Businessman.
A member of a prominent bus-manufacturing family in The Netherlands, in 1986 he came to Winnipeg and bought Flyers Industries Limited, renaming it New Flyer Industries and pioneering the concept of low-floor, low-entry buses. Known for his kindness and generosity toward employees, the company became one of the continent's top bus manufacturers. In 2001, he sold the company and moved to Alberta. In 2019, he donated $1.5 million to Red River College for its Heavy Equipment Transportation Centre, renamed the Jan den Oudsten Vehicle Technology and Research Centre. He was appointed to the Order of Canada (2020). He died in The Netherlands on 29 March 2023.
“Jan den Oudsten appointed to Order of Canada,” RRC Polytech, 1 March 2021.
“Transportation pioneer Jan den Oudsten, who shaped North American transit bus in Winnipeg, dead at 92,” CBC News, 1 April 2023.
We thank Pat Stanton for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 23 April 2023
Memorable Manitobans
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