KALNINS, Paulis Leonids - Paulis Leonids Kalnins died peacefully at his home on July 15, 2020. He was in his 94th year.
Paulis was born in Jēkabpils, Latvia on October 20th, 1926. His father died when he was only 2 years old. In 1944 he and his family were displaced from Latvia to Germany. While in Latvia he joined the Latvian Legion to fight for Germany.
In 1950 Paulis immigrated from Germany to Canada. His mother and one sister also immigrated to Canada. His second sister immigrated to the United States. Once in Canada he spent one year working on a farm. He also worked as a carpenter, and spent time working for the Toronto Transit Commission constructing tunnels.
New to Canada and the English language, Paulis put himself through university. He studied with a dictionary in one hand and a textbook in the other.
In 1957 he graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in Civil Engineering (B.A.Sc.). Shortly thereafter he was hired by Ontario Hydro. Throughout his career he continued to work for Ontario Hydro at 700 University Avenue in Toronto. He retired in 1991.
Paulis was a good son. He supported his widowed mother until he got married. He was a good brother, brother-in-law, father-in-law, husband, and father. He was devoted to his wife Marianne, daughter Nora, and sons Werner and Richard, son-in-law Derek and daughter-in-law Mena. Paulis and Marianne were married in 1961. They were together for a total of 60 years. Marianne supported Paulis through all of life’s ups and downs, never leaving his side.
Together they had three children. Nora, their first-born, the apple of her daddy’s eye, had a special place in her father’s heart. When baby Nora needed her first dose of vitamins Paulis drove to Starkman’s drug store in the middle of the night to make sure that they had the correct measuring spoon. Not just any measuring spoon would do!
Werner, his middle child, made him enormously proud when he followed in his father’s footsteps graduating with a degree in chemical engineering from Canada’s Royal Military College. Years later, Paulis recounted how he could still remember the military music that played at the graduation.
The baby of the family was Richard, who according to this father followed him everywhere as a small child, much to his dad’s amusement and delight. Richard made his dad proud in 1989 when he donned his graduation robe, walked through the doors of Convocation Hall, like his father before him, and was awarded a Doctor of Medicine degree.
His granddaughters Giselle and Claire brought Paulis great joy. Throughout their childhood, the girls enjoyed visits to Grandma and Grandpa’s. They gobbled countless Oktoberfest bratwursts along with gallons of ice-cream. Paulis had no interest in sports, but somehow these two little girls managed to convinvce him to play backyard hockey. Earning him his firt sports injury - at age 80!
A proud Latvian, Paulis was a lifelong member of the Latvian fraternity “Gersicania”. Together with his lifelong friend Vilnis, they were the last two surviving members. “Per ardua ad astra” - "through adversity to the stars"
A Memorial Service will be held on July 29th at 10:00 am at Rosar-Morrison Funeral Home, 467 Sherbourne Street, Toronto, ON. The interment will be after the service at York Cemetery, 160 Beecroft Road, Toronto, ON. **Due to the COVID-19 pandemic guidelines, there is a limit of 25 people at the funeral. As per same guidelines, attendance can be by invitation only. To request a seat for the funeral please contact the family at
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice.
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