In Celebration of
William Leavoy
August 31, 1966 - January 4, 2026
William Joseph John Leavoy “Jr.” peacefully passed away on January 4th, at the age of 59. He was the proud father of Elle, Carson, and Genevieve. An incredible son to Ginette and William Sr., and a loving brother to Marie-Paula (Devon). He was known as the “fun uncle” to Jason and Courtney (Jake). He cherished his cousins, Chip (Ronald) and Jody, who were like brothers to him, and he shared a special bond with their sons: Jake, Adam, Jesse, and Ethan. He was extremely close with all members of his extended Leavoy family, including his aunt and uncle, Kim and Jon Merglesky. Most importantly, he was a proud dog owner of his golden-doodle (Bob) Marley.
Jr. was an extremely thoughtful and caring man – he would consistently go out of his way to make those around him feel seen, supported, and cared for. He had a big heart, which he always wore on his sleeve. If you knew Jr. well, you knew he was endlessly generous; always donating, helping those in need, and never hesitating to leave a generous tip. He had a rare ability to make anyone laugh, often without even trying, and his sense of humor brought light to every room he entered. His jokes weren’t always the most appropriate, but they always managed to break the ice and bring people together.
His favourite memories were the ones he made in his own backyard. The Leavoy home was always open and full of life, laughter, and the irresistible aroma of perfectly grilled meat on the barbecue. Jr. loved hosting friends and family, welcoming everyone to share in the joy of everyday moments. The backyard consisted of music playing at full blast, football in the background, cigars in hand, and kids splashing around in the pool.
Jr. began working at just fifteen years old at his father's meat company, learning the ins and outs of the trade from him. Though it was a running joke that William Sr. would “always fire him,” Jr.’s ventures thrived under his leadership and determination, and he carried forward William Sr.’s legacy through his own work and generosity. Long before the workday began, Jr. would bike to work every morning at three a.m. to open the doors for everyone else – a quiet testament to his hard work and commitment. He was a successful businessman dedicated to building a business from the ground up alongside his partners, Chip (Ronald) Leavoy and Rod Rowe. Together, they built a thriving business empire in the meat industry.
Jr. was passionate about sports and adventure from a young age. His athletic journey began as a professional motocross racer in the Canadian Motocross Association, where his commitment and skill earned him several medals. Eventually, the sport took its toll, which led to a plastic elbow he proudly banged off the table. He took pride in caring for his bike, meticulously disassembling it to clean to then reassemble it – a testament to the cleanliness and attention to detail he carried throughout his life. Even after giving up competitive racing, his love for motorcycles never faded. He often took week-long road trips with his friends, exploring the open road, enjoying the outdoors, and sharing unforgettable adventures on their bikes.
Later in life, golf was one of Jr.’s greatest passions. Rain or shine, he could be found on the course, not worrying about keeping score but fully enjoying the game and the camaraderie it brought. To him, the course was a place where stories were shared, memories were made, and his easy-going nature shone through. When the golf courses closed for the winter, Jr. turned to skiing, spending weekends on the slopes with his family – an activity he deeply loved and cherished as another way to enjoy the outdoors and time together.
With all this being said, Jr.’s life truly revolved around the water. At the age of nineteen, he moved to Florida to follow his passion for yachting, working his way up from deckhand to bosun to captain. Whether he was showing off by dropping a water ski, expertly docking the boat, or flying across the waves, the water was always his happy place. His love of the water left a lasting mark on his children, each of whom now knows how to dock and drive a boat, carrying forward the lessons he cherished teaching. For the last five years, Jr. spent his time in the Caribbean, doing what he loved most: sailing, sharing his knowledge with others, and nurturing his lifelong connection to the water.
