Douglas Ruth
Douglas (Doug) Warren Ruth, P.Eng.(SM), FEC, passed away on January 11, 2021, after a battle with cancer.
Education
Doug was born in Manitoba on October 16, 1948. Doug received BSc (1970) and MSc (1972) degrees from the University of Manitoba and a PhD (1977) degree from the University of Waterloo.
Early Career
Doug spent about ten years in the oil industry before spending over 30 years at the University of Manitoba in the faculty of engineering.
University of Manitoba Career
Doug served in various capacities during his tenure including, • Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, • Associate Dean of Engineering for Design Education, • Second of the University of Manitoba’s three NSERC Chairs in Design Engineering. • Dean of the faculty from 1999 to 2010. (Check out the interview that was published in the Keystone Professional in October 1999 when announcing his appointment as the next Dean.
Doug championed new concepts such as having Engineers-in-Residence to provide industry-based design courses.
He also initiated and supervised the writing and publishing of a centennial history of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Manitoba entitled “Grinding ‘Geers’ Celebrating 100 Years of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Manitoba 1907-2007”. (insert link)
During his time as Dean, Doug oversaw the major infrastructure changes that modified several older buildings and spaces into a more modern and accessible centre of learning renamed the Engineering & Information Technology Complex (EITC) in 2007.
Doug was involved in many aspects of the project including the following. • from the concept, • to funding raising through visiting alumni groups across Canada and internationally like Hong Kong, • to recruiting local alumni like Gary Filmon to get behind the project, • to navigating the university bureaucracy to get the authority to build, • to getting the computer science Department to agree to come into the engineering building, • to managing the construction contract administration, • to arranging for much of the student’s classes and laboratories to be delivered in other buildings across the campus while their building was torn down and being rebuilt around them.
Doug managed all the above and continued to direct the expansion of the faculty’s programs and services.
Associated Activities
Doug also undertook the responsibility of Chief Warden of the Camp 8 Iron Ring Ceremony while the EITC development was going on.
Dr. Ruth’s legacy was honoured many times within the Price Faculty of Engineering and by Engineers Geoscientist Manitoba.
In 2014, Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba awarded Doug with the Champion of Engineering Education Award for his relentless commitment to the education of engineers in the province of Manitoba. As part of that commitment, he served on Engineers Canada’s Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board including a term as its Chair.
When he retired in 2018, he was honoured by the Faculty of Engineering as Dean Emeritus and the laneway at the South entrance to the EITC was officially renamed the “Doug Ruth Laneway”.
Legacy Gifts
In 2022, the Engineering and Geoscience Education Foundation Inc. (EGEF) donated $50,000 to a new Strategic Initiatives Fund at the faculty of Engineering at the University of Manitoba (renamed in 2020 as Price Faculty of Engineering) in memory of Doug. The existing student lounge on the ground floor of EITC now bears the name Doug Ruth Student Lounge for a period of 15 years.
A plaque in the Student Lounge commemorates Doug’s work with students and his efforts in raising funds for the EITC. The naming of this room honours Dean Doug Ruth’s contributions to the Price Faculty of Engineering. In the classroom, the lab and the boardroom, Doug supported the interests of students of all backgrounds and pathways. He encouraged their registration as professional engineers (P.Eng.). Doug’s tireless efforts to develop this EITC, which opened in 2005, demonstrated his commitment to students and engineering. Doug inspired alumni worldwide to help finance the EITC, and approached the professional Association, now called Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba, to contribute. To facilitate funding, the Association founded the Engineering and Geoscience Education Foundation Inc., the naming contributor to this space. Its donors are primarily professional engineers and geoscientists.
The Price Faculty of Engineering used the $50,000 gift in combination with other donor gifts toward a refresh of the Donald W. Craik Engineering Library into a more modern student learning space.
Doug and Beverly Ruth Centenary Award in Engineering
The Doug and Beverly Ruth Centenary Award in Engineering has also been set up in his memory by his family at the University of Manitoba. Contributions may be made by accessing the university’s website and referring to the name of the award.
References
- Manitoba Historical Society, Website, Memorable Manitobans: Douglas Warren “Doug” Ruth (1948-2021), https://mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/ruth_dw.shtml accessed 2025 01 10
- Engineers Geoscientist Manitoba, Keystone Professional, Spring 2021
- University of Manitoba, UM Today News, https://news.umanitoba.ca/remembering-dean-emeritus-douglas-ruth/ accessed 2025 01 10.
- Engineering and Geoscience Education Foundation, Website, Projects, Dr. Doug Ruth Student Lounce, Strategic Initiatives Fund, https://egef.ca/projects/ accessed 2025 01 10.
Compiled by
- Glen N. Cook, P Eng(SM), FEC
- Dave Ennis, P Eng(SM), FEC.
