Doug Ford Sr.

Early life and family

Douglas Bruce Ford was born in Toronto on February 27, 1933, the son of English immigrants Celia McNicol and Ernest Ford. His father, a Home Child, died the same year Ford was born, leaving his mother to raise him and his siblings as a single parent. He grew up in the Danforth area of East York as the youngest of nine children, experiencing the loss of a brother, Henry Edsel, in 1935 and a sister in infancy in 1923. Ford married Diane Ruth Campbell, and the couple had four children: Kathy, Randy, Doug, and Rob.

The Ford family would become a significant force in Ontario politics in the decades following his own career. His son Rob Ford served as mayor of Toronto from 2010 to 2014 and as a city councillor for Ward 2 (Etobicoke North) for many years. His older son, Doug Ford, served as a Toronto city councillor for Ward 2 from 2010 to 2014, finished second in the 2014 Toronto mayoral election, and was elected premier of Ontario in 2018. Following Rob Ford's death in 2016, his grandson Michael Ford was elected to the Ward 2 council seat, continuing the family's political involvement.

Business career

Before entering politics, Doug Ford Sr. established himself as a successful entrepreneur in the printing industry. In 1962, he co-founded Deco Labels & Tags Limited alongside business partner Ted Herriott. The company was based in the Rexdale area of Etobicoke, which was later encompassed by the City of Toronto. Deco Labels grew into a substantial commercial printing operation, specializing in the production of labels and tags for various consumer and industrial products.

The business provided the Ford family with financial stability and became a central part of their identity in Etobicoke. Following his retirement from provincial politics in 1999, Ford returned to actively managing the family business. The company's success and local prominence contributed to the Ford family's deep roots and name recognition in the Etobicoke community, which later facilitated their children's political campaigns. The business remains associated with the Ford family to this day.

Provincial political career

Doug Ford Sr. entered provincial politics during a period of significant change in Ontario. He ran as the Progressive Conservative candidate in the riding of Etobicoke, Humber in the 1995 provincial election. In that campaign, he defeated the incumbent Liberal MPP, Jim Henderson, by a margin of approximately 4,500 votes. His victory contributed to the large majority won by Mike Harris's Progressive Conservatives, who formed a government dedicated to a platform of tax cuts and government restructuring known as the Common Sense Revolution.

Ford was elected to the provincial legislature in the 1995 provincial election. He sat as a backbench supporter of Mike Harris's government for the next four years. In 1996, the Harris government reduced the number of provincial ridings from 130 to 103. This change forced some sitting MPPs from the same party to fight one another for re-nomination.

Ford challenged Chris Stockwell for the Progressive Conservative nomination in the newly created riding of Etobicoke Centre. Despite support from Jim Flaherty and others in cabinet, he was defeated. This nomination defeat ended his career as a sitting MPP. Ford retired from politics after this election defeat and returned to running his business.

Later life and death

After his defeat in the 1999 nomination contest, Ford retired from elected politics and returned full-time to the management of Deco Labels & Tags. He remained a respected figure in his local Etobicoke community. In August 2006, Ford was diagnosed with colon cancer. His health declined rapidly, and he died from the disease on September 22, 2006, just six weeks after his initial diagnosis.

Ford died of colon cancer in 2006, only six weeks after his diagnosis. He is buried at Riverside Cemetery. His wife Diane Ruth Campbell died of cancer in January 2020. A park on Royal York Road was renamed Douglas B. Ford Park in 2010 in his honour.

Memorial and honours

In 2010, the City of Toronto posthumously honoured Doug Ford Sr. by renaming a public park in the Etobicoke area after him. The park, previously known as Weston Wood Park, is located on Royal York Road adjacent to the Humber River. It was officially redesignated as Douglas B. Ford Park. The park is a neighbourhood greenspace featuring a playground and stands of trees, providing recreational space for local residents.

The small park has a playground and trees adjacent to Humber River. The Ford family is located very near to the park. The park, formerly named Weston Wood Park, was renamed in his honour. Riverside Cemetery is near the park named in his honour.

