Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 88-year life of a great Canadian. Doug Matheson was a war hero, lawyer, judge, flying instructor, too many other things to list and general inspiration to all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Shot down in his Spitfire in 1943, he evaded the Nazis for several months before being captured. He escaped execution as a spy and spent the rest of the war in Stalag Luft III, including spending time as a tunneler for the Great Escape.
After the war, he earned a law degree and was later appointed to the Court of Queen's Bench in Alberta.
His passion for life and the people in it never waned and his love of flying lasted a lifetime. He was a fixture at the Edmonton Flying Club for decades and tutored countless young pilots. At the age 87, Judge Matheson decided it was time to get his helicopter qualification, and he did so. Age was just a number to Doug.
On Monday Doug departed Edmonton for a flight over the Badlands in his Beechcraft Bonanza. He never came back. Somewhere along the way, he slipped the surly bonds of earth for the last time, put out his hand and touched the face of God.
He will be missed. Happy landings, D.R.