Commodore Dan Ritchie, who died Saturday, Sept. 10, was one of Winnipeg’s most prolific entrepreneurs, and perhaps best known as the man behind the River Rouge.

During his career, Dan founded dozens of restaurants and cafeterias, significantly bolstered tourism in Winnipeg through his cruise ships and double-decker bus tours, and always found time to extoll the virtues of our city. Dan befriended artists like Leo Mol, and held one of the largest private art collections in Western Canada at one point, as well as a collection of antique tractors and a 1,000 acres of Manitoba farmland.

Although extraordinarily successful in business, Dan never lost touch with the average man, and held a special place in his heart for animals of every shape and size. He took in dozens of stray dogs and cats over the years, and in his retirement, founded the Pine Ridge Wildlife & Environment Foundation, and devoted most of his time and energy to the care of animals — from abused and neglected dogs and cats to wounded deer and birds. The Sanctuary provides shelter and food to thousands of animals from across Southern Manitoba.

Velocity was fortunate enough to develop the Pine Ridge website, and experience Dan’s caring nature firsthand. Our community has lost one of its most vocal and energetic proponents, but the Foundation which he began will live on.

We extend our deepest sympathies to the Ritchie family.