Paul Claude Kingwell

Paul Claude Kingwell of Ottawa, Ontario passed away peacefully on August 21, 2026, at the age of 82, with his family by his side, following a lengthy battle with cancer.

Paul was born and raised in Montreal. As a child he spent his winters playing hockey and cheering for the Montreal Canadiens. After graduating from Loyola High School, he obtained a Bachelor of Science from Sir George Williams University in 1969 and an MBA from McGill in 1971. Paul went on to a long and successful career in Canadian public service, spending decades in senior roles overseeing employment and skills retraining programs which were internationally recognized as leaders in the field. Through his hard work and dedication, he led the development of tools to ensure these programs were truly helping people, a focus he carried to his final position heading a study on improving the economic well-being of low-income families.

Above everything else, Paul’s family was the center of his world. In his college years he met Susan (Wang), and she became the love of his life. They married in 1968 and were inseparatble for 58 wonderful years. Together they built a home in Ottawa and raised two sons: Daniel married Jee-Youn and became a lawyer; and Stephen married Sunita and became a surgeon. They were later blessed with three grandchildren upon whom Paul lavished his attention: Rohan born in 2003; Shaan in 2007; and Anika in 2009. He was endlessly proud of them all and would regale you with the stories of their lives.

Once retired and with an empty nest, Paul and Susan traveled the world. They had a special love for the culture, food, and people of Italy, visiting several times. But their fondest memories were at their beloved cottage on Lake Murray near Maniwaki, Quebec, where they spent long summer days filled with walks, swims, and relaxed meals on the deck. They were at their happiest when hosting friends, recounting old stories and making some new.

Outside of family, Paul stayed active his whole life. Once an avid runner, he loved hockey,  coaching his sons, playing goalie well into his latter years with the Blackburn Old Boys, and cheering on his grandchildren. But Paul’s greatest sporting love was golf, and he could be found on the links perfecting his game until his body finally failed him. Aside from sports, he also loved music, from classical to jazz, and was an early and lifelong fan of the Beatles. He had a great sense of humour with an infectious laugh and a weakness for slapstick comedy – Peter Sellers was a favourite. He loved good food, was well-known for his sweet tooth, and was blessed with Susan’s wonderful cooking. He adored his pets, most of all his beloved sheltie MacDuff. But what people remember most about Paul was his thoughtful and considerate nature, and how he was always there to support and sacrifice himself for those he loved.

Paul is survived by Susan; his sons Daniel (Jee-Youn) and Stephen (Sunita); his grandchildren Rohan, Shaan, and Anika; and his many friends and relatives. He was predeceased by his mother Arlette, his father Paul Sr, and his brother, Gerald.

Private services are scheduled. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to the Canadian Cancer Society.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the doctors and nurses of the palliative care team for their thoughtfulness and support during these difficult times.