Paul Comeau, an Acadian leader, politician and chef, has died. He was 62.

"Paul Comeau did so much to raise the profile of the Acadian community in this province," deputy premier Frank Corbett said in a statement.

"He was a leader in every sense of the word. This is a great loss for southwestern Nova Scotia, and the entire province."

Over the years, Comeau was heavily involved with the provincial Acadian federation, as well as municipal politics in both the Clare and Richmond County municipalities.

Recently, he was best known as the chef at the restaurant Café Chez Christophe in Grosses Coques and a regional contributor to CBC Radio's Information Morning.

Comeau had cancer. He died on Saturday.