Like everyone else that was ever lucky enough to know Paul, I am so very grateful to have had him in my life. We had daily chats at work, lots of laughs and exchanges of music, movies, politics and office gossip. Aside from the jokes, he exemplified true compassion and understanding, far more and far sooner than the rest of us. He was one of the kindest and most thoughtful person I've ever known. Paul has left an indelible mark on all of us, one that we will carry the rest of our lives. Love you, Paul!

Bonnie

Condolences to Paul's family and friends.

To me, Paul was a remarkable friend and colleague.

While at work, Paul acknowledged and complemented the smallest change about a person, like a new set of earrings or a new family picture on one’s desk. He made sure to check on everyone daily and would investigate every little problem or hardship that he could help solve for others.

Personally, I owe Paul my relationship with my sister, when he took both of us out for lunch and helped us make up after a bad misunderstanding. Paul was so supportive and caring when my mother passed away and I am forever grateful to him for being there for me.

Back when I was still new to Canada and working on my English skills, Paul figured out that I am not picking up Canadian humor or references, and he would make sure to give me a hint or explain a word whenever I looked lost. Paul had a special place in his heart for all immigrants and yound parents like myself.

We had so many profound conversations about “Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus”, I just loved listening to Paul and how his mind worked. I’ve never met anyone who knew himself so well and was aware of his values as much as Paul.

He had a talent for caring about his own very sincerely but always under the radar. When I was splitting my days between university and work for some time, Paul would think of me and set aside a plate of food for me during a staff lunch, so I didn’t go hungry. He was just always so kind to people around him.

Paul also had an unbelievable sense of humor, best of the best. I will never forget our giggles, like the time he accidentally broke his pointing device and we had to come up with a quick repair. Or the time I famously referred to a pool noodle as a “a pool macaroni” (ok, it wasn’t just one time).

I feel so blessed with all my memories of Paul. It was a great gift to know and love him and be his friend.

One day, Paul stopped and turned his wheelchair to enter my office and placed himself across from me.

He looked at me with what seemed like agitation. I assumed he had been chatting with someone else before me. He asked with some passion, “How much is enough ?” I did not know what he meant. Exercised, he went on, “Don’t you have accumulated enough income and wealth in the church? When is it enough ?

I replied, “Paul, you are right to question our motives, as we all compete, earn and spend our and others’ money. However, I see much value in giving away or sacrificing our income, energy and time to love and help the marginalized needy who are everywhere”. Opportunities to demonstrate love and mercy to other children and adults also abound. Indeed, once we are exposed to dire human need, we are likely over time to increase giving of all kinds as empathy, kindness and compassion spring up inside us.

As an example, I described the wretched conditions in which families with children lived for many years in a garbage dump in Puerto Vallarta in Mexico. Life was a string of constant struggle. The children rummaged for food and clothing. There was no running water and services that we take for granted. Paul listened intently, as I described how a little girl, or perhaps her mother, had made and was wearing a dress from material she found in the dump.

I further described how individual tourists from USA and Canada coming annually to Paradise Village and other resorts banded together with local businesses and government over the years to help these children. This involved going to a very stinky dump to offer sandwiches, water and juice to the kids. The owner of Paradise Village offered free weekly delivery of water to the children and their parents. He also offered the conference facility at the resort for non-denominational church services by one or another of the visitors. These folks were united in their purpose to put the children’s interest first. Paul’s eyes shined.

Later instruction was offered to students in learning English and computer right on site, followed by jobs in various hotels. Some of the kids were registered with an official address in the Dump called Hope Road(roughly constructed), to obtain birth certificates necessary to be allowed in schools at all. Paul looked interested.

A housing complex was built and residents educated and trained to be owners. Breakfast and lunch programs for the kids were developed. The children and grandchildren of the first generation kids have fared better over about 25 years, receiving jobs and higher education as well as safer living conditions.

I indicated that I likely contributed the least to the success of this shared effort by so many thousands over time. However, I was satisfied in doing so.

Paul suddenly left me and quickly returned to give me a cheque to help the children. I asked him if he wanted to donate on the website and get a receipt for income tax purposes. He declined with a smile and told me to just do the rest. Wow ! He heard, listened with his heart, and showed empathy, kindness and generous compassion. His conscience burned bright. How considerate! How gracious !

Paul and I ended our chat in peace, with mutual respect and affection. We miss him.What a gentleman !

