Kay and I are deeply saddened by Paul and Shirley’s passing. Paul gave us a Christmas call every year.
I hired Paul as a consultant for Valcom in about 1974 at my brother Paul’s recommendation-former student. 
Best thing I ever did for both Paul Mac and Me. I am so glad that he eventually bought Valcom and took it to where it is today. He gave me and Kay time to adventure.  Afterwards, Paul was always there to help and advise when I needed it. My lasting feeling about Paul, is that he was having fun juggling all the balls.
Paul was always ready to get down and do the dirty work when needed. In fact, Valcom’s Septic system backed up when no one could be taken off their job. So, Paul and I spent the morning
digging it up and repairing it. 
Paul, we will always remember you.
Michael and Kay Valeriote
Riverside Glen Retirement Home, Guelph


Paul was tough – there’s no doubt about that.  He expected the best from you each and every day because he knew you had it in you.

He was a hard-working individual who worked 24/7 and because he cared about his employees, he worried about sales every day so we could all stay in business and have jobs, even in slow times.  He really watched his pennies, but he always ensured we received a cost of living increase every year possible.

He made every person in the team feel important.  Whenever he came to Guelph, he would always make time to speak to each and every employee and ask you about how you were doing - he really wanted to know.  

On his visits from Vancouver to Guelph, he always brought chocolates from the airport and shared them with everyone.  He would stay at the Holiday Inn on Stone Rd. and buy chocolate chip cookies at Shoppers to bring to Thursday A.M. meetings.

He encouraged good comradery between managers and employees and always ensured that new employees were welcomed and introduced to everyone.  He emphasized education and would support employees who wanted to go to night school to further their education.

Canada Day and Christmas celebrations were very important to him as well.  There were many Canada Day BBQ’s with a great lunch and special T-shirts.  A group photo on Canada Day was the highlight of his day.  A Christmas Dinner Party for his employees and all the retirees happened every year at the Springfield Golf Club – great food, music and dancing.

He was adamant that we have a pumpkin patch in the front of the building every year even though he lived in Vancouver.  Unfortunately, only the ground hogs got to enjoy them. 

Paul was very proud of his company and had many long-time employees (30+ years) dedicated to helping him create exceptional products.  He was so committed to his company’s success that he was working to the very end.  

Paul will be sadly missed but his spirit will carry on forever with us at Valcom.


I met Paul for the first time in 1990, as I was getting out of the Canadian Forces. Valcom had offered me a position as Assistant IT Manager in their Ottawa office. Eric Alain introduced me to Paul at that year’s Christmas Party where Diane and I had been invited. 
When I started in my new position, I had to interact with Paul at the weekly Manager's meeting. Paul was a man of few words but he made them count, he always got his point across clearly.
Years passed and in 1995, after winning a large contract with DND, I was hired by the General Manager of the time, Dave Meeds, to work within the Management Team of Valcom Ottawa. Paul was present in Ottawa every week during those years and I got to know him better.
I had the chance to travel with Paul at different times during my 18 year career at Valcom. One special memory was when we were travelling to Belgium. Paul being a military history buff, he asked that we stay over the weekend to visit Vimy. This was a very special moment for me as we visited Vimy Ridge and many military cemeteries. 
Paul was an honest and compassionate man who would always be looking for business opportunities without loosing his sense of fairness.
During my time with Paul, we had some great moments and some challenges, as life would have it, but Paul’s words were always solid, when he gave his word, I knew I could take that to the bank. He was true to his word always. I admired the man for his business acumen, but also because at the same time, he always looked after his employees, making him a true leader in my view. 
I will remember Paul as a teacher, a mentor, a philanthropist, a true leader, but mostly as a friend.
God speed my friend!

JT (Jean Thivierge)


My heartfelt condolences go out to all Paul's family at this very sad time.  I have loved  seeing all the silly pictures and hearing all the funny stories from Adrienne having only had the  pleasure of meeting him face to face a handful of times, but he certainly was a lovely man with a zest for life.
The love he had for our Aunt Shirley was very clear and they will now be reunited again together xx

At Hospice Wellington in Guelph, we join Paul’s colleagues and friends in sharing our deepest condolences with his family.  
Paul and I met after I took over the leadership of Hospice Wellington.  He had already given the largest donation ever to our facility and inspired so many others to step forward.  I’ll confess being a little intimidated to speak with him – my experience then was in guiding a medical team.  Paul came in for a visit, and over relaxing tea and cookies we got to know each other.  That was the first of a number of visits, each one a real treat for me.  Paul became a really special friend to me, and such an encouragement to a first-time executive director.   Although I so missed his in-person visits over the past two years, our phone chats allowed a glimpse into his love and care for Shirley and his mile-deep pride in his children.
It was an honour to meet such a fine man.  I can only imagine what a loss this is for you, his family.  Please know that we are keeping you in our thoughts.
Sincerely, Pat Stuart, Executive Director, Hospice Wellington, Guelph


