Dave I will miss you dearly. You were an amazing husband and an incredible father. I will always miss your laughter.. you were taken from us too soon. Love Mom.

Dave has been an inspiration to me over the years and I will always remember him. Thoughts and prayers to the family. 

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Dave for well over 50 years. We had drifted apart with our busy lives but had reconnected in the last few years.  A few days ago we were to go out for lunch and he texted to say he wasn’t feeling well and that we’d reschedule. The next thing I knew Dave had passed away.  It was a tremendous shock, but I am very glad we had the opportunity to reconnect. It was a great gift to see him again.
I’ll always remember Dave for his quick wit, big laugh, endless opinions, and his love of music. Above all, I know he loved his family.
I will miss him.

On behalf of the members of the Race Ethnic and Cultural Issues (RECI) Caucus at CASWE, we send our condolences. Dave was deeply respected and valued, and he was a long-standing co-chair of the RECI Caucus. As the other co-chair of the RECI Caucus, I relied on Dave as he always made sure that things that brought people together would be taken care of in advance. When he attended meetings, one could hear his laughter down the hall; we often found our way to the meeting room, by listening for his laughter. He brought light and levity into spaces as if to take the edge off of difficult discussions about social injustices. The RECI Caucus will fondly remember Dave for his pursuit of social justice to make antiracism and related issues matter in social work education for social work practice. In my last conversation with Dave about the work of the RECI Caucus, I informed him that the members of RECI Caucus were growing. He was happy about what the RECI members wanted to talk about and that they wanted to be counted and involved at CASWE and beyond as professional social workers on the ground. This is part of Dave's legacy as a social worker, an educator, and as a citizen and community advocate. His highest priority and passion were reserved for his family. He loved his family and shared stories that highlighted deep admiration for his wife, and the soft spot he held for her and their sons. As his co-chair, I will miss the animated conversations and lively banter about the state of the world and what can social work do while waving our hands frantically in the air--partly shrugging, partly holding up the sky. Dave always reminded me that it will take time to fix things, we just have to keep the conversation going. The RECI Caucus will continue these conversations in his memory and for the benefit of others working to enact change for a socially just and anti-discriminatory world. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do, Dave. You are greatly missed.


I am completely saddened by Dave’s sudden and unexpected passing. I extend my deepest and most heartfelt condolences to his wife, his two sons as well as his  family and friends.

I have many wonderful memories of Dave. I remember the thoughtful, inquisitive and attentive look on his face during our MSW studies at UBC in the late 1980s. I remember the look of pure joy on his face and in his voice when he brought one of his sons to our BCASW Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Committee meeting. I remember the vision, commitment and determination Dave demonstrated when he and fellow committee member, Sri Pendakur, addressed the BCASW Board to request that the Board consider a nation wide press release to protest Quebec’s Bill 21 on religious symbols ban, which was then still in its infancy stage. 

When I think of Dave’s surname, Sangha, and how in Sanskrit it means community, it reminds me of how Dave has been a living example, in both his personal and professional life, of someone who has worked through education and social advocacy to increase our awareness of how we can nourish and strengthen our greater community by challenging  oppressive practices and policies.

 All of us on the Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Committee, our sangha,  have been nourished and strengthened by Dave's vision, his knowledge and his guidance. He has been our resident professor and guru, and our friend. I know that our Committee will continue to nuture Dave's vision, and we will continue to challenge oppression, but we will also always miss him.



I remember sitting in your office in FSJ when you were up here teaching and just talking for hours.  Because of you I went on to get my MSW and consider more degrees.  You helped shape and mold me into the social worker I am today with your mentoring.  I will miss your laugh and passion to make the world a better place.  Thank you for teaching me and helping me grow into the critical social worker I am today.  Your memory lives on in your students.  

I don't have the words to describe how much I miss my Dad. He was so loving and caring. He always supported us in everything. I will miss debating with him on what discrimination really is! He worked so hard on making this a better world and having everyone understand that although we may look different, we are all the same. We are simply people. 

On behalf of the members, staff, and Board of the BC Association of Social Workers, I write to express our sincere condolences to Dave Sangha's family and friends. 

Dave was a long-time and valued member of our Association. He is best remembered for his work as co-chair of the Multiculturalism and Antiracism Committee.  He led our Association's struggle against all forms of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, and culture.

He worked tirelessly to raise critical awareness through ongoing dialogue about issues of multiculturalism including ethno-racial relations, racism, and human rights.

We will miss Dave's energizing personality and his remarkable activism, and we will endeavor to maintain his vigilance against discrimination. 



My condolences to Bev, Kadin and Kabir on your loss.  I will never forget the working relationship I had with Dave, he was a great friend and colleague.  I will forever treasure his friendship. 

OBITUARY

Hardev Sangha

March 18, 1957 – October 2, 2019

Hamilton Harron Funeral Home

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