Leon Fontaine (November 25, 1962 – November 19, 2022) was a Canadian pastor, author, and media executive best known as senior pastor of Springs Church, one of Canada’s largest congregations, and CEO of the Miracle Channel, the country’s only 24/7 Christian television station. A third-generation pastor, Fontaine led Springs Church alongside his wife Sally for nearly three decades, growing it from a single Winnipeg congregation into a multisite ministry reaching thousands of people each week before his sudden death from cancer in 2022.
[IMAGE: Leon Fontaine preaching at Springs Church Winnipeg]
Leon Fontaine at a Glance
| Personal | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Leon Fontaine |
| Born | November 25, 1962, Canada |
| Died | November 19, 2022, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (age 59) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Spouse | Sally Fontaine |
| Children | Five: Danielle, Tamara, Michala, Jessica, and Zachary |
| Grandchildren | Nine, as of 2022 |
| Father | Pastor Cam Fontaine |
| Ministry | |
| Title | Senior Pastor (with wife Sally) |
| Church | Springs Church, Winnipeg and Calgary |
| Became lead pastor | 1994 |
| Career | |
| Other roles | CEO, Miracle Channel; President, Springs Christian Academy and Springs College; Founder, Spirit Contemporary International |
| Books | The Spirit Contemporary Life, Devoted with Leon, Supernatural Promises |
Who Was Leon Fontaine?
Leon Fontaine was a Canadian pastor and media executive who led Springs Church, one of the country’s largest congregations, for nearly 30 years. He was also CEO of the Miracle Channel, a national Christian television network, and hosted several of his own television programs. Fontaine was a third-generation pastor, following in the footsteps of his father, Pastor Cam Fontaine, and passed leadership of Springs Church down to his own son after his death.
Early Life and Calling
Fontaine was born on November 25, 1962, into a family already rooted in pastoral ministry through his father, Cam Fontaine. Growing up around church life gave him an early front-row seat to what long-term ministry leadership looked like, a foundation that shaped his own decision to step into pastoral work as a young adult.
Ministry Career and Professional Journey
Becoming Senior Pastor of Springs Church (1994)
In 1994, Leon and Sally Fontaine became the lead pastors of Springs Church in Winnipeg. Under their joint leadership, the congregation experienced what the church has described as explosive growth, driven in large part by the couple’s emphasis on practical, everyday faith. Fontaine developed a teaching style he branded “Spirit Contemporary,” aimed at helping ordinary believers apply spiritual principles to daily life, career, and family.
[IMAGE: Springs Church Winnipeg campus exterior]
Building a Multisite Ministry
Under Fontaine’s leadership, Springs Church expanded well beyond its original Winnipeg location, adding a campus in Calgary, Alberta, and eventually reaching a combined weekly attendance in the thousands, making it one of the largest churches in Canada. The ministry also grew to include Springs Christian Academy, a K-12 school, and Springs College, a ministry training institution, both of which Fontaine served as president.
Miracle Channel and Media Ministry
Beyond the local church, Fontaine served as CEO of the Miracle Channel, Canada’s only 24/7 Christian television station, which reached more than five million homes across Canada and over a million more in the United States as a TBN affiliate network. He hosted several of his own programs, including The Spirit Contemporary Life, The Leon Show, and Return to Reason, extending his teaching well beyond the walls of Springs Church. He also founded Spirit Contemporary International, a US-based extension of his ministry.
Who Is the Senior Pastor at Springs Church Winnipeg Today?
Following Leon Fontaine’s death, his son, Zach Fontaine, became senior pastor of Springs Church. Zach is a third-generation pastor in the Fontaine family, following his grandfather Cam and his father Leon. He previously served as youth pastor at the Winnipeg campus and shared the stage with his father for years before stepping into the senior leadership role, continuing the family’s ministry legacy.
Books and Publications
Fontaine authored several books built around his “Spirit Contemporary” teaching philosophy, including The Spirit Contemporary Life: Unleashing the Miraculous in Your Everyday World, his best-known title, along with Supernatural Promises and a daily devotional, Devoted with Leon.
Ministry Philosophy
Fontaine’s teaching centered on what he called living a “Spirit Contemporary” life, the idea that being led by the Holy Spirit could be practical and relevant to modern, everyday concerns like career, family, and personal success, not just traditional religious observance. Critics within Christian circles frequently characterized his teaching as aligned with prosperity theology, the belief that faith should produce material blessing and physical health, a label that became more prominent in public conversation following his sudden death from cancer.
Personal Life
Leon Fontaine’s Wife
Fontaine was married to Sally Fontaine, who served as co-senior pastor of Springs Church alongside him for the entirety of his time leading the congregation. The two led the ministry as a team from 1994 until Leon’s death in 2022, and Sally has continued to be involved in the church’s leadership and mission since.
Children and Family
Leon and Sally Fontaine had five children: Danielle (married to David Craig), Tamara (married to Jeremy Prest), Michala (married to Austin Stannard), Jessica, and Zachary (married to Jessica Fontaine). By the time of his death, the family had grown to include nine grandchildren.
