Catching Doug Stewart on the phone to chat about being this year’s Lakeland College Distinguished Citizen is tricky.

The first time he answers, he is apologetic but doesn’t have a moment to spare, with dozens of Lakeland rodeo athletes on their way over to work together on a project. The second time, he’s in the midst of helping  agribusiness students clean up after borrowing equipment from the Vermilion Agricultural Society for their Band in the Sand event. The third time, he isn’t sure what to say about how it feels to be part of a family whose legacy is an integral part of the foundation of Vermilion. He’s not sure they’ve done anything beyond what anyone would do as part of a community.

And when you finally do connect with Doug, he is humble and unsure why he even qualifies for the award – despite being nearly too busy helping out with the college and the community to have time to talk about it.

Doug’s family legacy took root in Vermilion in 1905 with the opening of Craig’s of Vermilion, a family-owned retail business. The store was a cornerstone of Vermilion’s early days, serving the community for 112 years.

“It was a different era than we’re in now,” says Doug. “Our communities are what they are now because of what these small businesses contributed. Back in the 1920s and 30s, there was no money and there was no credit. I’ve had more than one farmer talk to me about how, back in the old days, if it hadn’t been for businesses like ours, they couldn’t have kept their farm.”

Craig’s and other local businesses allowed farmers to pay off their accounts once annually. That credit carried the farming operations for the year, giving them the opportunity to build up their business and the community.

“We were all part of the community. No matter if you were a farmer, a businessperson, a banker, a schoolteacher — you all worked together and you all did better together,” Doug explains. “That’s the legacy of what the pioneers and the people that came before us built.”

Part of that community support includes supporting Lakeland’s awards programs since 1927 and contributing to numerous student and community initiatives.

After earning a business degree from the University of Alberta, Doug joined the family business, committed to ensuring the success of the store and of the community. He’s served the community in various ways over the years, through the Vermilion Agricultural Society, including as chair in 2011 and 2012, the Heavy Horse Committee, and 25 years with the Vermilion Rotary Club, including some time as president. He’s also organized Professional Bull Riding events.

Giving back and supporting the community is natural for Doug, and keeps with the pioneering aspect of life in rural Alberta.

“We’re not too far removed from the pioneers of this country who built it by giving to their communities and building them together,” he says. “I’ve always felt it’s just the right thing to do when we live here, out of appreciation for it. Many people want to move to Canada and we’ve had the good fortune of being born here. This is just my way of showing that I appreciate it.”

Part of building the community included supporting other institutions from the very beginning, including Lakeland. That’s why his family has supported the college through Craig’s of Vermilion, and why Doug is so committed to maintaining the partnership between the college and the Vermilion Agricultural Society.

“The partnership between Lakeland and the Ag Society is huge,” he explains. “It’s so important and valuable. Lakeland is more than agricultural programs, but the agricultural component is so strong. When you put the two organizations together, you get really strong results. The college, the community and the ag society want the best for the community and everybody puts their talents together and great things happen.”

Despite his passion for the community, for supporting Lakeland’s ag students and his life spent as a Vermilion business leader, Doug still doesn’t quite understand how he qualified for the distinguished citizen award.

“It’s very humbling and I have trouble believing that I’m receiving it,” he says. “It’s very meaningful. I’m appreciative, honoured and humbled. I’ve seen some of the people in the past who have received this award and they are people I really admire.”

One such person was John A. Stewart – Doug’s father and the 2017 recipient of the award. Doug says his own commitment to community is modelled after his father’s.

“For my dad, it was always all about community and staying true to his principles,” he says. “And those lessons still exist in me.”

In recognition of being Lakeland’s 2026 Distinguished Citizen, Doug was presented with an honorary bachelor of agricultural technology degree at convocation in Vermilion on June 5. He addressed the graduates, sharing words of wisdom with them – the same way he did on his father’s behalf in 2017.