David Peter Gault

October 15, 1986 - August 22, 2021

It is with great sadness and regret that we announce the passing of David Peter Gault on August 22, 2021. David will forever be remembered by his loving parents, Michael and Siobhán Gault; his sisters, Anna (Matthew, David, Emma, Finn) Hartwig; Monica (Kevin) Brereton; and Caroline (Michael, William) Vanden Ham; his brother, Ian Gault; his Godfather, Peter Gault; his aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family; as well as his friends, colleagues and students.

David was born on October 15th, 1986, in Drayton Valley, Alberta, five minutes after his twin, Caroline. A beautiful boy, he grew up on an acreage in a cedar house nestled in the woods. He and his siblings spent their summers turning golden in the sun, swimming in the pool and riding their bikes, and they took many family ski trips to the mountains in the winter. David was naturally athletic and excelled in all sports, particularly swimming and basketball. When he moved to Edmonton with his family in 2001, he made life-long friendships at McKernan Jr. High School and Ross Sheppard High School, and basketball was at the heart of many of them.

But it was his love of music that would carry him through to adulthood, and the vehicle by which he forged his deepest connections. He could talk for hours about Oasis, The Strokes and The Rolling Stones, but enjoyed all genres, from punk and soul to bossa nova. He began playing guitar at age 10 and mastered all the classic Beatles songs so that his family could sing along at birthdays, holidays and parties. He put a band together in high school and wrote his own music in his downtime, often playing melodies on his keyboard and collaborating with others who shared his love of music.

David also had a passion for history, which he worked earnestly to turn into a career, completing his BA at Grant MacEwan and the University of Alberta, and achieving a degree in Education at the University of British Columbia in 2017. As a high school teacher, he taught social studies and English—and also started a student rock band—at the Richmond School District in Vancouver, the city he called home for the last six years. Each semester he left with cards from his students, thanking him for making his classes fun and interesting by connecting them to pop culture and current events, and for tying in his own humorous anecdotes. He had an excellent memory and, thus, was an excellent storyteller: animated, articulate, often laughing his way through his own jokes, as though reliving every moment in detail.

But most of all, David was fiercely dedicated to the people that mattered most in his life: his family, particularly his nephews and his niece, and his friends, who often describe him as the brother they never had. David made a concerted effort over the years to travel far and wide to places like Ireland, Boston and Colombia to visit extended family and get to know them in-person. Family always welcomed him.

Despite a full life, David battled depression for two decades. It was his unique ability to empathize with others that often brought so much joy, but also brought him sorrow. At just 34 years old, he has gone far too soon. And while our hearts will ache for him every day, for the rest of our lives, we hope David has found peace.

Due to pandemic restrictions, the funeral service will be private, however, it will be recorded and shared. In lieu of flowers, donations in David’s memory may be made to the Canadian Mental Health Association at cmha.ca or to a charity of one's choice. Condolences, stories or photos of David sent to [email protected] are welcome.

“For he comes, the human child,

To the waters and the wild

With a faerie, hand in hand,

From a world more full of weeping

than he can understand.”

from “The Stolen Child” by WB Yeats