Political family timeline

Doug Ford Sr. was the father of former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and the Premier of Ontario Doug Ford. Several of Ford's descendants went on to have careers in politics. Rob Ford served as Mayor of Toronto from 2010 to 2014 and also represented Ward 2 on Toronto City Council. Doug Ford represented Ward 2 on Toronto Council from 2010 to 2014 and was elected leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario in 2018.

• 1962: Doug Ford Sr. co-founds Deco Labels & Tags Limited.
• 1995: Doug Ford Sr. is elected as the Progressive Conservative MPP for Etobicoke, Humber.
• 1999: Ford loses a nomination contest and retires from provincial politics.
• 2000: His son, Rob Ford, is first elected to Toronto City Council for Ward 2 (Etobicoke North).
• 2006: Doug Ford Sr. dies on September 22.
• 2010: Rob Ford is elected mayor of Toronto. His brother Doug Ford is elected to the vacant Ward 2 council seat.
• 2014: Rob Ford returns to City Council for Ward 2. Doug Ford runs for mayor, finishing second to John Tory.
• 2016: Rob Ford dies in office. His nephew Michael Ford is elected in a by-election to succeed him in Ward 2.
• 2018: Doug Ford is elected premier of Ontario, leading the Progressive Conservatives to a majority government.

Doug Ford led the Conservatives to a majority government in the 2018 Ontario general election. Ford's grandson Michael Ford was elected to the Ward 2 council seat following Rob Ford's death. The family has had continued representation in the Etobicoke North area. Their political involvement spans multiple levels of government over several decades.

Questions about Doug Ford Sr.

What business did Doug Ford Sr. own?

Doug Ford Sr. was the co-founder of Deco Labels & Tags Limited, a printing company he established with partner Ted Herriott in 1962. The business was based in Rexdale, Etobicoke. It specialized in manufacturing labels and tags for various products. The company provided the foundation for the family's financial standing and local prominence.

How is Doug Ford Sr. related to Premier Doug Ford?

Doug Ford Sr. was the father of the current premier of Ontario, Doug Ford. The premier is his namesake and second son. Doug Ford Sr. is also the father of former Toronto mayor Rob Ford. The premier's political career followed his father's path, first serving on Toronto City Council before leading the provincial Progressive Conservatives.

Why did Doug Ford Sr. leave provincial politics?

Doug Ford Sr.'s provincial political career ended due to an electoral redistribution. In 1996, the Harris government reduced the number of ridings, forcing him to compete for re-nomination in a new riding. He challenged fellow Conservative Chris Stockwell for the nomination in Etobicoke Centre but was defeated. He did not seek election elsewhere and retired from the legislature in 1999.

What was Doug Ford Sr.'s cause of death?

Doug Ford Sr. died of colon cancer on September 22, 2006. His diagnosis came only six weeks before his death. Following his death, he was buried at Riverside Cemetery in Toronto. This cemetery is located near a park that was later renamed in his honour. His wife, Diane, also later died from cancer in January 2020.

Did Doug Ford Sr. serve as a minister in the Ontario government?

No, Doug Ford Sr. never served as a minister in the Ontario government. He was elected as a Progressive Conservative MPP for the riding of Etobicoke Humber in the 1995 provincial election. He served a single term from 1995 to 1999. Throughout this term, he sat as a backbench supporter of Premier Mike Harris's government. After a redistribution of ridings, he sought but failed to win the party nomination for Etobicoke Centre in 1996, challenging fellow MPP Chris Stockwell.

What is Douglas B. Ford Park?

Douglas B. Ford Park is a public park in Toronto named in honour of Doug Ford Sr. It is located on Royal York Road adjacent to the Humber River. The park was renamed from Weston Wood Park in 2010, four years after his death. It features a playground and trees. The Ford family residence is located very near to this park. Doug Ford Sr. is buried at nearby Riverside Cemetery.

Sources and further reading

• Doug Ford Sr. (Wikipedia)
• Flexible Solutions for Innovative Packaging | Deco Labels (decolabels.com)
• Doug Ford at Deco: The inside story (theglobeandmail.com)
• Doug Ford, a premier 'For the (Rich) People' (uaw.ca)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-23.