LISHMAN, Paula Lishman

As she wished, Paula drew her last breath surrounded by her loving family in their underground home on Purple Hill near Blackstock, Ontario.

Born in Montreal to Erie (née Holmes) and Bob Vockeroth, Paula lived in Goose Bay/Happy Valley, Labrador until age nine when the family moved to Toronto. Although she attended Don Mills Collegiate and later the University of Toronto, her most life-changing educational experience came at age 17 at a program studying Spanish and art in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. There she happened upon a Land Rover with Ontario license plates and went over to say hello. That’s how she met Bill Lishman, from whom she was seldom parted for over 50 years.

At nearly six foot four, Paula helped open the CN Tower as “Toronto’s tallest free-standing woman.” Unable to find clothing to fit her long frame, she learned to design and make her own, setting her on the path to become a uniquely talented designer. Industrious, inventive, and wonderfully resourceful, she remained fresh and imaginative throughout a remarkable career in fashion and textile design. The fur knitting method she invented and patented has been hailed as the 20th century’s most important innovation in fur. In the small town of Blackstock she and family created a thriving custom manufacturing business spanning 3 decades and employing more than 600 local residents.

Paula’s knit fur innovation had global impact, spanning vast distances from the elite boutiques of Tokyo, New York, and Carmel CA to remote fly-in communities of Canada’s Far North. Her abiding passion was for first nations trappers whose livelihoods and culture have been decimated by the decline of the fur trade. As much as possible, she sourced wild furs directly from trappers in Ontario and Manitoba,

paying fair prices for pelts, even when market prices dropped. Paula also shared her technique of making and knitting fur yarn with Dene artisans in the Northwest Territories. Paula was a tireless promoter and supporter of her industry and was president of the Fur Council of Canada for 15 years. In 1995 she was named Canada’s “Woman Entrepreneur of the Year”.

Paula’s warmth, generosity, propensity to dance and laugh through life’s trials was singular. She attracted collaborators, admirers, and friends from all over the world, charming everyone she met with her confidence and easy grace. She was seldom without knitting needles in hand and a smile on her face. She loved her nickname, the “Beaver Weaver.”

Paula’s first collaboration with her sculptor, inventor, aviator, and conservationist husband, Bill, alongside many allies in “People or Planes,” was the ultimately successful struggle to scuttle plans for the Pickering Airport. Many adventures followed, including imprinting migratory birds with ultralight aircraft, basis for the Hollywood film “Fly Away Home” and the creation of their unique underground home. Paula’s successful business helped finance Bill’s creative endeavours.

As much as she loved her work, Paula’s greatest joy was her family. Paula is survived by offspring Aaron (& Ivy) Lishman, Geordie Lishman, Carmen (& Carmelo Acuña) Lishman; grandchildren: Artemis, Deagan, Marta and Leandro; siblings Glenn (& Donna Doerkson) Vockeroth, Tom (& Carol) Vockeroth and Nadine (& Paul Schipper) Vockeroth.

A celebration of Paula’s life will be held in June 2026, details pending. In lieu of flowers, please donate generously to Biome Conservation, an organization that

supports grass roots efforts to protect the earth’s wild places and one that Paula much admired.