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 The
Reverend Canon Harold G. Macdonald: With great sadness we
announce the death of the Reverend Canon Harold Gould Macdonald. He died
Monday, December 14, 2009 at the Selkirk General Hospital with family by
his side. Harold was born in Edmonton on March 24, 1928. He attended
Shawnigan Lake Boarding School on Vancouver Island from the age of
eight. School holidays were often spent playing golf with his family.
Harold loved the sport and shared happy hours on the course with many.
He might have chosen to be part of the family construction business, but
Harold felt a deeper calling. He attended Trinity College in Toronto to
become an Anglican priest. At that time he met his wife Frances Waight.
Married in 1954, they began their life together in Edmonton at St.
David's. Harold's career took him to Church House in Toronto where he
used his gifts in education. During that time, Harold attained a
Master's Degree at Yale University with family in tow. They then moved
to Frances' home city, Winnipeg, to the parish of St. Luke's where
Harold's innovation and visionary thinking took hold. Music was an
integral part of his faith. Alongside numerous fine choirs, directors
and organists, Harold worked to bring the joy of music to many. This
included Duke Ellington's Easter Concert at the Winnipeg Concert Hall
and Harold's creation of The Joyful Noise taped music sets for use in
small parishes. In 1974 Harold became chaplain at St. John's College,
University of Manitoba. Subsequently, his passion for social justice
prompted him to enter politics and he became a Winnipeg City Councillor
serving nine years. Concurrently he presided as interim or assistant
priest in the parishes of All Saints, Holy Trinity and St. George's.
Next Harold and Frances' adventurous spirits took them to parishes in
Yukon and Saskatchewan. To Frances' chagrin Harold finally had an excuse
to drive his motorcycle long distance! He made the trip from Matlock to
Whitehorse several times. Harold retired to the family cottage on the
shores of Lake Winnipeg, which he loved, and there his creativity
burgeoned through writing, song and poetry. Harold's community continued
to grow by way of the internet and included many correspondents
including Bishop Desmond Tutu. His dozens of writings and poems can
still be found on the Highland Shepherd website. He was also able
to live as a Franciscan more fully. Harold was a brilliant presence, a
maverick who challenged everyone around him to reach higher, go deeper
and live honestly. His indomitable spirit, unwavering faith in God and
love for his wife and family carried him through life and now peacefully
into death and the light. Harold is survived by his loving wife of 55
years Frances Macdonald, daughters, Susan (Denis Mager), Mary (David
Wood), Nancy (Stephen Atkinson) and son Harold Macdonald (Ariane). Also
his grandchildren, Olivia Mager Macdonald, Marta Macdonald, Amory and
Manny Wood and Amelia and Abigail Atkinson. |
