Harold Dougall acknowledges he’s not a typical politician and he will not make big promises.
But if he is elected as a city councillor in Ward 2, where he is in a race with three others for the two available council seats, he vows to represent regular citizens.
“I’m working for them, not myself,” says Dougall. “Everybody makes big promises. I don’t promise anything, but I’ll try to get done what people want to get done.”
The 70-year-old has called Orillia home since 1960, when he was “dropped off” at the Huronia Regional Centre, where he lived for six years. He was then “moved” to the Edgar Occupational Centre, where he resided until 1975.
“The HRC was a horrible place … what they did to us there, it was criminal,” said Dougall. “All the survivors, they think those (HRC) buildings should come down. But the government never asked us.”
In recent years, he helped lead a fight to have those who died while at the HRC properly recognized at the on-site graveyard.
He wants to lead a fight now to improve accessibility in the Sunshine City.
“I want push-button doors in every store in this city,” he says, noting people in wheelchairs and walkers face many obstacles.
The former Special Olympics swimmer says the city should enforce fines for those who don’t comply. “It’s the only way some businesses will do it. I don’t want them to pay fines … if they just do it, they won’t have to pay the fines.”
He said people have told him new blood is needed at City Hall.
“(City councillors) are not doing the things they’re supposed to do and they’re not out there talking to people,” says Dougall. “I love people and I’m out there all the time. They want new people in there."
He acknowledges he is not highly educated. In fact, he never had the opportunity to go to school. "I have a learning disability, but I'm just like everybody else."
Like many others, he believes the sidewalks and roads need attention. He said more effort is needed to keep roads and sidewalks clear of snow.
“Half the sidewalks aren’t even plowed,” he said. “I had a friend in a wheelchair who got stuck in the middle of the street (last winter.) It’s terrible.”
Dougall, a long-time volunteer at the Mariposa Folk Festival, would also like to see more weekend events and thinks the city should add bus service to ODAS Park on weekends for those who want to roller-skate.
As for the proposed sale of Orillia Power’s distribution company to Hydro One? “No,” he says emphatically. “If they sell, there goes half your workers. They make our city good. I don’t agree.”
He also thinks council meets behind closed doors too often.
“Don’t make decisions in back rooms,” says Dougall. “How do we know what they’re talking about?”
Citing long wait-times, Dougall would like to see the city work harder to recruit more doctors.
“We need more doctors and we need more beds at the hospital,” he said.
And speaking of Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, it should stay where it is, he said. The hospital is considering a new facility either on its current site or elsewhere.
“Keep the hospital where it is. I want it there,” he said. Of moving the hospital, he was blunt: “That’s dumb.”
Dougall said he will bring a solid work ethic to council. He has “always worked hard” as a dishwasher at local hotels and, over the past several years, delivering newspapers and shovelling snow. “I will work hard for people.”
Editor's Note: All candidates in Orillia's municipal election will be profiled in the days ahead. They will be published daily, by ward, in alphabetical order; the mayoralty candidates will also be profiled.
