The founding president of the National Farmers Union in Canada has passed.
Roy Atkinson was 92.
He was president of the Saskatchewan Farmers Union from 1962 until 1969.
He was a key figure in creating the National Farmers Union in 1969.
That organisation brought together the existing Ontario, Manitoba, BC and Saskatchewan Farmers Unions, with the support of the Maritime organisations.
Atkinson then served as the NFU's first national president until 1978.
He was named ot the Order of Canada in 2002.
Current NFU President Jan Slomp describes him as one of the visionaries who brought provincial farm organisations together to create the foundation of the present national organisation.
A celebration of Roy Atkinson's life will be held May 27th in Saskatoon.