Nevin Shaw

Reading all these wonderful tributes it is easy to see that Paul was universally beloved.   Where each passing day presented new challenges to him, he chose light over darkness, fun over drudgery and brought us all along for the ride.   He used to laugh about his attendance record at work and say:   "Go figure, the handicapped guy never takes a sick day!  And, over the course of twenty years I can recall him only missing a handful of days.  Paul's office was a testament to his pursuit of fun.  It was one part Peewee Herman's Play House and two parts a sport shrine.  But beyond the tomfoolery of our everyday interactions, Paul was a serious and dedicated civil servant.  In rooms of really smart people, Paul was quick, incisive and ultimately a great problem solver.  I once asked him what he did best and without hesitation he said:  I take complex problems, break them down and explain them simply to everyone so we can work on a solution.  Paul could be impatient with heel dragging bureaucracy (ok, it was one of his biggest pet peeves), but he persevered and always found ways to add value to any project or endeavour .  We were all lucky to be part of Paul's life,  He gave way more than he took, and made us all feel better about ourselves.  Behind it all stood his brother Norm, who EVERY DAMN day cared for Paul and got him ready for work.  Norm,  you were greatly appreciated by Paul and I was in awe of your love for your brother and your dedication to the very hard work it took to bring him into our lives.  Thank-you from all of us.  I loved Paul and told him so and would look at me laughing and say:  I love you Man!!!  And I would laugh too.  I hope to see you on the other side,  I will look for you in the middle of the light, holding court as ever with gathered family and friends.  Till then....

I was very sorry to hear the news of Paul's passing from my cousin yesterday. I knew Paul a long time ago. I have thought of him through the years and hoped that he was happy and well. Reading this page and watching the video it is obvious that he was. My deepest sympathy to all his family and friends.

What a beautiful smile!! RIP gentle soul

Meeting and getting to know Paul was one of best experiences I had in my 30+ year career with the Province. He was one of the most positive, intelligent, funny, kind, loving and charming souls I have ever met. His friendship meant so much to me. He taught me a lot over the years about resiliency and having a positive attitude no matter what. We had so much fun working together. The group of friends that formed was just amazing. We always had fun together and it made going to the office so much more pleasurable. I missed my friend over the last few years as life takes over and each day that passes goes by quicker and quicker. I will miss my friend, Paul, until we meet again. Much love,

Paul was a part of my teenhood, I hold fond and very sweet memories of him and he will always be remembered. Pul touched my heart (and my fnny bone) as he did most people he came to know.

My sincere condolences to Paul's family.

I was very sad to hear the news of Paul's passing. I remember clearly when he and his family moved next door. We we're so excited to have new neighbours. Our footballs games were ever on-going. We had to rush to get the dishes done  so we could go join the fun. And how they we're fun - especially when a great big St-Bernard would decide to join the game! Paul would rush to throw the ball and Roy would catch it and run fast as the dog was running after him. How we would laugh! Then, Paul and Roy would start discussing if we were playing under CFL or NFL rules! Thanks to him, I learned the rules and developed a life-long love of the game.

Paul was such a good friend growing up. I will miss his smile and his kindness. My sincere condolences to all the Mackin family, relatives, and friends.

I had the great fortune to meet Paul on a visit to Winnipeg and June with Lyn, although many years ago he made a lasting impression with his humour, outlook and genuine personality. On leaving I remember him saying to me that it had been "so lovely to meet the second smallest person he had ever known" ... the first being Lottie. I hope they are ready for you up there ... you deserve the best welcome.

The Mackin family lived right next door to us on Desautels Street in Ste. Anne and our parents were British, so for a while I thought everyone must be from England! I have the fondest memories of Paul, I would say that Paul taught me everything I know about flirting and being charming. Nobody could be as charming and disarming as Paul. Ever the gentleman, I daresay everyone walked away from an interaction with Paul, feeling better than they did before. What a gift and what a special person to have known so early in my life - thank you for the beautiful memories, neighbour ❤️

All of us who love and loved Paul know how he made us feel and hanging out with us with his favorite thing.  They say at the end of the day the only thing that matters is how a person makes you feel.  With Paul – whom I called Mac – I felt smarter, funnier and that I possessed all the charm in the world.  My goal was always to make him laugh – this wasn’t hard by any means, but I knew he preferred when I was outrageous, so I obliged as much as possible (political correctness aside). I think back to the days when we had our motley crew lunches - Paul, Vic, George, Tam, and Louise - he would be in his element - asking Louise or I, to quote “not fight over him” but could one of us get a straw or take off his jacket.  Cheeky!

All I had to say was hey Mac remember “blank” song – and he would have the CD for me the next day.   He was particularly amused by my singing – quite badly – No One Is to Blame by Howard Jones. The joke was on me because he knew the song right away but made me go on and on with the off-key singing while wracking my brain for bits of lyric. Yup, I got that CD too. I mentioned key lime pie ONE TIME and that was it, we were off for weeks hunting the best one in the city. We found it at Grant Park shopping centre in this tiny café in a bookstore – so every Friday, for a while, it was key lime pie before movie night. He never forgot a thing or detail if it made someone’s day just a little better.

