Gerard "Frank" Poulin

Gerard “Frank” Poulin

Feb. 17, 1960 - July 17, 2019

Whether it was corporate corruption, labour politics, or sustainable food systems, Frank Poulin was a person who cared deeply about justice and creating a better world. 

“He had such a strong sense of right and wrong,” said Karen Markle, his partner of 8 years. “His sense of that was so firmly perceived, he couldn’t be quiet. I think it was physically, constitutionally, impossible for him to say, ‘I’m going to let that go,’ when it came to something he thought was wrong.”

Frank died suddenly July 17 in Ottawa. He is survived by his partner Karen, siblings Francine Joly, née Poulin, André Poulin, Louise Turmaine, née Poulin, Daniel Poulin, Sylvie Poulin, former partners Chris Poulin and Joanne LaRose, and many cherished nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, as well as his beloved dog, Tux.

He was predeceased by his mother Marcelle Doyle, née Picard, step father Tony Doyle, and brother Yves Poulin.

Frank was born in Hawkesbury Feb 17, 1960, and grew up in downtown Ottawa. He joined the army as soon as he could and served as a cook for 10 years. He was a peacekeeper in Cyprus and posted on exercise in Norway. While in the military he married his first wife, Joanne.

After leaving the army and the end of his first marriage, he worked in industrial kitchens in London, Ontario for a time before returning to Ottawa and marrying his second wife, Chris.

For 20 years he shared his life with her, working sometimes two to three jobs to support them. When he finally found a stable desk job, with benefits, it was at INAC in the Indian Residential School program. 

Over his many years with the IRS program it became very meaningful to him to play a part in bringing restitution to survivors of the residential school system. Though he is a status member of the Huron-Wendat Nation, his mother was an adoptee and he grew up without connection to that community. His work at the IRS program gave him the opportunity to learn about and reconnect with his heritage. His colleagues there became family.

That is also where he first met Karen in 2011.

When Frank approached Karen at work during a United Way fundraising effort, he said he recognized her from somewhere. She didn’t recognize him right away, though. In the end, it was a chance mention of playing pool that spurred her memory. "It all clicked,” she said. “We had played as a team, and after the game, he had given me a few pointers.”

They arranged to meet at a pool hall and, as Karen says, the rest is history. Together they shared a life full of food, farming and activism. Frank was passionate about beekeeping, food sovereignty, socialist politics, and his dog, Tux.

“He’d be the first to stand up and say that he was a socialist and not be worried about what anyone said or thought about it,” Karen said.

While profoundly committed to what he believed in, Frank was also more than willing to learn and reflect on those beliefs. Karen said he balanced being opinionated with deep and meaningful introspection, and would apologize (albeit the next day) when things got heated. “He was the most compassionate person you could ever meet,” she said.

He gave money to the New Democratic Party and the Council of Canadians, and became an associate member of the National Farmers Union to better support family farming, about which he cared deeply.

“He didn’t have a lazy bone in his body,” Karen said, adding that often Frank wouldn’t let her join him in the hardest tasks. “He was always working.”

That being said, he made time for those he cared about and, as with his myriad other passions, made sure they knew how he felt. He was open and generous with his affection, and unafraid to show the depths of his sentiment.“He would always tell you how much he loved you,” Karen said. “He didn’t keep that inside.”