Meet an OttScot: Paul Bennett, Membership Director

Paul's Scottish roots run deep. His mother was Scottish and lived in the St. Andrews area before marriage, while his father was half Scottish, with family ties to Auchterarder. His parents met in London during the Second World War and immigrated to Canada in 1946 to work for the British Information Service. Today, Paul still has close family in Scotland, including a nephew and cousins, along with others spread across Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness, Skye, Mull, and other parts of the country.

A regular visitor to Scotland, Paul enjoys exploring the country's history, geography, and culture while reconnecting with family. Although he jokes that all of his male cousins play the bagpipes and he does not, he proudly notes that he can make oatcakes, which surely earns him some Scottish credentials!

Paul joined the SSO to deepen his connection to his heritage and attract and retain others to explore and celebrate their Scottish roots.

Now retired, Paul spent most of his professional career with Global Affairs Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and the Canadian International Development Agency. He holds two master's degrees in the social sciences and has lived in communities across Canada and abroad, including Bangkok, Addis Ababa, Minneapolis, Victoria, Vancouver, and Ottawa.

His extensive volunteer experience includes Heritage Ottawa, Ottawa Chamberfest, the Queen's Alumni Association Ottawa seniors' group, the National Association of Federal Retirees, and the Lisgar Alumni Association. In 2021, he published On the Border: Twenty Life Stories from Four Continents, a collection of personal reminiscences drawn from a lifetime of experiences around the world.

When he's not researching Scottish history or volunteering in the community, Paul enjoys films, fiction, cottage life, spending time with his wife, Nareumon and friends, and travelling when opportunities arise.

As Membership Director, Paul hopes to help the Society continue to grow and he looks forward to getting to know members across the region. He is also eager to contribute articles and historical research to the Society's publications and would perhaps learn a little Gaelic along the way.

Asked what he loves most about Scotland, Paul's answer is simple: its rich sense of history, strong family connections, and the character of its small towns and villages.

Editor's note: If you haven't renewed your membership yet, or know of potential new members, Paul would be delighted to hear from you! Contact him at: membership@ottscot.ca