Jr. will be remembered in many ways: by the weekly flowers he always sent to the women in his life, by the successful businessman he became through hard work and dedication, by the quiet moments watching football on the couch while cuddling with his kids, by sitting in the garage listening to the rain pour down, and by the way he confidently danced his way through every room. Perhaps most of all, he will be remembered with the sound of Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” playing in the background – a song he loved because the “three little birds” reminded him of his three children, and because he never wanted them to worry about anything. As Jr. famously quoted, "Don't worry about a thing, because every little thing will be alright.” We know Jr. will always be with us in spirit. We will always hear his voice, and when Bob Marley’s music plays, we will feel it as his way of saying hello and watching over us.
Jr. was an extremely thoughtful and caring man – he would consistently go out of his way to make those around him feel seen, supported, and cared for. He had a big heart, which he always wore on his sleeve. If you knew Jr. well, you knew he was endlessly generous; always donating, helping those in need, and never hesitating to leave a generous tip. He had a rare ability to make anyone laugh, often without even trying, and his sense of humor brought light to every room he entered. His jokes weren’t always the most appropriate, but they always managed to break the ice and bring people together.
His favourite memories were the ones he made in his own backyard. The Leavoy home was always open and full of life, laughter, and the irresistible aroma of perfectly grilled meat on the barbecue. Jr. loved hosting friends and family, welcoming everyone to share in the joy of everyday moments. The backyard consisted of music playing at full blast, football in the background, cigars in hand, and kids splashing around in the pool.
Jr. began working at just fifteen years old at his father's meat company, learning the ins and outs of the trade from him. Though it was a running joke that William Sr. would “always fire him,” Jr.’s ventures thrived under his leadership and determination, and he carried forward William Sr.’s legacy through his own work and generosity. Long before the workday began, Jr. would bike to work every morning at three a.m. to open the doors for everyone else – a quiet testament to his hard work and commitment. He was a successful businessman dedicated to building a business from the ground up alongside his partners, Chip (Ronald) Leavoy and Rod Rowe. Together, they built a thriving business empire in the meat industry.
Jr. was passionate about sports and adventure from a young age. His athletic journey began as a professional motocross racer in the Canadian Motocross Association, where his commitment and skill earned him several medals. Eventually, the sport took its toll, which led to a plastic elbow he proudly banged off the table. He took pride in caring for his bike, meticulously disassembling it to clean to then reassemble it – a testament to the cleanliness and attention to detail he carried throughout his life. Even after giving up competitive racing, his love for motorcycles never faded. He often took week-long road trips with his friends, exploring the open road, enjoying the outdoors, and sharing unforgettable adventures on their bikes.
Later in life, golf was one of Jr.’s greatest passions. Rain or shine, he could be found on the course, not worrying about keeping score but fully enjoying the game and the camaraderie it brought. To him, the course was a place where stories were shared, memories were made, and his easy-going nature shone through. When the golf courses closed for the winter, Jr. turned to skiing, spending weekends on the slopes with his family – an activity he deeply loved and cherished as another way to enjoy the outdoors and time together.
With all this being said, Jr.’s life truly revolved around the water. At the age of nineteen, he moved to Florida to follow his passion for yachting, working his way up from deckhand to bosun to captain. Whether he was showing off by dropping a water ski, expertly docking the boat, or flying across the waves, the water was always his happy place. His love of the water left a lasting mark on his children, each of whom now knows how to dock and drive a boat, carrying forward the lessons he cherished teaching. For the last five years, Jr. spent his time in the Caribbean, doing what he loved most: sailing, sharing his knowledge with others, and nurturing his lifelong connection to the water.
Jr. will be remembered in many ways: by the weekly flowers he always sent to the women in his life, by the successful businessman he became through hard work and dedication, by the quiet moments watching football on the couch while cuddling with his kids, by sitting in the garage listening to the rain pour down, and by the way he confidently danced his way through every room. Perhaps most of all, he will be remembered with the sound of Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” playing in the background – a song he loved because the “three little birds” reminded him of his three children, and because he never wanted them to worry about anything. As Jr. famously quoted, "Don't worry about a thing, because every little thing will be alright.” We know Jr. will always be with us in spirit. We will always hear his voice, and when Bob Marley’s music plays, we will feel it as his way of saying hello and watching over us.