December
22, 2011, Portage La Prairie, Man – The sudden passing of Doug Connery,
president of Connery Riverdale Farms, on December 15, 2011, has shocked his
many friends and colleagues among fruit and vegetable producers across Canada.
December
22, 2011, Portage La Prairie, Man – The sudden passing of Doug Connery,
president of Connery Riverdale Farms, on December 15, 2011, has shocked his
many friends and colleagues among fruit and vegetable producers across Canada.
“I was
shocked to hear of his passing,” says Larry MacIntosh, president of Manitoba
vegetable growers co-op Peak of the Market. “We were friends for a long time. He
was very active in our industry. In fact, he was on the board of Peak of
the Market when I was hired. He was so young still.”
Connery
Riverdale Farms, located near Portage La Prairie in south central Manitoba, is
one of Manitoba’s largest vegetable growers. The operation, which was
established in 1960 by Doug Connery’s father, Ed, grows fresh asparagus,
broccoli, green onions, carrots, and cooking onions as well as strawberries.
The farm operation employs about 40 people.
Doug
Connery, who was 56, worked on the family farm all of his life. In 1990, he was
named Manitoba’s Young Farmer of the Year. Connery was not only a successful
grower but also a leader amongst vegetable growers and producers in Canada. He
was a director of Peak of the Market; past president of the Vegetable Growers
Association of Manitoba; past president of the Canadian Horticultural Council
(CHC); and human resources chair of the CHC.
He is
survived by his wife, Paulette; son Jarrett (Susie); daughter Sheri (Dusty);
grandchildren Austin, Arlo, and Liam; parents Ed and Bev Connery; sister Jackie
(Ron); brothers Jeff (Beth), and Tim; mother-in-law Alice Nadon; sister-in-law
Aldene Moroz (Barry); brother-in-law Brad Nadon; and many nieces and nephews.
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