MacLEOD, NORMAN WILLIAM September 8, 1927 – January 13, 2021 Norman William MacLeod passed peacefully in his 94th year.
Predeceased by his wife, Josephine, survived by his wife, Jean Achmatowicz and his children, Bill (Ceinwen), Mary Jane (Paul), John (Diane) and Hugh and her children, Susan and Richard. He has 10 amazing grandchildren, Brenley, Sumari, Ryan, Keith, Sean, Nicole, Robert, Danielle, Michelle and Caroline. He was also blessed by 10 great-grandchildren, Raymond, Nate, Sam, Emily, Eleanor, Mary, Max, Isla, Charles, and Isabelle. He was born in Brandon, Manitoba and graduated as a medalist from Brandon University with a degree in sociology.
He joined Household Finance shortly after graduation and worked across Canada for more than 40 years retiring as Vice President. His life was one that valued family, faith and service to his community. He just celebrated his 62-year anniversary as an ordained Elder of the Presbyterian Church. He was the Clerk of Session in three different churches. As he moved across Canada he spoke of the Presbyterian church family as a cornerstone to feeling at home in each new community. He was a founding member of Bridlewood Presbyterian Church and helped raise the funds for construction of the building. He was part of the church’s leadership team that sponsored hundreds of Vietnamese refugees in the late 1970s. Norman was an active community leader as national director of the Brandon University Alumni Association, served on the Board of Directors of the Heart & Stroke Foundation and as a member of the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College. He was a member of the Ontario Hospital Association regional executive committee.
He served on the Board of the Psychology Foundation, as an adjudicator on the Canada Pension Review Tribunal and as a Trustee and Vice President of the Ontario College of Social Workers. As a member of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Board of the Scarborough Grace Hospital, he fought for strong health care services for his community which according to the United Nations serves the most ethnically diverse community in Canada. His great passion for Canada was displayed in his participation for almost 60 years in the Liberal Party of Canada. He held virtually every office in the Party culminating with his election as the President of the Liberal Party of Canada in 1980.
One of his proudest moments of participating in the political process was his attendance at the signing of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms with Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau in 1982. Due to COVID restrictions, a small family service will be held January 23rd at 1:30 p.m. To join the family for the service via livestream, please visit: https://www.arbormemorial.ca/highland-scarborough/obituaries/mr-norman-william-macleod/60756/ for the link or to leave an online condolence. A memorial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations could be made to Brandon University Norman and Gordon MacLeod Scholarship fund, Burns Presbyterian Church Ashburn or a charity of your choice.