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Description area
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History
Don Oland was born in 1922 to Sidney Culverwell Oland and Herlinda deBedia Oland. Don was educated at the Jesuit Public School, Beaumont College in Old Windsor, England and he completed his undergraduate degree at Dalhousie University. His work with Oland and Son Ltd. began in 1940. During the Second World War, Don served in the military as a Canloan officer in the Canadian Infantry, serving with the 2nd battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment as a Lieutenant in France and Germany. He was severely wounded, resulting in the loss of a leg, and was officially discharged from the Army in 1946. In 1947, he was appointed plant manager of Oland and Son Ltd. and Administrative Vice-President in 1962.
Keenly interested in agriculture, Don was involved with several related associations. He sat on the board of directors of the Nova Scotia Swine Breeders' Association and was the founder of the Atlantic Winter Fair in 1963. Through his agricultural interests, contributions, and community support, he was inducted into the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame.
Don's volunteer history is extensive. He was an active council member for the Halifax Board of Trade. Various volunteer titles he held include: President of the Salmon Anglers Association; President of the Tourist Association of Nova Scotia; President of the Atlantic Marksmen Association; President of the War Amputees of Nova Scotia; President of the Halifax Junior Bengal Lancers; National President of the Canloan Army Officers Association; Vice-President of the Canadian Red Cross Lodge; and was Chairman of the Re-organizing Committee of the Red Cross Blood Donor Clinic after the war. Don was also a member of the board of the Nova Scotia Home for Coloured Children and belonged to Branch #5 of the Royal Canadian Legion.
Among his honours and decorations, Don was an honorary member of the New Brunswick War Amputees Association and was decorated by the Legion's National Council with the organization's highest award, the Order of Merit, for Legion Services.
Don Oland was married to Elizabeth M. Shutter, with whom he had three children: Brenda, Jaime, and Jennifer. He passed away in 1985.