I saw Mac this summer – we listened to music – I tried hard to stump him with new music I liked but he was one step ahead as usual and was happy to gloat.  Near the end of our visit, he said, things were changing fast for him and not to cry. He was preparing me – and yet I was not prepared, not at all.

I have been re-reading our text messages, listening to little voice messages he left me – mostly to prove it wasn’t Norm texting me - lol, as if.  In doing so, he left me a gift, we picked up at the same place every time and everything was said. I’m grateful for that. I am grateful for my time with him in this realm.

June, Norm, Stephanie, Roy, Michelle, Richard, Shirley, Frank and Margaret and to all family and friends – my heart is with you.

I had the good fortune to get to know Paul when we worked together. He was always there with a smile and joke to laugh and raise your spirits. He loved getting to know people, asking hard questions and enjoying life. He was so generous and caring, and an insightful listener.  His music livened up the office as did the many thought-provoking conversations. He will be greatly missed. My condolences to his family.

When Paul and his family moved to St-Anne MB and bought a home on Desautels Street, the neighborhood was never the same!  With his big smile, infectious laugh, beautiful dark/thick hair and amazing sense of humor he was very popular with the neighbor girls.  Our Summers became busy with our daily football games with Paul as the best quarterback, and yes, we all wanted him on our team!  Days were spent playing pool at the Lajoie home and he became the neighborhood, Pool Shark!  Paul did take advantage of having French neighbors to do his French school assignments!  Winters were spent playing road hockey and he was pretty aggressive with his hockey stick always interfering and tripping the opposition. Paul was very popular and always had many friends with him hanging out at St-Anne School.  If there was a group a student's mingling and laughing, you would always see him in the center! After I moved away from St-Anne, I enjoyed popping in at his parents store to say hi and catching up when I went to visit my family.  Great memories of an amazing person. 

Condolences to all the Mackin family.

Paul was such an incredible person. His laughter was infectious, and he always knew how to brighten up a room. I'll never forget the times we spent together and the deep conversations we had.

Paul was one of those rare people who saw beyond the surface and embraced everyone for who they were. He never judged based on any external factor. It was all about the person inside, and that's what made him so special. He treated everyone with respect and kindness, creating a space where we could all feel accepted and valued. It's a quality that I truly admired about him. Paul's legacy of inclusivity and acceptance will always be remembered.

Paul had a heart of gold! He was always cracking jokes and making everyone around him laugh. His sense of humor was one of a kind and could brighten up even the toughest days. he was incredibly caring. He had this way of putting others first and making sure everyone felt loved and supported. It's rare to find someone as thoughtful as Paul, and I feel lucky to have known him. He truly made a positive impact on so many lives, including mine.

Ah, I remember those moments! Paul had a great sense of humor and loved to tease me about my local jargons. It was all in good fun though, and we both shared many laughs over it. And watching "Bob and Abishola" together was a blast!.Those memories are truly special.  It's these little things that make our friendship so unique and cherished. Paul's playful spirit and shared laughter will always be remembered.

Paul had this incredible talent for making us laugh until our chests hurt. His jokes and funny stories were just too good! I can still remember those moments when we couldn't stop laughing, gasping for breath, and our stomachs aching from all the laughter. It was pure joy and happiness. Paul had a way of bringing so much laughter into our lives, and I'm grateful for every moment of it. He had a gift for finding humor in the simplest things and spreading that laughter to everyone around him. Those memories will always bring a smile to my face.

Rest on Paul.

I met Paul through work. My office was isolated from the main area, but Paul always wheeled in for a moment to say hi and share a funny story to lighten my day. 

We shared a love of music, good food and laughs. My life was enriched by knowing him. He demonstrated how to live life to the fullest with an open, kind heart no matter life's challenges. 

To know Paul was to love Paul. Thank you Paul for the gift of your friendship. I am sure you are entertaining the angels with serenades and are keeping a close eye on your football team. My sincere condolences to all who knew him.

Paul was my personal version of a singing telegram.   I would answer the phone  with the usual Hello and the response was him serenading me with a song he'd just heard that reminded him of me.  Usually an oldie, but goodie from the 60's and 70s.  One of my favorite calls was 12 years ago. It was not the usual musical call, in a very somber voice he said he'd been thinking of me all day because I was probably devastated with the news of Davy Jones (my Monkee) passing.  I replied with, thanks very much Paul, I had no idea, and  at that moment I was a 'tad' devastated.  Then he said, let's honor Davy with a few bars of Daydream Believer...he started and I joined in.  What a guy, Paul, not Davy!!

