About me
Terry Paul is the Chief of Membertou, a position he has held for the past 37 years. During that time, Paul
has guided his community and administration into one of the most efficient and economically flourishing
Indigenous communities in the country.
Chief Paul started his career with the Boston Indian Council where he received his background training
in finance and management. Returning home to Membertou, Chief Paul joined the Membertou Band
Council in the role of Economic Development Officer and progressed to the position of Band Manager
before he was elected as Chief in 1984.
Chief Paul has achieved many notable accomplishments in his current role, as Chief and CEO of
Membertou, including being named to one of Canada’s highest honours. In 2017, Chief Paul was
appointed to the Order of Canada. He is also an inductee of the Nova Scotia Business Hall of Fame, and
recipient of the Frank McKenna Leadership Award. Chief Paul holds an honourary doctorate from Cape
Breton University, and in 2019 led his organization to being named as a Canada’s Best Managed
Company. In January 2020, Chief Paul received the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business Lifetime
Achievement Award.
Chief Paul is credited with tripling the land base for the Membertou Reserve and increasing the
employment rate within Membertou to 80% in the community. In November 2020, Chief Paul led the
single largest investment made by an Indigenous group in Canada, with the acquisition of Clearwater
Seafoods.
The Membertou motto of “Welcoming the World” is undoubtedly the most accurate representation of
the open and progressive Indigenous community that Membertou has become under the leadership of
Chief Terry Paul.
