John was born in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in 1926. He served in the Royal Canadian Air Force, taught school and worked for the T. Eaton Company for sixteen years.

His wife, the former Mavis Wright of Temple, is largely responsible for bringing John to Carleton County and they settled here in 1965.

John established Sunset Building Supplies in Woodstock in 1982 and in 1993 he was named "Entrepreneur of the Year” by the Carleton Regional Development Commission.

John Minard’s commitment to all sports and the young people who actively took part, goes unmatched. Throughout the years, a number of teams carried the Sunset name: The Sunset Jets Hockey, The Sunset Giants Softball. John’s generosity and enthusiasm was on a personal basis. He not only supported the teams financially, he was always on the sidelines cheering them on.

Community involvement included the Woodstock Rotary Club, the Carleton Manor Board, Woodstock Lodge #11 free and accepted Masons and the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce.

As one supported stated, "I can’t begin to think what our society would be like if everyone was gracious, unselfish, and generous as this man”.

~ INDUCTION MAY 10^TH, 1997 ~