Sean Patrick Paul O'Sullivan, CM (January 1, 1952 – March 9, 1989) was a Canadian politician who left politics and became a Roman Catholic priest.
Born in 1952 in Hamilton, Ontario, O'Sullivan showed an interest in politics at a young age: when he was 11 years old he worked for Ellen Fairclough in her election campaign and met John Diefenbaker for the first time.
He was educated at Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School and Brock University in St.
Catharines.
When he was just 15 years old he was named Western Ontario representative of the Youth for Diefenbaker movement.
This movement was formed in Ottawa to engage support of Canada's young conservatives for John Diefenbaker at the leadership convention.
He rose quickly through the ranks of the party and was seen as a future cabinet minister or even leader.
He was re-elected in 1974.
It was O'Sullivan's private members bill in 1975 that gained recognition for the beaver as Canada's official animal symbol.However, in 1977, O'Sullivan surprised many political observers when he announced that he was leaving politics to enter the Roman Catholic priesthood, eventually becoming Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese of Toronto, as well as publisher of The Catholic Register newspaper.
O'Sullivan learned he was suffering from leukemia in 1983.
After treatment, the disease was in remission and he resumed his busy career.
During a Brock University convocation ceremony in 1985, Father O'Sullivan was conferred an honorary degree and he delivered the convocation address.
In 1986, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada.
With the return of his illness in 1989, O'Sullivan entered Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto for a bone marrow transplant.