Spruce Meadows founder Ron Southern dies at age 85

Ronald D. Southern, founder of Calgary's Spruce Meadows equestrian facility, has passed away on January 21, 2016.

Calgary businessman and Spruce Meadows founder, Ron Southern, passed away Thursday at the age of 85 and is being remembered around the world as a visionary, entrepreneur and leader.

The Southern family opened Spruce Meadows over 40 years ago and the equestrian facility has evolved into one of the leading showjumping venue in the world.

On Thursday, Spruce Meadows shared Southern's passing on Twitter and on its website:

Southern helped found the Calgary-based ATCO Group, an electrical and natural gas provider to much of Alberta, back in 1947.

He also founded AKITA Drilling Ltd. and the company says he helped it expand into the Arctic and develop strong relationships with First Nations, Inuit, and Metis groups.

“Mr. Southern's wisdom, passion, resolve and vision will be greatly missed by AKITA; the lessons he instilled and his lifelong commitment to excellence will continue to guide the Company,” the company said in a release.

Sports Calgary released a statement on Southern’s death saying…

“Mr. Southern was a great Calgarian,” said Murray Sigler, Executive Director & CEO of Sport Calgary, “and he was a lifelong champion for for sport in our city. He will be sorely missed. On behalf of everyone involved in sport, we extend our deepest condolences to his family.”

Tsuu T’ina Chief Roy Whitney expressed his sadness over Southern’s passing saying…

“Though a sad day for the Southern family and the many, many people touched by Ron’s work, generosity and integrity, this is also a day where I choose to reflect with fondness and respect on a man who built so many things, created deep life-long and personal friendships with the people he touched, and who did not just talk about respect for First Nations people – he demonstrated it.  Ron made Tsuu t’ina a central part of the vision and execution of Spruce Meadows.  In 2013, I was honoured to make Ron an honourary member of the Tsuut’ina Nation, bestowed honourary Chieftainship and gave him the name ‘Sorrel Horse’.

Southern was given Canada's highest civilian honour and was inducted as a Member of the Order of Canada in 1986.

He was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2006 and the flag at WinSport's Canada Olympic Park has been lowered to half-mast in his honour.

"Canada's Sports Hall of Fame is deeply saddened by the death of one of our inducted Honoured Members, Ron Southern. Ron received the highest sporting honour in Canada when he was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 2006, along with his wife Margaret, as Builders for Equestrian sport in Canada. His passion for horse jumping and the equestrian sport led to the development of Spruce Meadows, one of the world's foremost eventing arenas and training facilities in the world. His legacy will live on for generations to come,"  said Mario Siciliano, President & CEO of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.

Ian Allison is the Senior Vice-President of Spruce Meadows and says Southern will be remembered from coast-to-coast and around the world as an entrepreneur and trail blazer.

“It’s a sad day and I think all of us are feeling a real sense of mourning not only here at Spruce Meadows but throughout the city and the province,” said Allison. “Mr. Southern was an extraordinary man who lived an extraordinary life and really impacted millions of people around the world either to their knowledge of unbeknownst to them.”

One of the city's most prominent businessmen, Southern had an estimated net worth of $1.7B.

“Spruce Meadows was a little plot of cattle feedlot, far south of the City of Calgary that was purchased in 1971 and the Southerns had a vision for it and that vision has become what it is today and over the last 40 years it’s become, not only I think, a proud landmark here in the City of Calgary but somewhat of an iconic Canadian Sports Institution and through Mr. Southern’s vision and Mrs. Southern’s execution, that’s the recipe that has really worked well through their more than 60 years married together,” said Allison.

Premier Rachel Notley said Southern dreamed big and that all of Alberta benefited from his efforts.

“Albertans’ thoughts, prayers and deepest appreciation are with the family of a great Alberta business leader and community giant, Ron Southern," said Notely. "Ron’s many endeavours created Alberta jobs, contributed to our pride and made Alberta a show-jumping destination. We are forever grateful for his vision, his generosity and his shining example of community support."

Ron Southern is survived by his wife Margaret Southern and daughters Nancy Southern and Linda Southern-Heathcott, who will continue as AKITA’s Chairperson.

Funeral arrangements are not immediately available.