It’s the end of an era with the passing of Irvin Goodon.

He started Goodon Industries more than 50 years ago and the pole shed business experienced steady growth over the decades. The business grew thru innovation and increasing distribution to keep up with the increased demand.

Goodon, a proud Metis, started from humble beginnings and managed to turn his hard work into not just the pole shed business but many other business ventures.

Ivan Strain is a long time friend and he remembers when Irvin Goodon first decided to move his business to Boissevain more than 50 years ago. “ The late John McDonald who was the International Dealer supplied Irvin with most of his equipment for his manure cleaning business. John was thinking when Irvin was considering moving to Boissevain that when he came to town I should go out and greet him as one of the people from the community. He set up a building just along the road allowance just south of where Goodon Industries is now located.”

“Why did he end up here well it’s because he always put in a large crop of potatoes back out in the Turtle Mountain and he had a sawmill. When you have a sawmill you have lumber and you look for a way to get rid of it. He thought of post frame buildings and we know what those buildings have done for Canada and the northern US of A.”

Strain said Irvin Goodon was extremely proud of his Metis heritage and he made sure he hired Metis people to work at his business.

“He also gave back in other ways such as the Irvin Goodon International Wildlife Museum in Boissevain, The Canadian Wilderness Inn, a post frame building motel, in Boissevain with sister motels in Killarney and Deloraine.”

Goodon employed many people and had a huge impact on the community and the entire region.

“Irvin was a great entrepreneur and he brought so much to our community for many, many years” said Boissevain-Morton Head of Council Judy Swanson.

“The fact that he took and built a business that reached the size it is today is amazing. I give him great credit. We’ve been blessed to have him in the municipality for so many years and he will be truly missed.”

When asked why Goodon was so successful Ivan Strain said the long time businessman would be blunt. “Ask Marj, Irvin’s wife, she’s the key to the success.”

“For many years the Metis were looked down upon and Irvin was quite proud of what he accomplished and you just have to look at the family mural at the Wildlife Museum that shows Irvin’s parents along with he and his siblings. He was proud of that and on top of that a very good person” said Strain.

Head of Council Judy Swanson points out the business sector is at the heart of any community.

“They employ the people who live in the community and Irvin through Goodon’s certainly employed many people. That is remarkable for our community because those people live in the community, do recreation and shop in the community and it keeps our community going.”

“He’s probably been underestimated and it’s common for people to take someone for granted. Goodon Industries has been here for a long, long time and we’re indebted to him” said Judy Swanson.

Irvin Goodon passed away Tuesday at the age of 88.