Hailing from Nova Scotia, Michelle Douglas said she chose Carleton more than 30 years ago because being in the nation’s capital inspired her. As a graduate of Carleton’s law and political science programs, Douglas said Ottawa was a great city for her because she was constantly around politics. She described her regular trips downtown to Parliament to watch question period— “That’s the kind of nerd I am, but I loved it.”
“I love politics and I was very interested in government and decided that Carleton was the place I had to be, and it turned out to be a great decision,” she said.
Douglas said she was heavily involved in the Carleton community, where she participated regularly in student protests.
She said she loved going to the Panda Game and “even begrudgingly came to like the tunnels.”
“I loved my time at Carleton and I blended it with an opportunity to explore Canada’s capital,” she said. “So not only did I benefit greatly from my courses, but I tried to participate in community life.”
Douglas succeeded Ottawa mayor Jim Watson as the student ombudsman for the Rideau River Residence Association, but she joked that she has no plans to run for mayor.
“I think going to university is a time for people to be curious, expand their intellectual pursuits, engage in community activities and try to sort out what inclination you might have towards a career,” Douglas said.
Because of her time at Carleton, Douglas said she knew she wanted to have a career that involved serving the public. After graduating from Carleton in 1985, she said she decided to join the Canadian Armed Forces and she became an officer in the military.
“It was an incredible experience and a deep honour to serve my country. I remain very proud to have been in the military,” she said. “For me it’s a source of pride and gave me a great many things that I think have contributed to the person I am today and the kind of life I’ve made for myself.”
But in 1989, Douglas said her career in the military didn’t exactly work out as she had hoped or expected. She was honourably discharged for being a lesbian. She said she still remembers the exact words the military used when they discharged her: “not advantageously employable due to homosexuality.”
In 1992, Douglas launched a landmark lawsuit against the Department of National Defence for that discrimination. Her lawsuit resulted in the Canadian Armed Forces ending their discriminatory policies against gays and lesbians in the military.
“That was a great moment for Canada,” she said. “The Charter of Rights and Freedoms played a huge role in making that achievement possible. And certainly for me, what had been a very challenging experience turned out to be one that was deeply affirming and had a life-changing impact on me.”
Douglas later became the founding president of the Foundation for Equal Families, a Canadian gay and lesbian rights group.
Since leaving the military, Douglas said she continued to serve in the public service of Canada and she currently works at the Department of Justice in Ottawa.
“My experience at Carleton ultimately provided the educational underpinnings for a successful public service career,” she said.
Douglas said she also volunteers as the chair of the board of directors at Free the Children, a human rights organization.
Ultimately, Douglas said she is proud to be a Carleton graduate.
“So here I am, in the city I love and doing a lot of things that I think continue to be very important to me,” she said.
As for advice for current students, Douglas said, “Look for opportunities to become engaged in the community and don’t spend all your time on campus. Study harder than you think you have to, because school doesn’t last forever and there’s a big world out there so go for it.”
She admits: “I didn’t study hard enough.”
