Memoriam: Gary MacDonald of MacDon Industries

Oct 26, 2021

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has announced that industry leader Gary MacDonald, a former top exec with MacDon Industries and a key member in the formation of the association has passed away.

Born September 25, 1951 and passing on October 14, 2021 after battling a brain disease, MacDonald helped form the AEM with the merging of the Construction Industry Manufacturers Association and the Equipment Manufacturers Institute in 2001.

He was the first leader of the AEM in 2002 as Co-Chair, as well as a long-time member and leader on its Board of Directors and Ag Sector Board.

Born in Truro, Nova Scotia as the second of four boys, MacDonald grew up in Brantford, Ontario, learned the bagpipes even once playing onstage with Sir Paul McCartney.

Attending the Ivey School of business at The University of Western Ontario from 1970-1974, he also played on the varsity football team and won a national championship with its rugby team.

He moved to Winnipeg in 1976 joining the family business helping MacDon grow over the next four decades into a global leader of harvesting equipment.

Celebrations of MacDonald's Ilife will be held at the Old Mill in Toronto, Ontario, Saturday, October 30 from 4-6pm EDT and at the Victoria Inn, Winnipeg, Manitoiba, Saturday, November 6 from 1-4pm CDT with a short program to commence at 1:30pm CDT including live streaming available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/qCvsXx_lTVk.

Face masks and proof of Covid-19 vaccination are required at both venues per provincial guidelines.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Sunnybrook Foundation supporting the Dr. Sandra Black Centre for Brain Resilience and Recovery, 2075 Bayview Avenue, KGW-01, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5.

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