Brendon Michael MacNeil

Brendon Michael MacNeil, Centreville, NS.

Born February 21, 1952; passed away December 21, 2016.  Brendon was born in North Sydney, Cape Breton NS, the son of Frances and the late Stephen MacNeil. Brendon signaled his imminent arrival in the middle of a snowstorm. With the roads impassible by car, his mom rode to the hospital in a horse drawn sleigh. Thus, began Brendon’s life long relationship with horses and harness racing. Brendon grew up in Florence, NS and during his teenage years, played hockey, baseball, and helped with his Dad’s harness racing horses. At the age of 16, Brendon obtained his jockey license and began racing his Dad’s horses at Tartan Downs, Sydney NS. Following graduation from Sydney Mines High School, Brendon attended the Nova Scotia Agricultural College and completed his degree in Animal Science at the Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph Ontario. Summer employment during university years included working as a stable employee at racetracks in the United States and with his father’s business.  In 1975, Brendon and June moved to the Annapolis Valley where Brendon began employment with Agriculture Canada. He worked in various positions, meat and poultry inspection, area testing cattle, and then at the Agriculture Centre, Kentville, NS, where he retired from, following 35 years of service.

Brendon’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to owning and racing a couple of horses in the seventies, and becoming co owner of an Army Surplus Business with his brother in law, Gordon Taylor. However, his passion for farming and poultry were the focus of his spare time the past 20 years.

Brendon returned to university in the late 1980’s to pursue a food science degree. In 1992, he was a member of the first class to graduate from the Food Science Degree program at Acadia University. It was research for this degree that led Brendon to his interest in poultry farming. Brendon began raising Free Range poultry for family and friends, and soon recognized the growing interest by the public for naturally grown chickens and turkeys. He challenged the status quo within the poultry industry and became one of the first licensed Free Range Poultry producers in Nova Scotia. MacNeil’s Free Range Poultry Farm and later MacNeil’s Processing Plant were established and their success is a testament to Brendon’s perseverance, determination, and hard work. With Brendon, the customer was always right and his patience was endless.  His priorities were twofold: to provide a quality product to customers who appreciated the flavor and health benefits of eating Free Range poultry; and secondly, encouraging and mentoring new Free Range poultry producers. Brendon spent countless hours in conversations sharing lessons learned from his early years in production and processing.

Some of Brendon’s other interests included gardening, travelling, horse racing, especially the Kentucky Derby, watching the Toronto Blue Jays, and generating endless hope for The Toronto Maple Leafs.  Brendon’s humor was unwavering even during the times he was unwell. He enjoyed making people laugh and could weave a great story from ordinary everyday events. Brendon was also an enthusiastic supporter of the Cabot Trail Relay Race family team and traveled the trail with the team to help feed the hungry runners.

There are many personal and business friends who benefitted from Brendon’s altruism over the years. His desire to help others occurred outside of charitable organizations and instead, was with the many individuals he came in contact with throughout his life. Quietly following the example of his late father Steve, being ever observant, and a keen, astute listener, Brendon was quick to recognize a buy, an opportunity, or a deal that was able to benefit someone he knew. He was always eager to offer help. Whether it was advocating for a friend who needed a job, sharing a great buy on some farm equipment he happened to see while driving through the country side, or sourcing cheaper or better quality products, Brendon would take the time to share his discoveries with those he knew could use them.

Near and dear to Brendon’s heart were his extended family members.  A special gathering time each year has been The MacNeil Family Reunion in August at Iona, Cape Breton. For over thirty years, three generations and now the fourth, continue the tradition. The longevity of this reunion has been a great source of pride for Brendon and all his family who attend.

The last six years have been especially memorable and joyful for Brendon. With the birth of his first grandchild Sydney and then Preston, Avery and Everett, Gdad’s heart was filled with pride; his time with them precious.

Since May of 2012, Brendon began living successfully and with great courage around a diagnosis of Triple Hit Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. His unfailing strength, his optimism and humor, and acceptance, without complaint, of whatever was coming next, was an inspiration to all who knew the challenges he faced.  Endless gratitude and heartfelt thanks go to the medical team of the Hematology Unit, 8A and 8B at the QE11, VG site, the Medical Day team on the 4^th floor QE11, VG, the Intermediate Care Unit, 6B, the ICU Team, and the Hematology Clinic, 4^th Floor, VG site for the competent and compassionate care provided to Brendon. We are forever indebted to Brendon’s brother Brian (Buzzy) for donating his Stem cells for Brendon’s second Stem Cell Transplant in July 2016.  We are Thankful for the leadership and direction provided by Dr. David MacDonald, Dr. Andrea Kew, Dr. Wanda Hasegawa, Dr. Jenny Hadzimurtezic, and Dr. Darrell White for their consistent efforts to keep us informed and included in the treatment plans. We are forever grateful.

Left to miss him eternally are his wife June, Centreville, NS; children Danielle, London, ON; Josh (Melanie), Del Haven, NS; and Courtney, Waterville, NS; cherished grandchildren Sydney, Preston, Avery, and Everett; mother, Frances, Sydney, NS; brothers Danny (Carol), Indiana; Brian (Rita) Florence, NS; Dave (Sandra), Alexandra, PEI; sisters Valeria (John), Nadine (Gordie), and Flora (Fred), Sydney Mines, NS; Paula (Phil), and Melodie (Bob) Lietches Creek, NS; sister-in-law, Florence (Russell) Higgins, Stellarton, NS; and brother-in-law, David (Donna) Baddeck, NS.  Also survived by uncle Leif Ahle, Florence, NS and Aunt, Theresa, Big Bras D’Or, NS; and many, many precious nieces, nephews, and cousins, throughout Canada and the US. Brendon was predeceased by father, Stephen, and brother Ronnie; mother and father-in-law, Olive and Murdock Mulley.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home, Kentville, NS. Visitation will be held Tuesday, January 3, 2:00 to 4:00 pm and 6:00 to 8:00 pm at White Family Funeral Home, 100 Cornwallis Street, Kentville, NS. Funeral Service to be held Wednesday, January 4, 10:00 am at St. Joseph’s Church, Belcher Street, Kentville, NS, with reception to follow in the multipurpose room. A committal service will be held in Iona in May, the date to be announced later.

Donations in memory may be made to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada or Feed Nova Scotia.