Dr. Lawrence Frederick Paul
Lieu de naissance : SYDNEY, Nouvelle Ecosse, Canada
Date de naissance : 29 juin 1925
Lieu de décès : Membertou, Nouvelle Ecosse, Canada
Date de décès : 1er mai 2010
It is with great sorrow and sadness that we inform you of the death of our father, grandfather, great-grandfather and husband, Dr. Lawrence Frederick Paul of Membertou, on May 1, 2010, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital.
Lawrence was born on the Old Kings Road Reserve in Sydney on June 29, 1925, to the late Percy Paul and Isabel (Denny) Paul. His family relocated to present day Membertou that same year.
In 1943 at the young age of 18 years, Lawrence enlisted in the army and received basic training in Yarmouth, N.S. It was in Yarmouth that a call went out for volunteers to join the paratroopers and he signed up. After receiving extensive training in Aldershot, N.S., Lawrence went to Winnipeg for a medical to become a paratrooper. Upon completion of all tests, he went to Camp Shilo in Shilo, Man., headquarters of the Paratroop Training Centre.
Lawrence served overseas in the Second World War with the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion attached to the British Airborne Division. The Battalion served in France, Belguim and the Rhine. The Battalion returned to Canada to prepare for the Pacific, however, the war ended and the Battalion was disbanded. Lawrence returned home and pursued his education in the field of drywall and interior design.
When the Korean Conflict broke out, Lawrence volunteered. He took his discharge in 1954.
From 1955-1963 Lawrence worked with various companies as a drywaller and then formed his own business, employing six trained First Nation drywallers.
Lawrence was elected as Chief of Membertou in 1967 and served a two-year term. He was so proud of all the changes and progress being made in his community. He was a proud Mi'kmaq.
In 1969 Lawrence was a co-founder of the Union of Nova Scotia Indians and started an alcohol and drug program. He later founded the Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselling Association and served as the executive director. He worked as a regional consultant for the Department of National Health and Welfare and was instrumental in helping to set up alcoholism programs in the provinces of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. He later worked as a consultant to the Boston Indian Council and set up Tecumseh House, a treatment and recovery house for First Nations people living in the Greater Boston area. He served as executive director of the Nova Scotia Arts and Crafts Society, setting up regional corporations for Native Arts and Crafts on a National level and then worked as an economic development officer for UNSI. Lawrence retired in 1985, but remained steadfast in his efforts to reduce alcohol and drug abuse among his people.
For all his tireless work in the field of alcoholism and drug abuse education and his contributions to his community of Membertou, Lawrence gratiously and humbly accepted an Honorary Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) from the University College of Cape Breton at May 1995 Convocation.
Lawrence is survived by his wife, Joan (Hiscock) Paul; his sons, Lawrence (Louise) and Adrian (Sheila); his daughters, Ethel, Lauria Ann, Jeannette, Anna and Eileen; 33 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren, and a great great-granddaughter, Gabrielle. He is also survived by his sisters, Ruth Christmas and Delores Buckland and sister-in-law, Elizabeth Paul. Lawrence is survived by many nieces and nephews. He is survived by his mother-in-law, Jean Hiscock; brothers-in-law, Jim, Wayne, Ron, Todd and sister-in-law, Brenda Lee. He will be missed by his community and by everyone whose life he touched.
He was predeceased by his first wife, Ethel (Cope) Paul, daughter, Karen (2008), granddaughter, Wendy Ann Denny (2002) and grandsons, Brian Nevin (1999) and Darrell (1968). He was also predeceased by siblings, Isabel, Dorothy, Cecilia, Mary Virginia, Percy, Vincent, Ron and Dan. Lawrence was a friend of Bill W. for 47 years.
The family will receive visitors at the family residence at 8 Tupsi Dr., Membertou on Tuesday, May 4, after 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will take place at St. Anthony Daniel Church, Alexandra Street on Thursday, May 6 at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Donald MacGillivray officiating. Burial will take place in Membertou Memorial Cemetery. A meal and salite will follow at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre. All are welcome to attend.
Memorial donations to the Cape Breton Cancer Center.
Online condolences may be sent to TWCurry.com.
