Bob McDougall.People & purpose.
Project leadership, public service and the family stories I want to preserve and share.
A little about me ↓
Public service, curiosity & connection.
I've spent nearly three decades working in Canada's federal public service, building a career around a simple belief: when something can be done better, it's worth finding a way to make it happen.
As a Project Management Professional (PMP®), my work has taken me across the Government of Canada's Health Portfolio, including Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada. I've led projects involving digital transformation, business continuity, health information systems and organizational improvement. Some of my most rewarding work has involved bringing people with different perspectives together, turning complicated challenges into practical solutions, and helping good ideas become lasting improvements.
Throughout my career, I've been fortunate to receive recognition for innovation, excellence in public health and community service. But what matters most to me isn't the technology or the awards. It's the people, the relationships and knowing that something I've helped create has made a difference.
That same curiosity extends well beyond my professional life. I've volunteered with community organizations, supported youth sports, coached English learners and contributed my project management and web development skills to nonprofit initiatives. I've also had the opportunity to live and work internationally, experiences that have broadened my perspective and reinforced the value of connecting with people from different backgrounds. Earlier chapters of my life included working as a ski instructor in Switzerland and as a ski patroller in Canada — experiences that combined my love of the outdoors with teaching, teamwork and helping others.
Outside work, long-distance cycling has taken me some 25,000 kilometres through almost 30 countries. I also enjoy exploring places, learning new things and finding creative ways to preserve the stories that matter. Two projects especially close to my heart are WarDiary.ca, which shares my grandfather Dr. Austin Walters' six volumes of Second World War diaries, and a memorial website celebrating the life of my father, Len McDougall.
Whether I'm working on a public service initiative, building a website or preserving a piece of family history, the motivation is much the same: curiosity, connection and a desire to create something meaningful.
This website is a little reflection of those interests — the work I've done, the people who've shaped my life and the stories I want to share.
Life on two wheels.
Travelling by bicycle has been one of my greatest passions. Over the years, I've cycled approximately 25,000 kilometres through almost 30 countries, discovering places and meeting people at a pace that lets me appreciate the journey itself.
Long-distance touring has taught me a few things: the first three days can be the toughest, you almost always pack more than you need, and there's no prize for getting there first. I've learned to be comfortable with the unexpected, to fix what I can along the way and to keep a sense of humour when plans go sideways.
Some of the best memories are of the people I've met, including the wonderfully generous strangers cyclists sometimes call “trail angels.” People often ask where I'm from, where I'm going and how far I ride each day. Those simple conversations are part of what makes travelling by bicycle so special.
For me, it's never been just about kilometres. It's about adventure, independence, connecting with the world around me—and finishing one journey already thinking about the next.
Family stories & archives
The Wartime Diaries
Six volumes from my grandfather, Dr. Austin Walters, a Canadian medical officer in the Second World War.
Remembering my Dad
A memorial to Len McDougall: his life, his stories and the people who loved him.
Have a story to share?
Contact me using the link below.