January 21, 2016
The Staff and Board of the National Music Centre were saddened to learn of the passing of Ron Southern, ATCO founder and enthusiastic city builder. Through Ron’s leadership ATCO Group was a founding supporter of the National Music Centre, having supported NMC and its predecessor, Cantos Music Foundation, since 2004.
Mr. Southern, together with his family, invested passionately in the development of our city. Spruce Meadows made Calgary an internationally renowned destination for show-jumping. Mr. Southern’s generosity and dedication made it possible to realize, against the odds, a vision for Spruce Meadows, and for Calgary, that forever changed our city for the better. This effort is a continuing source of inspiration for us at the National Music Centre, and we are honoured to have known him and to be supported by ATCO Group.