Latest news with #LindaSouthernHeathcott
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Spruce Meadows co-founder Margaret Southern awarded King Charles III Coronation Medal
Spruce Meadows co-founder Margaret Southern was honoured Saturday with the King Charles III Coronation Medal, recognizing her decades-long contributions to sport, community and education in Alberta and across Canada. The medal was presented by Alberta Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani during ATCO Military Family Day, an annual event at Spruce Meadows honouring Canadian military heroes and their families. 'Mrs. Southern, you and your family are really that anchor that grounds us, in a world that has lost its mooring,' Lakhani said during the ceremony. 'Thank you so much for everything that you have done, and your family continues to do.' The award recognizes civilians who have made significant contributions to Alberta and Canada. Southern's recognition comes ahead of the ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup, the marquee event of the Spruce Meadows 'North American' tournament. She joined her daughters — Linda Southern-Heathcott, president and CEO of Spruce Meadows, and Nancy Southern, chair and CEO of ATCO — who also received the coronation medal earlier this year. A former teacher, Margaret Southern founded Spruce Meadows in 1975 alongside her husband Ron, and served as its president until 2005. Over nearly five decades, she helped transform the facility into one of the world's premier show jumping venues, attracting hundreds of thousands of international visitors each year. 'Mrs. Southern's decades of passionate leadership, tireless work, and enduring dedication helped make Spruce Meadows one of the most successful show jumping venues on the planet,' Spruce Meadows said in a release. 'That effort has helped draw hundreds of thousands of global tourists to Alberta, bringing in more than $120 million to the broader Alberta economy annually, without the aid of government funding.' Southern has also championed philanthropy and youth education with initiatives such as the Spruce Meadows School Tours program, which has seen more than 250,000 youngsters visit Spruce Meadows to learn about agriculture, ecosystems and equine welfare. Grand plan comes to fruition as Spruce Meadows celebrates 50th anniversary in style Spruce Meadows at 50: Small dream, big ambition has led to world-class venture
CTV News
06-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Spruce Meadows celebrates 50th anniversary by getting its closeup in limited edition Marvel comic
President and CEO Linda Southern-Heathcott, along with Ron Heathcott, Manager of Health, Safety, and Sustainability, unveils the first collectible comic book cover featuring X-Men characters Storm, Wolverine, and Jean Grey, on the Spruce Meadows grounds. Horse culture is meeting comic book culture in a new collaboration between Spruce Meadows in Calgary and Marvel Comics. The Calgary institution revealed the first of four collectible covers Friday on the opening day of its new event Epic Weekends, running alongside the 'Continental' presented by Rolex. The comic book features iconic X-Men characters including Alberta-born Wolverine, Beast, Storm and Jean Grey. The issue is called The Spirit of Spruce Meadows and it blends thrilling action with Spruce Meadows' rich history, throwing in a few comic twists along the way. Spirit of Spruce Meadows The limited edition Marvel comic features familiar X-Men characters as well as the history of Spruce Meadows. (Spruce Meadows) The various collectible covers will debut at summer tournaments scheduled for June and July at Spruce Meadows: the Continental, National, Pan American and North American. Marvel-themed posters will also be unveiled at each event, with comics and posters available free to the 500 guests per day at each tournament. Spruce Meadows will also be celebrating a Marvel-themed Father's Day event next Sunday, June 15. 'We wanted to create a fun and unique keepsake to commemorate our 50th anniversary,' said Linda Southern-Heathcott, Spruce Meadows president and CEO. 'What could be more exciting than bringing the Marvel Universe to Spruce Meadows? I've been a fan of the comics and movies for years. The comic turned out beautifully and I hope everyone loves it as much as I do!' For more information, go here.
