David LaVallie

1965 - 2023

It is with disbelief and profound sadness that we share the passing of Dave LaVallie, 58, of West Vancouver, BC, on August 15th, of natural causes but unexpectedly. Dave will be lovingly remembered and sorely missed by his wife, Kelly, his children Megan (Nathan), Samantha (Dylan), Dawson, Jessica, and Sydney, his brand-new granddaughter, Scarlett, his brother, Darald (Shannon), his nephew, Ben, and his niece, Sadie.

David Murray LaVallie was born in Calgary on July 11th, 1965. In his youth, Dave was a superb athlete and excelled in soccer and football. In adulthood, his sporting passion was golf... from taking beloved golf trips with best friends, to daily putting on his practice green set up in the middle of the living room, to swinging for hours at the range, to practicing his form in any reflection he could find. He attended Kingsland Elementary and Milton Williams Junior High schools before graduating from Henry Wisewood High School in 1983. Dave then obtained a degree in criminal justice from Simon Fraser University, and a Law Degree from the University of Calgary. He practiced law in Edmonton and Calgary before becoming a businessman in the energy sector.

As a proud Métis man, Dave spent his entire career working for the economic advancement of aboriginal people in Canada. He had a vision for the export of Canadian clean energy off the West Coast of Canada to protect the environment by displacing polluting technologies and creating meaningful participation in ownership and governance by our First Nations people. In his lifetime, Dave worked to realize that vision and his legacy includes the continuing evolution of the Canadian energy sector. From humble and challenging beginnings, Dave created wealth for the Nations with whom he worked and for his family.

But Dave didn't count his career as his greatest achievement.

Despite working hard, Dave never lost sight of what really mattered to him: the people he loved. First with Kim and then with Kelly, Dave created a family for whom loving and protecting became his stated and lived mission in life. In addition, from grade school, to law school, to his career, Dave built and maintained deep friendships.

Dave made people feel special because they were special to him and he proved that through his fierce - and it could be fierce - loyalty, unwavering commitment, and reliability. If you were in need, you called Dave. He protected us. For those blessed to count themselves loved by Dave, inside that big, strong, sometimes stern exterior, was a funny, warm, loving man.

A memorial celebration will be held from 3-6pm on Thursday, August 24th at the Glencoe Golf and Country Club (31002 Elbow River Drive, Calgary). More information and a memorial wall can be accessed at davelavallie.ca.