Canadian Museum of History Announces the Passing of Lieutenant-General Bill Leach

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Canadian Museum of History Announces the Passing of
Lieutenant-General Bill Leach

Gatineau, Quebec, April 1, 2015 — It is with great sadness that the Canadian Museum of History announces the passing of LGen (ret’d) Bill Leach, Chairman of our Board of Trustees, earlier today in Ottawa.

For the past 10 years, first as a supporter of Friends of the Canadian War Museum and more recently as Chairman of the Museum’s Board of Trustees, General Leach has been a key advocate for both the Canadian Museum of History and the Canadian War Museum and a cherished ambassador for both institutions.

“It was such a pleasure to work with Bill in advancing the business of the Museums,” said Mark O’Neill, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Museum of History. “He was more than just a Chair of our Board. He was a true friend of our organization and its employees, and he will be greatly missed.”

General Leach has served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2012. He was very involved in the Museum and was recognized for his sense of camaraderie and close relationships with Museum employees. During his time as Chairman of the Board, General Leach provided the Museum with invaluable strategic guidance and took time to build relationships with all Museum staff. He was a great supporter of the work of our employees and his loss will be deeply felt by his fellow Board of Trustee members and employees of the Canadian Museum of History and the Canadian War Museum.

The Museum offers its condolences to General Leach’s family and friends.

Bill Leach served for more than 40 years in the Canadian Army and the Canadian Forces. He retired from the military in 2000 while serving as Chief of the Land Staff and Commander Land Force Command. He then worked in the private sector, holding executive positions at Honeywell Canada and later Mincom, a leading global provider of software and services based in Australia.

Since 2010 Bill has devoted his energies to his volunteer work for organizations such as the Friends of the Canadian War Museum, an organization dedicated to the promotion and support of Canada’s national museum of military history. General Leach was also on the Executive Committee of the Military Families Fund (MFF) and was the Colonel Commandant of the Logistics Branch of the Canadian Armed Forces. He also sat on the Board of the Royal Ottawa Hospital.

General Leach is a recipient of the Canadian Order of Military Merit (Commander) and the US Legion of Merit (Commander). He is a graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada.

The Canadian Museum of History operates the Canadian Museum of History, the Canadian War Museum and the Virtual Museum of New France. Together, these Museums function as centres for research and public information on the history of Canada. Their principal role is to enhance Canadians’ knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the events, experiences, people and objects that have shaped Canada’s history and identity.

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