Garth Short

Garth Hugh Short of Embrun, ON, formerly of Shoal Lake, MB passed away on February 18, 2023 at the age of 61 years.

Remaining to forever cherish his memory are his parents: Ross and Joyce Short of Shoal Lake, MB; siblings: Greg (Vickie) Short of Lac du Bonnet, MB, Shelley Short of Saskatoon, SK, Gladwyn (Karen) Short of Lloydminster, AB, Glendon (Glenda) Short of Shoal Lake, MB, Laurie (Chris) Alexiuk of Winnipeg, MB; nieces and nephews: Ash, Alana (Cody), Coal, Monte, Kelby (Nevin), Brady (Deanna), Kody, Aaron (Jasmine), Matthew (Carolina), Jordan, Mackenzie, Jamie; great nephew: Grayson; and long time special friend Wendy Bulloch.

Garth was born in Shoal Lake, Manitoba on May 15, 1961.  He grew up on the family farm SW of Shoal Lake.  During his school years he was active in Student Council and all school sports during his time at Shoal Lake School.  He also played baseball, curling and hockey.  He played hockey with the Shoal Lake Eagles for many years and was a team member that won two North Central Hockey League Championships.  Garth’s biggest asset on the ice was his speed and his hockey smarts.  He was also a good sportsman, being named the most gentlemanly player in the North Central Hockey League in one season.

Garth had a love for cattle and was heavily involved in the Shoal Lake 4-H Beef Club, showing cattle at local community fairs, the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair in Brandon, and Agribition in Regina.  He took great pride in grooming his animals, was an excellent showman and embodied the spirit of the 4-H program just like his father.  He was the recipient of the Gold Watch award which is given to those members who show leadership and involvement in the 4-H program.  He was also the recipient of the Shell Canada 4-H Award, earning an exchange trip to Britain.  Garth was a 4-H Program Assistant with Manitoba Agriculture where he worked with local 4-H leaders and members.  He was proud to take the Manitoba 4-H Judging Team to the International 4-H Competition at Agribition in Regina for 2 consecutive years.  He loved doing this work.

Well before high school graduation, Garth knew his life was on the farm and attended the University of Manitoba where he became an Aggie for life and received his diploma in Agriculture.  Upon graduation he began farming with his Grampa and later with his father and brother Glendon.  During his time on the farm, he was an active member of the Keystone Agriculture Producers. After many years of farming, Garth changed course and took a job with the Provincial Department of Agriculture in Winnipeg, MB.  He later took a position with Ag Canada which took him to Ottawa, ON.  He found a home in Embrun, ON and retired in 2022.  Even though he left the farm, he could not stop being a farmer as that was in his heart.  He switched from planting wheat, canola, oats and barley to tomatoes, cucumbers, green onions and carrots.

Throughout his life, Garth wanted everyone to get along and to have a good time.  He had an extensive network of friends from high school, university, farming, work, people he played hockey with, his neighbours and friends in Embrun, ON who became his second family and his friends from the river at Val-Des-Bois, QC.  Garth continued to play beer league hockey for years and his hobbies included drumming, woodworking, photography, boating, golfing and sledding which is something he loved to do as a young boy on the farm.  Our family had a very special Christmas one year when gramma and grampa gave the grandchildren a snowmobile.  Garth spent hours riding his sled with friends and travelling to places in Ontario and Quebec taking many pictures along the way.  Sledding was what he was doing at the time of his death.

Garth loved to travel and try new things and was always there when you needed advice or a helping hand.  He was also known to have lots of clothes, enjoyed shopping for clothes, and loved to get dressed up when there was the opportunity. He enjoyed watching the Toronto Blue Jays, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Winnipeg Jets.  Family and friends were everything to Garth and we are so grateful for the memories that we will hold close to our heart and we will forever miss him.

We would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to visit Garth's tribute wall.  Your kind words and heartwarming messages about Garth are helping us cope with our loss during this difficult time.  

As a thank you from the Short family and in appreciation and gratitude to all of the caring shown to us, we will be making a donation to the Shoal Lake Garden Club.  With Garth's photography skills and his love of hoar frost, there was never a beautiful scene that he couldn't resist taking another picture of. The flowers that bloom in the summer and the hoar frost that sparkles in the winter will forever remind us of all the cherished memories we have of Garth. 

Ross  & Joyce Short and family