He was widely known as "Uncle Vince", authored eight books on history and sports, and was a freelancer for the Winnipeg Free Press from 1980 to 1993.

[2] Leah began working for The Winnipeg Tribune as a copy boy in 1930,[4][5] and retired on May 30, 1980, after 50 years as a sports journalist for the newspaper.

[2][4] In 13 years as a columnist for the Free Press, he chronicled the history of Winnipeg in his editorials in the "Neighbourhood" section of the newspaper.

[2] Leah established youth sports programs in Winnipeg for baseball, basketball, football, lacrosse, ice hockey, and soccer.

[5][7] He was involved with Sunday school sport programs in the North End, Winnipeg, during the late-1920s, and began the Community Juvenile Hockey League in 1932.

[1][5] He was nicknamed "Old Frostbite" since he stood in snowbanks while coaching minor ice hockey teams,[6] and later expanded the Excelsior Club to include other sports for youths on a year-round basis.

Leah was a member of the Kildonan United Church of Canada, the Royal Canadian Legion, the Kiwanis Club, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

[8] He was made a member of the Order of Canada on June 23, 1980, for "his work in newspapers and interest in the welfare of the youth of Manitoba".

[1][4][5][6][7][8] Winnipeg Sun journalist Jim Bender described Leah as a mentor to his colleagues, and that "he was simply the kindest, gentlest man they'd ever meet".

[7] He was made the namesake of three streets in Winnipeg,[2][7] and the Vince Leah Trophy awarded to the rookie-of-the-year in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.