Laurier mourns the passing of retired Professor Doug Lorimer

March 25, 2025

The Wilfrid Laurier University community mourns the passing of retired History professor Doug Lorimer, on March 19, 2025. He was 82 years old. Doug is survived by his wife Joyce who was also a beloved faculty member in Laurier’s History department. 

Doug spent 37 years at Laurier in the Faculty of Arts and was loved by colleagues and students alike. He and Joyce retired together on July 1, 2010, but left a lasting impression on the Laurier community through the Lorimer Equal Chance Award, a scholarship for students on Laurier’s Brantford campus, and the Doug and Joyce Lorimer Award, for upper-year History students.   

Together with Joyce and a group of faculty, Doug spearheaded the certification of the Wilfrid Laurier Faculty Association (WLUFA) in 1998 and served as chief negotiator for several contracts. He also served as Chair of the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) and the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) collective bargaining committees.  

David Monod, Laurier professor of American social and cultural history and longtime friend and colleague of Doug offered this heartfelt tribute. 

Doug’s family will hold a celebration of life at a later date. His obituary and memory wall can be found on the Henry Walser Funeral Home website.