Spruce Meadows’ Ron D. Southern has died at the age of 85.
The famous equestrian centre in Calgary, Alberta, made the announcement today, with the following statement:
“It is with great sadness that Spruce Meadows announces the passing on January 21, 2016 of its
founder and co-chairman, Ronald D. Southern.
“In April of 1975 the Southern family officially opened Spruce Meadows. Over the last 40 years, Spruce Meadows, as a result of the leadership and vision of Ron Southern, has become an iconic sports venue and is today recognized as the leading venue in the world for international show jumping.
“The founder’s simple recipe of “Good Friendship, Good Commerce and Good Sport” has provided valuable guidance and a wonderful platform for Spruce Meadows through the decades. So too has his genuine lifelong commitment to excellence, which he brought to everything in his life.”
A keen businessman with a net worth estimated at $1.7 billion, Southern helped establish the leading electrical and natural gas provider in Calgary, the ATCO Group, in 1947. He also founded AKITA Drilling Ltd., which became a public company in 1993, after having worked with AKITA’s predecessor company from its origins in the 1970s.
As a local corporate giant, Southern wanted to give back to the city that nurtured his business empire, and decided to do so by building a showcase sports facility that Calgarians would be proud to embrace. Together with his wife, Margaret (Marg), and daughters, Nancy and Linda, he purchased property south of the city in 1973 and set to work building arenas and stables; the first competition was held in 1976.
Marg said, “We began with three goals in mind, and while we have been able to enhance those goals over the years, our objectives for Spruce Meadows have never changed.” Those three goals: to provide an excellent facility for the support and training of young, talented athletes, both equine and human; to develop a breeding program for first-class show jumping horses; and to provide matchless facilities for the hosting of international jumping competitions.
Spruce Meadows has been successful on all three fronts, in large part due to Southern’s leadership and vision for the facility.
Southern’s achievements were recognised with both Canadian and international awards. He was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1990, in recognition of his promotion of Anglo-Canadian relations in the fields of commerce, culture and sport. In 2003 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and was promoted to Companion in 2006. He received a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012, as well as an Alberta Order of Excellence. Ron and Marg Southern were jointly-inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.
Southern is survived by his wife Marg Southern and daughters Nancy Southern and Linda Southern-Heathcott.
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