Activist, union leader and arts supporter Leo Cheverie dies at 60

Leo Cheverie, a long-time advocate for fairness and equity on Prince Edward Island, has died at age 60.

Whether supporting the labour movement, social justice, or the arts community, Cheverie was a familiar face in many crowds. 

"I have time for making sure that if there are things out there that need to be done, I can raise awareness about all sorts of issues. I'm always happy to do that," Cheverie said in an August interview with CBC News.  

He was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in spring of 2022.  

The New Democratic Party of Prince Edward Island, for which Cheverie ran as a candidate in number of elections, expressed deep sadness following his passing Thursday. 

"Leo stood out in the crowd for his passion and advocacy for many causes including the labour movement, environment and Indigenous issues, proportional representational and social justice," the party's statement read. 

Cheverie graduated from the University of Prince Edward Island in 1984 and began working in the library the year after — a post he held until recently. 

A supporter of electoral reform on P.E.I., he advocated for the adoption of proportional representation. 

Following his diagnosis, Cheverie became a proponent of colorectal cancer screening. 

"The best thing is early detection," he said in August. "Be aware that it is very treatable in its early stages." 

His father's guitar and fiddle playing planted a seed that blossomed into a love for music, he said.

"Music has always been part of my life and has always been highly valued," Cheverie said. "It's been one of the things I've always turned to, something that's always lifted me up." 

Growing up, his family valued giving back to the community, he said. "I guess I blame my mother," who was an activist and involved in community service, he said. 

He served as president of CUPE Local 1870 for more than a decade until 2015 and was once president of the P.E.I. Federation of Labour.