I will cherish all the wonderful memories and in every one you have your Paul smile.

You will always continue to Build Me Up Buttercup!

Keep smiling and most of all keep singing.

You will be forever loved, forever missed and forever in our hearts.

I met Paul at work when we had offices adjacent to one another.  Paul introduced me to computer golf, where he would soundly beat me each time out.  I attributed this to him having more time to practice but he insisted it was due to his superior eye-hand coordination.  Over the years of his career, at times I worked with Paul and at times he worked for me.  But whatever the status he was always in the vicinity and my life and career was that much richer having him around.  He always brought a ray of sunshine into whoever's life he touched.  

I recall one time at coffee Paul indicated to me that he had a fear of public speaking.  As his boss at the time, and in an era of increasing political correctness, I admitted to Paul that this was something we shared, I too had a fear of him speaking in public.

In the later years of our careers our work paths diverged but Paul would regularly wheel into my office with this "plainte du jour".  I could be another observation regarding the performance of Winnipeg traffic planners, or fellow Winnipeg drivers, or some deep philosophical conundrum.  Whatever the topic of the day, it would always be entertaining, engaging and frequently well-reasoned.

I shall dearly miss Paul and extend my deepest condolences to all of his family.

The last time I saw Paul was when I was lucky enough to be a part of his 50th birthday celebration. I stayed at June's, so I got to see him everyday that I was in Winnipeg. That time was spent discussing tv shows and music, eating great food, karaoke and laughing.......a LOT of laughing. Along with our massive love for The Beatles, we shared in the delight of watching my mom Carol unsuccessfully and very humorously try to say things like chilly feesecake (philly cheesesteak) and Bon Jon Bovi (Jon Bon Jovi), which only got worse each time we asked her to say them! Paul was such a kind person that made everyone around him feel grateful to have been in his life. 

You will forever be remembered.

I originally met Paul through work about 25 years ago when I was a consultant. We quickly became friends. He is simply the most genuine, authentic, positive, heartwarming person I have ever met. Knowing Paul just made me a better person. It is impossible to put into words the impact Paul has had on people’s lives, everyone who knew him has felt it and knows what I mean. Everybody had a better day when they came into contact with Paul. 

When with Paul you somehow forgot he had  the disease that took him. I was hoping we could end up with another 25 years of friendship being two old men discussing how we would manage the Jets to the Stanley Cup, fix the world’s problems, and figure out women. The answers were always the next visit away. My condolences to his family which he loved so much. The loss cannot be measured.

Best quarterback ever!

I had the pleasure of working with Paul and he truly was a one of a kind. Paul was articulate, intelligent, widely funny and compassionate all rolled into one person. He made all those  around him better people. I will always remember his smile and laugh. Rest in peace my friend.

I only met Paul once on a family holiday to Winnipeg with my husband Brian. We'd gone to visit Carol & Bernie & their family and Bri said we absolutely have to go see aunty June , Uncle Norman and their lads -Paul and Norman. Although I knew Paul was ill, I didn't realise he was permanently confined to his wheelchair .

His sense of humour, his joy of life and living shone out

Sadly, it's the only trip to Canada we've made, but we've been kept up to date with all the hilarious singing phone calls between Paul and his cousin Carol - again showing his love of life and music.

Rest in peace Paul xx

We will cherish the memories of our all too few times together Paul.

Paul my friend...

I will miss you.

I will miss our debates.

I will miss our arguments.

I will miss those moments of joy when we chose to agree ...

or agreed to disagree.

I will miss you.

As was once said "What will be will be..."

I still remember all the times you made me laugh on myspace.  Rest in peace, Paul.

Stéphanie je vous offre mes plus sincères sympathies à toute la famille bon courage

I am Paul's 2nd cousin Kris. I have 2 specific memories of Paul. We had just arrived for a visit, and Paul was watching the Workd Junior Hockey tournament. Canada was playing, and the famous bench clearing brawl had just broke out. It was incredible to see as I had never really watched a game before. I was hooked from then on.

The 2nd, sports related again, was seeing a Miami Dolphins item (can't recall what it was) in his room. For whatever reason, I started being a fan. To this day they are my team.

Although we had not spoken in a long time, my mom always told me stories about their conversations and their singing to each other.

Rest easy Paul. You'll be missed.

Paul had such a great soul … we were friends from high school and always stayed in touch one way or another. He was so brave, kind, funny and smart. Paul you will be missed by this world and heaven has gained a new angel. Sincere condolences to the family.