Durham College (DC) is deeply saddened by the passing of Durham Regional Chair Roger Anderson.

A long-time advocate for post-secondary education and a benefactor of the college, Chairman Anderson made a profound impact on students through his charitable initiative, the Roger Anderson Charity Classic golf tournament, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2017 and reached a milestone of more than $6 million raised to support local youth.

“Roger and his family are in the thoughts of the Durham College community across the region and well beyond,” said DC president Don Lovisa. “Each year, through Roger’s generosity, the college bestows more than 100 awards, totaling $2.5 million, to students who might otherwise not have the means to pursue a post-secondary education. He recognized the connection between such opportunity and the pride and prosperity of Durham Region and hoped beneficiaries would go on to offer other students a hand up in their own way. This is the spirit in which we will carry forward Roger’s legacy.”

Chairman Anderson was Durham’s longest-serving regional chair and was the first person to be directly elected into the role in 2014. Prior to his terms as regional chair, he served as a constable on the Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) from 1978 to 1988 and as a broker with a local real estate business. He also served as regional councillor and deputy mayor for the Town of Ajax from 1991 to 1997.

He was chair of the Durham Region Transit Commission since its inception on January 1, 2006, and served several terms as chair of the DRPS Board. He was active in the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) for 25 years, including a two-year term as president.

In honour of Roger’s life, the college’s flags will be lowered on the day of his funeral, Thursday, March 29.