Doug Barber Memorial Fund
For Janet and Dave Barber, philanthropy has always been deeply personal. It is rooted in family, community, memory, and a belief that generosity can create something lasting for others.
Their connection to the Saskatchewan Community Foundation reflects many parts of their lives: Janet’s six years of service on the Foundation’s Board, their family’s long-standing relationship with the Saskatchewan Community Foundation through the Lloyd and Duna Barber Family Foundation Fund, and their own commitment to supporting the places and causes that have shaped their family’s story.
At the heart of that story is their son, Doug.
When Doug died tragically in an accident at the age of 15, Janet and Dave looked for a way to honour his life that would also give something meaningful back to the community. They could have chosen many ways to remember him, but they were drawn to a place filled with memories: the Regina Beach pier.
“Our kids were children of the beach,” Janet has reflected in past interviews. The pier was part of their childhood. It was a place where Doug spent time with his brothers, cousins, and friends. It was more than a structure on the water. It was a gathering place, a landmark, and a part of community life.
When the pier, an iconic feature of Regina Beach since the 1920s, had deteriorated and become unusable after years of wear and flooding, Janet and Dave joined with others to help bring it back. Through fundraising, volunteer effort, and community support, the pier was rebuilt into a lasting public space: a lookout, gathering place, and community hub.
For the Barbers, the project became a quiet and beautiful way to remember Doug. A “barber pole” on the pier offers a subtle tribute to him and to the joy he found there as a child.
“I want people to remember him as a fun little kid that played on the pier with his brothers, his cousins and his friends,” Janet has said.
Today, the pier continues to welcome residents and visitors. It is a place for fishing, sightseeing, walking, gathering, and remembering. For Janet, seeing people enjoy it remains a source of joy.
“It just makes my day,” she said. “It just makes my heart sing.”
That same spirit of remembrance and community care also led to the establishment of the Doug Barber Memorial Fund at the Saskatchewan Community Foundation. Created in
2005, the Fund provides a lasting way to honour Doug while supporting charitable needs in the community. Since its creation, the Fund has supported the Lumsden High School Grad Committee and the Regina Beach Child Care Centre. Together, these gifts reflect the Barbers’ desire to honour Doug’s memory through practical, community-minded support.
Janet and Dave’s philanthropy also connects to their wider volunteer service and commitment to the South Shore communities. Janet has served in many community roles, including on the council for the Village of Buena Vista, on the Board of the Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan, and as a member of the Regina Beach Pier Fundraising Committee. Dave was also part of the Regina Beach Pier Fundraising Committee and has contributed to community life through his own leadership and support.
Janet was also involved with the South Shore Advisory Board, which helped establish the South Shore Community Foundation Fund at the Community Foundation. The Advisory Board’s purpose was to “promote philanthropy in the South Shore communities,” and while the Board is no longer active, the Fund continues to support local charitable projects.
For Janet, serving on the Saskatchewan Community Foundation Board offered another meaningful way to see philanthropy in action. She remembers the experience with warmth and appreciation. “I have many great memories of my interactions with Board colleagues and learning how to be on a Board myself,” she said. “Some of my favourite memories involve visiting the charities we granted to, meeting the people involved and seeing community impact firsthand.”
These moments reflect what philanthropy can do at its best. It connects people to one another. It turns grief into care, memory into action, and generosity into lasting community benefit.
Through their fund, their volunteer service, and their commitment to the South Shore communities, Janet and Dave Barber have created a legacy that is both personal and public. It honours Doug’s life while helping others. It supports local projects while preserving a family story. And it reminds everyone who learns about the Fund that philanthropy does not have to be distant or abstract. It can begin with love, memory, and a desire to strengthen the place we call home.
