Leslie Ross Cadwallader

On the early morning of May 8th, 2026, Les Cadwallader passed away peacefully at St. Joseph’s Hospice, with his loving son by his side to see him off. Born November 20th, 1957, in Victoria BC, Les was the third of four brothers and was described as “a busy and active child” to put things nicely. He spent his youth exploring the island, getting into trouble with his brothers, and was described as a phenomenal lacrosse player. When he turned 18, taking the brass ring as the opportunity arose, Les moved out to Saskatchewan; a place he knew little about & living with family he barely knew. While he was born on the coast, Les fell in love with the Prairies; both the landscape and the people, and they became his true home. Although he did return to Vancouver where he fell in love again with Carol Bell, they never married but were engaged for about 25 years and had one son, Nicholas. Always a hard worker and self-described "professional labourer”, Les worked a variety of blue-collar jobs throughout his life and made lifelong friends wherever he went. Les eventually became a Red Seal Crane Operator; being described as one of the best operators many had worked alongside. With a steady hand, Les always made sure the work was done properly, safely, and that all his coworkers made it home safe too. Les eventually returned to the Prairies, continuing to grab the brass ring of opportunity and to find a safer community to raise his family; first in Redcliff and finally settling down in Medicine Hat. He continued to make friends and joined the Medicine Hat Pool community, which became his second family and where he met some of his best and closest friends. Les took his first team, The Silver Bullets, to win multiple tournaments and championships being described as “a hell of a shot” by those he played with and against. When Les was not busy working or playing pool, he enjoyed listening to Blues Music, playing Crib, going for walks, learning more about nature & history, hanging out with friends, laughing along to his favorite shows & movies, breakfasts at Ricky’s, and cheering for his Saskatchewan Roughriders or Montreal Canadiens. Through the dedication and compassion of the team at St. Joseph’s, Les was cared for and comfortable in his final weeks. He kept his great attitude and stubborn personality to the very end; spending his final days surrounded by his friends & son, watching Montreal make it to round two of the playoffs, and enjoying; coffee, apple fritters and all the food his gout prevented him from eating. Les Cadwallader, you are a man who lived life on his own terms, and you were always learning, adapting, and growing through whatever life threw at you. Be proud of all the effort and work it took to be the great man you became, because we are all proud of you. A loving father, a great brother, a wonderful friend, a hard worker, an animal lover, a masterful pool player, a kind spirit, and an amazing human being. Rest easy Les; you will be missed more than you know, loved more than works can describe, and will never be forgotten.

A gathering to celebrate and remember Les Cadwallader will be held at Schooner’s Pub on Saturday, May 30th starting at 3:00 PM for all who would like to honor and celebrate the life of a great man.

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