and Doug was so strong. It was a true joy to hear them howl together. Now, some years later, we whole heartedly welcomed a shy, quiet, and loving rescue dog into our home. Our dog, Cassie, truly had Doug's heart. 

Doug will be remembered by many as the publisher of Sask Trends Monitor and owner of QED Information Systems. Doug started out very small, working out of his home. A decision he would later say was the best one he ever made. Doug's reputation grew as an honest, skilled, and knowledgeable statistician. It has been stated that Doug had a deep and sound understanding of the demographic, social and economic indicators of our province. He was "Saskatchewan's foremost statistician". He was proud to say that he worked for unions, businesses, and government. Doug provided expertise to non-profit organizations, rural municipalities, urban cities, First Nations and Metis communities just to name a few. One of Doug's earliest clients was the Meadow Lake Tribal Council, both a working relationship and a friendship that has lasted throughout the years. He loved and respected the diversity of his clients and truly valued these relationships.

Doug - a good man who leaves to mourn his passing. His wife Virginia; Sister-in-law Valerie Vicq; Nephew Jeff (Alexandra) Vicq, and their son Rafael Samur Vicq; Brother Ron (Carol) Elliott; Brother Jim Elliott; Niece Melanie (Ryan) Baumann, and their sons Logan and Owen Baumann; Nephew Justin (Camille) Elliott, and their daughters Emerson and Adeline;  and Niece Katherine Boyer.

Doug was predeceased by his parents Ernie and Ellen Elliott; Sister Joan Boyer; Brother Jerry Elliott and sister-in-law Glenda Elliott; and Brother-in-law Bruce Vicq.

Over the past few months, Doug has had contact with some wonderful caregivers and health professionals, including Dr. Salim, the physicians and staff at the Allan Blair Memorial Clinic, and the staff on wards 4B and 3A at the Pasqua Hospital.  I wish to thank them, from the bottom of my heart, for their skilled care and very kind words of support. To the gentleman in the parking lot booth at the Pasqua hospital that everyday wished me a good day and smiled as if he understood the sorrow in my life. Thank you. 

Doug's Funeral Mass will be held at Resurrection Parish, 3155 Windsor Park Road, Regina, SK on Monday, October 1, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. The interment is at Riverside Memorial Park.  A lunch will follow for family and friends.

Dear Doug,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand. 

Love Virginia