Former farm leader remembered for mental health advocacy

Saturday, September 27, 2014

by DAVE PINK

A past president of the Ontario Grape Growers Marketing Board, and a long-time champion for mental health issues, has died.

Thomas William Greensides died Tuesday at Toronto Western Hospital. He was 68.

Greensides was diagnosed with an untreatable form of depression in his 50’s. At the time, he was deeply involved in several farm and community organizations, all while operating his 95-acre farm near Grimsby. In addition to the grape board, he was past president of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, was a pioneer member of the Agricultural Adaptation Council, was a past president of the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival, a past president of the Grimsby Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Royal Canadian Legion.

The onset of his depression in the 1990s changed his life. He was forced to abandon his community commitments and was eventually forced to sell his farm. At the Canadian Mental Health Association chapter in St. Catharines, Greensides is remembered as a willing volunteer and a strong advocate for mental health services.

“He was a really fine fellow,” remembers George Kurzawa, executive director of the CMHA branch in St. Catharines. “He was always willing to volunteer for any of our committees, or for public speaking.

“He was one of our outstanding volunteers. He used his own experience with mental health issues to help others, and to fight the stigma of mental illness.”

Greensides was the subject of a Better Farming article that detailed the stresses that farmers face, and the difficulty rural people have in getting treatment for mental health problems.

Greensides is survived by his wife Gayle, his mother Hilda, sons Harold Greensides and John Greensides, and step-sons David Vickers and Michael Vickers. He had 10 grandchildren.

A memorial service took place on Saturday at the Caistor Centre Free Methodist Church at 8488 Regional Road 65 (Silver Street) in Caistor Centre. BF