Remembering Ronald D. Southern

Ron Southern, the tireless Alberta businessman who co-founded Spruce Meadows, passed away Jan. 21 at the age of 85.

Ron and his wife, Marg, who were married in 1954, purchased Copithorne Ranch, a large feed lot south of Calgary, in 1971 and opened Spruce Meadows in 1975. Under the couple’s vision, it became one of the leading showjumping venues in the world, and since then Spruce Meadows has hosted athletes from more than 60 nations and attracted over 10 million fans.

But beyond the horse industry, Ron was also a major force. As a precocious teenager he founded Alberta Trailer Hire in 1947 with his father, Samuel. The company – now ATCO Group – has grown into a multi-billion dollar enterprise involved in structures and logistics, electricity, pipelines and liquids, and retail energy employing more than 8,000 worldwide. His daughter, Nancy, has been chair, president, and CEO since 2012.

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An avid and talented hockey, football, and basketball player in his youth, Ron attended the University of Alberta and obtained a Bachelor of Science from the Faculty of Medicine there in 1953. Ron founded AKITA Drilling Ltd. in 1993, a company priding itself on mutually beneficial joint ventures with First Nations peoples, Inuit and Metis. His daughter, Linda, will continue on as AKITA’s chairperson.

Over the years, Ron also sat on the boards of directors of some noted Canadian companies including Canadian Pacific, Chrysler Canada, Lafarge Canada, Royal and Sun Alliance, Trimac, Pacific Western Airlines, Canadian Pacific Airlines, Canadian Airlines, Xerox Canada, and the Mercantile Bank. In recognition of his energy and contributions, Ron received the Holland Trade Award (1985), Member of the Order of Canada (1986), Member of the Order of the British Empire (1990), Commander of the Order of the British Empire (1995), Financial Post CEO of the Year (1996), The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal (2002), Companion of the Order of Canada (2007), Canadian Manufacturing Hall of Fame (2007), the Alberta Order of Excellence (2012), The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012) and The Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service (2013). He was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame (1992), and the Canada Sports Hall of Fame (2006) – just a small sampling of the honours with which he has been bestowed.

Ian Allison, senior vice-president of Spruce Meadows, reflected on the man he worked alongside for 40-plus years. “Mr. Southern had a manner and a determination to get things done,” he said. “To him, to have a goal, an objective, was to have a desire to change your world and make that dream a reality. It took vision, leadership, and firm resolve. It took a real commitment to ‘excellence,’ as he defined it.

“It is not an exaggeration to say that I spent more time with R.D. in my life than I did with my own father. He approached each day, and everything he did, with determination, focus and always with a real desire to bring his very best to everything. With that he also wanted a complete understanding, no matter what the subject. He was never shy to ask questions, and he was an excellent listener.

“R.D. would often warn us that ‘calm waters are never assured.’ This is true. We have encountered many storms over the last 40 years. Fortunately, both he and Mrs. Southern always provided great leadership, and with that, the tools necessary for Spruce Meadows to navigate such waters.”

Ron is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Margaret, and his daughters Nancy (Jonathan Asselin) and Linda (Tom Heathcott), as well as grandchildren Kelly Koss-Brix, Kyle Koss, Ben Asselin, Patrick Heathcott, Ronald Heathcott, and Charlie Heathcott. A service celebrating his life took place Jan. 28 in the Equiplex and Riding Hall at Spruce Meadows. In memory of Ron, donations can be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation or the Spruce Meadows Beautification Fund (sprucemeadows.com/memorial).

Ron passed away surrounded by his wife and daughters in the Mayfair home where the couple has lived since the 1960s. He was loved, admired, and respected in all facets of his extraordinary life that was full of adventure, travel and enterprise. He will be deeply missed.