‘Humble’ and approachable, group remembers MacLean Engineering founder
Don MacLean died on Jan. 11 surrounded by loved ones in Meaford
The spouse and children, friends, and employees of Collingwood’s MacLean Engineering founder have been reflecting on the worldwide legacy he built in daily life as they reported their goodbyes to him this thirty day period.
Don MacLean died on Jan. 11 in Meaford, and his celebration of existence on Jan. 18 was standing area only as hundreds of folks paid their respects to the do the job he did to construct a global company that creates personalized mining gear, and a leader in the industry as a producer of battery-driven mining autos.
MacLean started his company by retrofitting farm tractors in a barn at a community apple orchard. Now the organization tends to make huge vehicles and other products and solutions employed in mining to make improvements to protection and productivity.
Nevertheless MacLean churns out vehicles that are more substantial than daily life, Don MacLean’s relatives say he was a down-to-earth man or woman and quick to tactic.
“He was pretty heat and humble. He connected with anyone on every stage,” stated Don’s nephew, Stuart Lister, vice president of promoting and communications for MacLean Engineering. “He experienced a good, long existence and remaining a big legacy.”
Don was affectionately regarded as “ducky” when he labored underground, a nickname his father also owned, stated Lister.
According to Don’s nephew, about 500 people attended MacLean’s celebration of lifestyle, which took put at Georgian Bay Resort on Jan. 18, with quite a few more looking at a livestream of the event from all in excess of the globe.
MacLean was 86 a long time old when he died, surrounded by family in Meaford, on Jan. 11.
MacLean grew up in Canadian mining towns and thought in the Canadian miner, and vowed to develop a business that would be safer and far more effective for miners and could contend with businesses all around the globe, states a information release sent out by MacLean Engineering.
“We are all saddened. But I talk for all of us when I say that I am so blessed and happy to have spent nearly 20 years doing the job with my dad to build that eyesight,” wrote MacLean’s son and present-day CEO of MacLean Engineering Kevin MacLean in the release.
MacLean grew up in the northern Quebec mining towns of East Malartic, Noranda, and Chibougamau. He hunted and fished at a younger age, crafted a shaft headframe with good friends in the yard, and labored at surface careers at the mine right up until he was aged enough to go underground.
He graduated from Acadia University in 1957 with a pre-engineering diploma followed by two years at McGill College exactly where he graduated with a diploma in mining engineering in 1959.
Even though at university, he labored underground at many mines together with a summer months at a uranium mine in Yellowknife.
Right after graduating from McGill, MacLean worked underground as a shift boss for International Nickel at the Levack site. At this time, underground mining was starting the transition from rail-centered tools to cell gear. This experience gave him numerous insights into the complications employees confronted underground and how devices could be produced to give a safer functioning surroundings.
He moved into devices revenue in 1967 and worked at Ingersol Rand in Montreal ahead of relocating to Thornbury exactly where he labored for JMG Engineering establishing devices for underground mining.
In 1973, Don struck out on his possess to variety MacLean Engineering. The firm celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023, and has grown to over 1,200 employees on 4 continents.
The past decade at MacLean has noticed the introduction and development of electric cars for mining. According to the business site, MacLean has now sold and commissioned battery electric production guidance mining motor vehicles at sixteen mine web sites across 3 continents, amassing some 250,000+ functioning several hours.
MacLean’s obituary noted donations to Hospice Georgian Triangle, the Collingwood Salvation Military or Living Greater with Parkinson’s would be appreciated.