Veteran farm writer and communicator Jack Giles, 72, died Jan. 31 in Winnipeg.
Giles worked 19 years for Manitoba Agriculture’s communications section. He left to head up communications for the Canola Council of Canada and later Ducks Unlimited Canada. Giles also worked overseas with CUSO.
“He was a newsman first and a government worker second,” said Keith Smith, who worked with Giles at Manitoba Agriculture.
“He had a nose for news and he sometimes got in trouble because he wrote it the way it was and not necessarily the way the government wanted it to be,” Smith said in an interview from his Vancouver Island home. “I always appreciated that.
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“When I worked with him we had a lot of fun and he was a real professional.”
Morris Deveson, another retired Manitoba Agriculture colleague, described Giles as “honourable and hard working.”
Giles was born in McGregor, Manitoba June 21, 1937, according to the notice in the Winnipeg Free Press. At age 14 he moved to the Longstaff farm near Cardale before finishing high school at Brandon College.
Giles graduated from the University of Manitoba, faculty of agriculture and later earned degrees in Journalism at Carleton University in Ottawa and Communications (Masters) at the University of Kentucky.
Giles was married to Marilyn for 49 years. Giles is also survi ved by chi ldren Dean (Krisandra), Derek (Tanya) and Dana and by grandchildren, David, Daniel, Brody, Autumn, Megan and Lily.
He’s also survived by sisters, Alice, Margaret (William), Laura and Marjorie.
Giles was honest, trustworthy and a man of principle in both his professional and personal life. Family and home were most important to him.
“A lifelong learner, Jack combined great intellectual curiosity with a sense of humility.”
A celebration of Giles’ life will be held at Sturgeon Creek United Church, 209 Thompson Drive, February 13, at 1 p. m.
Those who wish may make a donation to the Manitoba Alzheimer’s Society. [email protected]