We are so saddened to hear of the passing of Paul, a great, great man and a very good friend.  This world needs many more people like him.  I was so very fortunate and happy to have spoken and reminisced with Paul shortly before his passing.  Paul and I met soon after he acquired Valcom.  Working for Bristol Aerospace, Winnipeg, at the time, I sold Paul the company’s READAC automatic weather station and technology, carte blanche, for him to further develop and manufacture.  Paul always joked as time went by, especially as he introduced me, as the person that sold him a “Pig-in-a-Poke”.  From this, and for well over the next three decades following, we did a little business, and better, we became very close friends, confiding in each other on many topics and experiences.  My wife Judy and I were delighted and privileged when Shirley invited us to attend Paul’s surprise birthday party at the Chateau Laurier.  Shirley had long become Paul’s rock and glue.  Indeed a wonderful and very special lady.  I presented Paul with an engraved tankard, it read, “Pig-in-a-Poke”.  We laughed and laughed.  Memories, fond memories, I will cherish forever:  Paris Air Shows and other events everywhere;  Squash at the Skyline Club in Ottawa;  Dan’s Mountain each summer, chainsaw in hand;  Long phone conversations about business dealings, contracts, and especially about people and wellness and well-being, a testament of Paul’s heart and concern for all.   We shared a lot of time together in talk and advice for one another, mostly to my benefit.  One might say a person makes but a few indisputable and sincere friends in a lifetime, Paul was this friend to me.  He will remain in my heart and in my thoughts forever.  Judy and I offer our sincere condolences to the entire MacPherson family.  Paul simply made everyone’s life better.  RIP Paul and Shirley MacPherson.  
Bob and Judy Dungey, Niagara Falls (via Winnipeg & Ottawa)


Paul was a late arrival in the world of the West Vancouver Nomads running group by which time he was one of the walkers. Cliff Hill (now passed at age 98) was his mentor and got him out and walking with the group. I met with he and Shirley during the days when they went to winter in California at their La Quinta condo where he relaxed a bit.

Paul was a character and a dedicated business person and he will be missed by those he got to know during his time in West Vancouver.

Condolences to all of his family and friends, Angus Wilkinson (NOMAD WEST VANCOUVER) Aug 27, 2021

Paula, Duncan & Robert . . . my deepest condolences.

I have so many memories I could share but it all started with Valcom hiring me and I was covering reception’s break, your Dad called and I cut him off.  He called back and said, “Are you the new girl?” . . . and so began our working relationship and friendship of 29 years.  

A year later we sat down for a conversation when I heard him mention names of family members he was looking for and to our surprise, I grew up knowing many of them and helped him get connected.  I can tell you, there was nothing more important to your Dad than family and he loved you very much. 

He was a wonderful man to work for/with, always concerned about his employees and it left a lasting impression of the man he was by taking the time to visit with everyone when in the office.   

I will miss him and our chats and always be thankful for the knowledge he passed on to me, along with the opportunities he provided to grow in the company.

Valcom was my first stop for employment when I retired from the CAF.  For that I am grateful to Paul for the opportunity he afforded me and the chance he took with me when he brought me onto the team. In my 16 year tenure I learned quite a bit from Paul in many regards - he was truly a hard worker with an entrepreneur spirit that was truly infectious.  To his family from mine deepest condolences in your loss.

Charlie

I am  in Europe at the present and only heard now of Paul's passing.  I always thought that Paul would outlive me.   My deepest condolences to my good friends Paula, Duncan and Robert.  Memories....I could fill a book with them.   Paul and I worked together for over 35 years.    I remember training young Paula at a summer job with Valcom.   I remember Robert poking his head in my  office door to tell me a joke that he had just heard.   I remember working with Duncan on the operations of Valcom.   I remember one day Paul and I were in Washington at a trade show and we took a walk after the show.   We passed a man sitting on the sidewalk looking for a hand out.   Paul stopped and gave him far more than a couple coins.... that is the type of man he was.    I was Paul's indigenous connection since I am a distant grandson of Joseph Brant and we travelled together to many meetings at McMaster and Ottawa.       Memories, I would go on forever.    Rest in peace, Paul.    You have made your mark in this world and will never be forgotten.

I was so sorry to hear of Paul's passing.  I worked for Paul at Valcom in Guelph for many years.  Duncan, Paula and Robert my deepest condolences to you all.  He was truly a great man and will be missed by all who knew him.  I can imagine Bill, Paul and Shirley are having a grand old time together once again. 

Theresa (Weppler) Hunt


I worked for Mr. MacPherson for 31 years of which I am grateful for. I always told him when it was time for a haircut. He would return from Silvano the barber and come to electronics department to ask me if he looked ok. He was a hard working man! My condolences to his family.

OBITUARY

Paul Ronald MacPherson

Hollyburn Funeral Home

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