COVID-19 Restrictions Controversy
Fontaine became a prominent and vocal opponent of Manitoba’s COVID-19 public health restrictions in 2020 and 2021, arguing that limits on in-person worship infringed on religious freedom. Springs Church was fined $32,000 for holding drive-in services in violation of provincial gathering limits and pursued legal action against the province seeking an injunction to allow the services to continue, a request Manitoba’s chief justice denied. In 2021, the church also drew public criticism, including from provincial cabinet ministers, after photos surfaced of a maskless graduation ceremony held at the Winnipeg campus. Dozens of Manitoba clergy from other denominations signed an open letter criticizing Fontaine’s stance, calling on Springs Church to comply with public health orders. Fontaine maintained that the church had followed appropriate distancing measures for the ceremony in question and that his opposition was rooted in a defense of religious freedom rather than public health denial.
Leon Fontaine’s Death
Leon Fontaine died on Saturday, November 19, 2022, in Calgary, Alberta, while on vacation with his family, just six days before what would have been his 60th birthday. According to a statement released by his family, he was unexpectedly diagnosed with aggressive, late-stage cancer while traveling, and his health declined rapidly during treatment. His children announced the news to the Springs Church congregation via a video message the following day. His sudden death, at a relatively young age and from an illness his own teaching held could be overcome through faith, prompted public reflection from some commentators about the tensions inherent in prosperity-gospel theology, alongside an outpouring of tributes from Christian leaders across Canada and the United States, including Kenneth Copeland Ministries Canada.
Leon Fontaine’s Funeral
Fontaine’s celebration of life was held on Wednesday, December 7, 2022, at 2 p.m. at Springs Church’s main Winnipeg campus, located at 595 Lagimodiere Boulevard. The service was open to family, congregants, and the wider community who wished to honor his ministry.
Where Is Leon Fontaine Buried?
No burial location for Leon Fontaine has been made publicly available. Details of his final resting place were kept private by the family, consistent with how many details of his passing were handled. What is publicly documented is the date, time, and location of his celebration of life service in Winnipeg.
Leon Fontaine’s Net Worth
No officially verified net worth figure exists for Leon Fontaine. Some unofficial biography sites have estimated his net worth at around $3 million at the time of his death, attributing it to book sales, media ventures, and his pastoral role, but this figure has not been confirmed through any official source and should be treated as an estimate rather than fact.
Influence and Legacy
Fontaine built Springs Church into one of the largest and fastest-growing congregations in Canada over nearly three decades of leadership, while also establishing a national Christian media presence through the Miracle Channel. His “Spirit Contemporary” teaching style influenced a generation of Canadian charismatic and Pentecostal believers, and his family has continued that legacy directly, with his son Zach now leading the church he built.
Interesting Facts About Leon Fontaine
- He was a third-generation pastor, following his father Cam Fontaine into ministry.
- He died just six days before his 60th birthday.
- He and his wife Sally led Springs Church together as co-senior pastors for 28 years.
- He served on the board of the Congress of Christian Leaders, launched by prominent Hispanic evangelical leader Samuel Rodriguez.
- His son Zach, now senior pastor of Springs Church, is the third generation of Fontaines to lead the congregation.
Leon Fontaine Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1962 | Born November 25 in Canada |
| 1994 | Becomes lead pastor of Springs Church alongside wife Sally |
| 2018 | Joins the board of the Congress of Christian Leaders |
| 2020–2021 | Leads public opposition to Manitoba’s COVID-19 worship restrictions; church fined and pursues legal action |
| November 2022 | Diagnosed with aggressive, late-stage cancer while on vacation |
| November 19, 2022 | Dies in Calgary, Alberta, at age 59 |
| December 7, 2022 | Celebration of life held at Springs Church, Winnipeg |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Leon Fontaine?
He was a Canadian pastor and media executive who led Springs Church, one of Canada’s largest congregations, for nearly 30 years, and served as CEO of the Miracle Channel Christian television network.
Who is Leon Fontaine’s wife?
Sally Fontaine, who served as co-senior pastor of Springs Church alongside him from 1994 until his death in 2022.
Who is the Senior Pastor at Springs Church, Winnipeg?
Zach Fontaine, Leon’s son, currently serves as senior pastor of Springs Church, continuing a three-generation family ministry legacy.
How old was Leon Fontaine when he died?
He was 59 years old, dying just six days before his 60th birthday.
Where is Leon Fontaine buried?
His burial location has not been made public. His celebration of life service was held December 7, 2022, at Springs Church’s Winnipeg campus.
What is Leon Fontaine’s net worth?
No officially confirmed figure exists. Unofficial estimates place it around $3 million, but this has not been verified through any official source.
What books did Leon Fontaine write?
His books include The Spirit Contemporary Life: Unleashing the Miraculous in Your Everyday World, Supernatural Promises, and the daily devotional Devoted with Leon.
