PAUL FIELDHOUSE

July 29, 1951 – December 6, 2022

Paul Fieldhouse, PhD passed away peacefully surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife Corinne Eisenbraun, daughters Emma (Joël) and Veronica, and his cousin Helen Wallett (Trevor) of Penkridge, West Midlands, who was like a sister to Paul.

 

Paul was born in Bilston, England and lived his first few years in the Bilston Labour Club, the local workingmen’s club of which his grandparents were the stewards.  This environment inspired a lifelong interest in politics and community action.

 

In his youth, Paul was a champion swimmer and an avid cross-country runner and rambler.  He obtained his first degrees at the University of Surrey and Leeds Polytechnic in the field of human nutrition and community development.

 

He completed his PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Manitoba in 2005.  Paul had a special interest in the significance of food in culture and religion.  He was the author of several books on those topics including one that is still used regularly as a reference text in nutrition programs worldwide.

 

Paul came to Canada in 1980 for what was meant to be a two-year adventure as an Associate Professor at the University of Alberta. However, after meeting Corinne, he made Canada his permanent home.

 

In 1983, they moved to Camrose, Alberta where his involvement in community activities led to lifelong friendships. He was involved in international development work locally and as Chair of the Board for World Food Day Canada.  He was an active participant in the Churchmice Players Society, a highlight of which was directing a production of Frankenstein for the local dinner theatre scene. 

 

In 1987, Paul and Corinne moved to Winnipeg. Paul was for many years the Nutrition Policy Analyst for the Province of Manitoba working on school nutrition policy and northern healthy food. He was the Provincial Representative at the Federal/ Provincial/ Territorial Nutrition Policy table and a valued member of the Primary Prevention Advisory Group of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. He was in demand as a speaker at national and international conferences. Paul was also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences at the University of Manitoba taking on responsibilities for teaching and supervision of graduate students.

 

Paul was an advocate and active volunteer for initiatives that promoted healthy living and healthy environments such as school garden and breakfast projects, the farm-to-school fundraising program and the establishment of the Bishop Grandin Greenway. Volunteering at Folklorama and for the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival brought him great pleasure over many years. Always an avid birder, gardener, and cyclist, in retirement Paul became a dedicated volunteer at Fort Whyte Alive where he could often be found in the sod hut or leading birding walks. 

 

Paul’s greatest joy was spending time with his family and ‘chosen family’ whether at home, at the cottage, or on the farm in Camrose. His daughters were his life and soul, there was nothing he wouldn’t do for them – whether finding a harp teacher for a 5-year old or setting off into the Derbyshire Dales to find Shining Tor. He was their greatest cheerleader, their best editor and their most beloved teacher.

 

A gifted storyteller and writer, Paul always had the words for any occasion. His dry sense of humour and quick wit always added much to the conversation. At the same time, his kind nature, inquisitiveness and open worldview meant he could make easy conversation with anyone he met at home or on his many world travels.

 

His fondness for off-beat British humour was well known amongst friends and he passed this on to his loving children in spades. Rarely a day passed without a dose of his trademark silliness.

 

Paul’s love of board games, crossword puzzles, and quizzing regularly brought together family and friends and created many joyful memories. When not puzzling, he could be found with his nose in a good book or in the kitchen creating tasty meals, with curry feasts being a specialty.

 

A true gentleman, he will be deeply missed by many.

 

The family would like to thank the staff of Winnipeg Regional Health Authority for their kind and compassionate care throughout Paul’s illness. 

 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Fort Whyte Alive.

 

A celebration of his life will be held 2:00 p.m. Friday January 20, 2023 at 603 Wellington Crescent at Academy Road (Unitarian Church).