INSIDE DOUGLAS COLLEGE / SEPTEMBER 18, 1990

 

 

 

 

One of Douglas College’s favourite faces is gone

the Criminology Program at
uglas College, passed away late
last month. He was 69 years old.

His colleagues remember Fer-
guson as a vigorous man who was
always involved. "He was en-
thusiastic about life," says
Criminology Instructor Kathleen
Heggie Hunter. "He loved his
work, his students, and he loved
his subject matter."

Scott Wilson, Chairman of So-
cial Sciences, says that Ferguson
was a straightforward and ener-
getic man who will be missed by
the Department. "He was well-
liked by students and faculty.”

Gordon Gilgan, Dean of the
Academic Division, remembers
Ferguson as a diplomat. "He was
always statesmanlike, in a quiet,
reserved manner," says Gilgan.
“He was looked up to by many of

Jie Ferguson, who developed

the faculty."

Douglas College’s Criminol-
ogy Program is known and
respected across Canada, adds Gil-
gan, and much of the credit goes
to Ferguson. "It wasn’t a copy of
another program. Jack built it, and
he can take the credit."

Ferguson is also remembered
for his stand against the man-
datory retirement law. When he
turned 65, Douglas College retired
him, but as Gilgan says, "he
wouldn't stay retired." Ferguson
took the College to the B.C. Court
of Appeal, which ruled that
Cais College had to reinstate
him as full-time faculty.

Ferguson was born and grew
up in New Westminster. After serv-
ing in the Second World War, he
embarked upon a career with the
Vancouver Police De ent,
where he attained the rank of Staff

Inspector before retiring from the
VPD in the mid-1960’s. He is an
alumnus of Douglas College,
receiving his Associate in Arts
here, and then attending SFU
where he received his BA. He then
obtained his Masters Degree from
Cambridge.

Ken Stoddard, an Associate
Professor of Sociology at UBC,
had Ferguson as a student and
was a close friend as well. "He was
a great guy," says Stoddard.
"Nobody who knew Jack was
surprised that his heart wore out,
because he put so much of it into
everything he did."

Funeral services were held
early last week for Ferguson, who
is survived by his wife Georgina,
brother Norman, and daughter
Barbara.

Douglas College will miss
Jack Ferguson. @

 

Management and finance focus of Centre

 

continued from page 1

feasibility analysis, and
communication skills are key
areas where emerging businesses
need help.

“Many working people are
very skilled and knowledgeable
about the product or service they
deliver,” he adds. “But they need
training on the management and
financial aspects of the venture.
Worker ownership, like all small
businesses, is a tough road in cur-
rent economic times. The owners
need to be both informed and
business smart to succeed.”

Simpson says there are ap-

roximately 400 worker-owned
sinesses across Canada with

15 - 20,000 worker-owners.
Throughout Europe, Britain and
the United States there are
thousands of worker-owned busi-
nesses, he says. But with only 25
to 30 worker-owned businesses
in B.C. — and a dozen in the
Lower Mainland — the sector is
still in its infancy stage.

Worker controlled businesses
differ dramatically from other
forms of employee shared owner-
ship plans, says Simpson, where
workers have very little in-
fluence on corporate decisions.
Worker-owned businesses range

 

 

Inside Douglas College is published weekly September through April and bi-monthly May
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Westminster, B.C. V3L 5B2.

 

 

in size from small firms with a
few employees to large industrial
businesses with hundreds of
employees.

The benefits of worker
ownership, says Simpson, in-
clude higher productivity, local
investment and job protection.
The potential benefits to smaller
communities and local
economies has also been recog-
nized.

“Worker ownership keeps
the company’s assets in the com-
munity,” Simpson says. “This
can be a strategy to combat plant
closures, and to ensure that
profits and jobs remain local.”

“In a changing economy, this
option cannot be discarded,” he
says. “While not a panacea,
worker ownership can be an im-
portant tool for job creation and
retention.”

For more information about
the Worker Ownership Resource
Centre contact Shane Simpson at
520-3341. mi