The Ottawa community is mourning the heartbreaking loss of Paul Rushforth, a respected real estate broker, former professional hockey player, and longtime CFRA radio host, who passed away on Friday, July 24, 2026, at the age of 52. His death has left family, friends, colleagues, clients, and listeners across the region grieving the loss of a man remembered for his generosity, humor, and unwavering commitment to helping others.
Paul’s cause of death has not been publicly disclosed. He is survived by his three children and his partner, Petra Sedlakova Blais.
For 19 years, Paul co-hosted the popular Saturday morning Open House radio show on CFRA alongside Frank Napolitano. The pair became known for their genuine friendship, lighthearted humor, and practical real estate advice. Napolitano paid tribute to his longtime friend, recalling their tradition of arriving early at the studio and joking about who would buy breakfast, saying the warmth listeners heard on the air reflected exactly who Paul was in everyday life.
Beyond broadcasting, Paul was one of Ottawa’s most recognizable real estate professionals. After returning home from a successful professional hockey career in North America and Europe, he founded Paul Rushforth Real Estate in 2011. His brokerage became widely known for its memorable promise: “If you don’t sell your home, we’ll buy it.” Through his leadership and dedication to client service, he earned the trust and respect of thousands of homeowners throughout the Ottawa area.
Before entering real estate, Paul enjoyed a decade-long professional hockey career. He concluded his playing days in England as captain and assistant coach of the London Knights before returning to Canada following the collapse of the British Ice Hockey Superleague. Faced with rebuilding his life and career while supporting his growing family, he successfully transitioned into real estate and built one of Ottawa’s most respected independent brokerages.
Paul was also deeply committed to giving back to his community. In 2012, his company’s inaugural charity golf tournament raised more than $21,000 for Do It For Daron, supporting youth mental health initiatives. Mental health advocacy remained close to his heart, and in 2025, during the Dare to be Vulnerable event, he openly shared his personal struggles with addiction, financial hardship, and surviving a suicide attempt. His courageous testimony inspired many, encouraging others to seek help and reminding them that recovery and hope are possible.
Just days before his passing, Paul publicly celebrated his partner Petra’s birthday with a heartfelt message, writing that she had not only changed his life but had also saved it, calling her his safe place.
Tributes have continued to pour in from colleagues, friends, clients, and members of the Ottawa community, all remembering Paul for his infectious personality, compassion, resilience, and willingness to lift others up. His brokerage described him as “an exceptional human being,” while countless others have shared stories of his generosity, kindness, and positive influence both professionally and personally.
Although his passing leaves an immeasurable void, Paul Rushforth’s legacy will live on through the lives he touched, the families he helped find homes, the community causes he championed, and the countless people he inspired with his honesty, humor, and resilience.
May Paul Rushforth rest in eternal peace. He will be deeply missed, forever remembered, and always cherished by his family, friends, colleagues, clients, and the entire Ottawa community.