Member of the Order of Canada

• Awarded on: April 6, 2006
• Invested on: December 15, 2006

Ron O'Donovan has lived a life of service to others. Since the 1950s, he has volunteered with organizations such as the Society for Manitobans with Disabilities and the Red River Exhibition Association. However, it was the simple act of donating surplus potatoes from the family garden to a local food bank that led to the creation of "Grow-A-Row." The program, which encourages gardeners to plant an extra row of vegetables and to share their harvest with local food banks and soup kitchens, has taken root and blossomed across Canada and the United States. He embodies the best of the human spirit. Thanks to his efforts, over a million kilograms of produce have been donated and a heightened awareness of this great need has been cultivated.