Pastor, Author and TV Personality Leon Fontaine Dies at 59
Springs Church and other ministries mourning the loss of a leader
Canadian megachurch pastor Leon Fontaine has died, just days before his 60th birthday.
Members of Springs Church, where Fontaine led as senior pastor, took to social media Sunday to share condolences and tributes after his death was shared in the morning's services. The church had reportedly sent a message to congregants on Friday asking for prayer as Fontaine was suffering an unspecified ailment. The church since confirmed he died the following day in Calgary.
Fontaine led Springs Church, which claimed over 10,000 attendees across multiple sites in Winnipeg and Calgary, as well as multiple other ministries. He was the CEO of the Miracle Channel, a Christian TV network, as well as a TV show host on the network, author of multiple books, and president of two Christian schools associated with Springs Church.
As a church leader Fontaine was at times a controversial figure, first as a longtime champion of prosperity gospel teachings, and more recently as an outspoken critic of government mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Springs Church in Winnipeg was handed numerous fines for breaking restrictions on in-person gatherings and fundraised within its congregation to fight the fines and restrictions in Manitoba's courts.
Fontaine leaves behind his wife Sally, five children and five grandchildren.
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