It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of our father, grandfather, and great grandfather, Leonard Paul, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital on October 19, 2021. Leonard joined the love of his life of 59 years, Josephine who had passed away five and a half months earlier.
Leonard was born in Antigonish on June 3rd, 1936 to the late John N. Paul & Margaret (Prosper) Paul. He was a member of the Holy Family Parish. Leonard was initially from Potlotek and then relocated to Eskasoni during Centralization. In the 1950s, at the age of 16, Leonard moved to Boston and worked as a laborer. In his humble beginnings, Leonard was employed as a Bus Driver in the community of Eskasoni. Leonard pursued his political career in the 1960s where he became a Councillor for the Eskasoni Band and was elected Chief in the early 1990s. As Chief, he was an advocate for Indigenous self-government and engaged in negotiations with the federal government that led to the recognition of self-governance as an Indigenous right under Section 35 of the Constitution Act. He was a great leader and an award-winning entrepreneur who built an empire where he began his business with a Texaco Oil Delivery Service. He later changed the name to “Leonard Paul’s Fuels.” He then went into real estate and developed Ulnoo Enterprises. At age 48, his idea was to build a rental property that would provide office space for the community’s scattered administrative agencies, along with some apartments and retail space and a Sear’s Outlet. This business venture earned him recognition as one of the province’s top managers. Leonard was presented with The Business Management Award by the Federal Business Development Bank in 1984. He was the first Indigenous person to be named to the Board of Directors of Enterprise Cape Breton in 1986. During his lifetime, Leonard was a member/Chairperson of the Eskasoni School Board, Fishery Board, Health Board, and the Regional Loan Board for Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. Leonard was awarded the Aboriginal Lifetime Achievement Award at Newfoundland in 2007. Leonard had a special place in his heart for his family cabin in Malagawatch. Leonard had a strong faith dedicated to the Annual Ste. Ann Mission in Potlotek, the Annual Malagawatch Mass, and Ste Anne’s Pilgrimage to Ste. Anne de Beaupre, Quebec. Leonard was a family-oriented person who adored his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, he was proud of their accomplishments, and his legacy will live on in them.
He is survived by his children: David Denny, Carol Ann Paul, Arnold Paul (Sandy), Miranda Bernard (Allison), Paula Paul, Lenora Paul (Vincent) and Robyn Googoo (Darren), brother Jackie (Charlene) Paul, sister-in-law Virginia Googoo, sister-in-law Mary Bridget Paul and daughter-in-law Veronica Denny. He will be deeply missed by his grandchildren Adrienne (William), John Ross, Arnelle, Alissa, Angeline (Dale), Abby (Ian), Jolene (Jeff), Ashton, Arden, Taite, Vincent, Neylan, Kassie, Damaris, and Denae, great-grandchildren Korbin, Sebashton, Adreah, Jasper, Wastew, Ava, Owen, Brody, Lily-Jae, Shayna, Tace, Ian, Mark, Jayah, Emery, Ayslynn, Aryzona, Addison, Ashton, Anderson, Zscheile, Rye, Malik, and Maris. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, and cousins. He is also survived by his godchildren John Jerome Paul & Darlene Patles, his best friend Albert Marshall Sr. and his special caregiver Frank Stevens. He was predeceased by his wife Josephine, daughter Arlene, son Peter Johnson, grandson Addison Bernard, siblings Lindsay Clement, Lawrence (Betty), Mary Alexis (infancy), Herman, and Eugene (Marion), his paternal grandparents Michael & Jane Paul; maternal grandparents, Peter & Clara (Young) Prosper, Godchildren Peter Prosper, Peter Poulette, Victor Bosco Alex, Ashley Young and his Godparents Jim & Mary Jane Prosper.
Visitation will begin on Sunday, October 24th, 2021, 3 pm. at the Eskasoni Elder’s Center, 14 Medicine Trail, Eskasoni. The funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, October 26th, 2021, at 10:30 am at Holy Family with Fr. Antolin Asor officiating. A feast and Salite will follow at the Gabriel center. Leonard’s cremated remains will be interred in Holy Family Parish Cemetery on October 28th, 2021, at 1 pm. Proof of vaccination and masks required for visitation and services.
Thank you to the staff, doctors at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Dr. Virick, Dr Crosby, Dr Todd, nurse practioner Tanas Sylliboy, Katrina Paul RN, Eskasoni Homecare especially Charlene Paul CCA, the Osprey Angels Home Care Sydney, Urmish Modi, Vatsal Shah and Akhsay Patil.
"Each time an elder dies, it’s like a whole library is set on fire" ~ Albert Marshall
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