It’s Community Builders Day, presented by Butchart Water Supplies.
We are profiling Doug Bates and his involvement as a fundraiser and volunteer in Cobourg. He is also someone that finds the silver lining in everything, despite some shortcomings in his personal life.
Friends of Doug know that every morning he shares a positive meme over social media, encouraging all of us to, quote, “Make it a great day!”, believing that every day we all have a choice.
And that is one of the big reasons he thinks it’s important to give back to his community; knowing that we all need help and support at times and that giving back to the community you live in is the best way to do this.
He is married with 2 amazing boys and was born in Ottawa and raised in Toronto before moving to Cobourg.
Doug says the people and pace of Cobourg are his favourite things about the community, but admits that after moving here from Toronto, the pace was something he really had to get used to as well.
He says one of his biggest accomplishments has to be the his involvement in the “Artists for Northumberland United Way” album, which featured the talents of Matt Williams and Alyssa Morrisey, The Spirits, Urban Angel, Garage Dog, Madman’s Window, and the Rocky Cortis Band with proceeds going to United Way.
He has also created a network that works with young adults in Northumberland, through his late daughtersʼ foundation.
After the tragic loss of his daughter, Kaitlyn, Doug dealt with his grief by starting the Kaitlyn Bates Foundation, focusing on improving the self-esteem in young people. Continuing that mission, the foundation incorporated in 2016 as the Kaitlyn Bates Association for Personal Development and Self Esteem (or The Kaitlyn Bates Initiative).
A drummer/songwriter, Doug studied music at both Trebas and Harris Institutes, as well as at Ryerson University in Marketing and Public Relations.
His career has led him down many paths, including a management position at A&A Music. More recently Doug has been a drum teacher and has played with The Mark Hanson Band, Garage Dog and others. Doug also sits as President on the Board of the Musicians Incubator Association.
Doug’s hobbies include chess and reading and he say he’s a huge ELO fan.
Hear our full interview with Doug Bates and what makes him a Community Builder by clicking the audio link below.
