July 4, 1953 – June 26, 2024
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, grandad, uncle, brother and brother-in-law on Wednesday, June 26, 2024.
Dad was predeceased by his parents Curtis and Helen Gilbert. He is survived by his daughter Stacey, son-in-law Jamie and granddaughter Ayla, sisters Maureen and Kelly (Greg), brothers Patrick and Robert (Andrea), nephew Luke and niece Kathleen.
Dad was a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces (Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry) and had just retired from a 46-year teaching career. He will be missed by his many teaching colleagues and former students, most recently at Yellowquill University College.
Dad loved learning, film, music and creative writing in his spare time. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his family.
In keeping with Dad’s wishes, cremation has taken place and will be followed by a private family service at a later date.
Family and friends are invited to share memories and condolences on David’s memorial page using the comment field below.
Mr. Gilbert was my favourite teacher ever. He was hilarious and inspiring. He was the first person to take a sincere and encouraging interest in my writing. I am now a professional writer and have him to thank for a crucial confidence boost at the right time. I have very fond memories of English class in Room 106 during the very early years of his career. Thanks Mr. Gilbert!
My sincere condolences to the family & friends!
I was saddened to hear of your dad/grandfather’s passing. I had the pleasure of working with David at the Kitigan Zibi secondary school in Maniwaki, Quebec from around 1993-98. As a brand new teacher, I was impressed by Dave and his rapport with the students who all clearly liked and respected him. He helped me out many times with computer issues as I was not very good with technology. A good guy! My sympathies to all of you.
Mr Gilbert was one of my favourite teachers at REC. my friend and I kidnapped his Garfield and held it for ransom and he played along wonderfully. Such a character. Many condolences to his family and friends.
Hi Donna,
While going through my dad’s belongings, I found your Garfield ransom notes! Too funny! Thank you for your kind message.
Stacey Roberton
Hearts and thoughts with the family! Mr.Gilbert was one of my favorite teachers at KZ School and I owe all my passion and knowledge with technology to him. He made High School so much better with not only his class lessons but life lessons and wild stories. He made you feel like you mattered and his heart was genuine and his competitve spirit in gym class and wrestling will never be forgotten. Honored to have been guided and taught by a great man! Condolences to the family – “And in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make”
Dave was one of the more colourful characters in my life. I taught with him for many years and he could make me laugh at times like no other and his antics so off the wall it made you wonder how he could have been in the military. But he was also so generous with his time volunteering for whatever the need. He was missed when he left. My sincerest sympathies to all family members.
Mr. Gilbert was my law teacher in REC in the early 80’s. He taught lecture style and while I wasn’t sure what to expect when I signed up for the class, after a few weeks, I was sure glad I did. Mr. Gilbert was a great teacher. Teaching lecture style made law interesting and, I think, easier to learn. I’m sorry to have read of his passing. My condolences to his family and friends.
Condolences to the family. As a teacher he played an important part of our young lives, he had the greatest stories and shoulders of steel! He will be greatly missed!
Our sincerest condolences to Mr. Gilbert’s family and friends. He was one of a kind computer teacher at Kitigan Zibi School. He had so many stories and an abundance amout of knowledge he shared with his students. He was a kind and understanding teacher that always wanted them (us) to thrive. I’m very sadden of the hearing of his passing into the spirit world. I wish him a safe journey. You will be missed.
Mr. G was without a doubt, a major influence in my life during a very tought time. I was a tough but smart kid growing up in an actively violent alcoholic home. I joined the wrestling team in 1982 (grade 10) He took me under his wing kind of a team manager. He inspired me to be better as a person first, and as a athlete second. He helped me find perspective, eventually along with the next principal Mr. Brown. I don’t remember how many times he trusted me to ‘pop in’ his shoulder during training sessions with the wrestling team. To this day (I believe) the only Pennant for KCAC Wrestling was 1983 under his watch (and my wins). Up in the gym over the centre gym teacher’s office. He was a gentle giant to me. He taught me controlled aggression and to leave my problems on the mat. So thankful Dave Gilbert was in my life. Never had him for any class, but what he taught me changed my life to be the ‘good guy’ and not the other. I only had his attention for a short time and he ‘nudged’ me in a better, healthier mental and physical direction… I am forever grateful and blessed he was the right adult influence at the lowest point in my life.
My condolences to you, his family, I’m 57 and believe without a doubt, I wouldn’t have been here today if our long talks and his candid advice while setting up and cleaning mats before and after oractice wasn’t such well invested time for me.
Thanks Mr. G! I was a life you changed!🥹🥰💪
Mr Gilbert’s ability to blend humor with knowledge was absolutely unmatched. By far my favorite teacher, you were practically guaranteed to laugh and learn during his classes. Personally, I owe him and for the trust and confidence he showed me when I needed it as he used to give me the keys to the computer room during lunch hour so I could continue to learn about computers completely unattended and “run the place” as he would put it. My condolences to the family. Thank you for everything Mr. Gilbert.
RIP Sir.
My sincere condolences to the family. I knew him from Kitigan Zibi school. He had a beautiful soul, with lots of humour and knowledge. Safe travels to the spirit world Mr. Gilbert. May you rest in peace ❤️
Condolences to his family, colleagues and countless students he has guided along the way. He became a legend in Kitigan Zibi not only for his great teaching ability but his willingness to get involved and give it 110% in every sport especially our lunchtime ball hockey games.
Rest In Power, Sir, aka – G-Force.
My sincere condolences to Dave’s family and loved ones and friends. If you met Dave he treated you like a friend and thus I am sure he had a great many.
Dave had a tremendous impact on his students and our lives when he taught at Kitigan Zibi. Both as a teacher of mine as well as a wrestling coach.
I remember finding out that he had written books and that helped inspire me as a teenager and showed me that these things were possible.
To Dave’s family and loved ones I am tremendously sorry for your loss – he was a truly good man and I hope you know that he positively impacted many, many lives.
Migwech Dave. I’ll see you down the road, Coach.
He was rare like a $2 bill and I’m glad to know him in my life and have great memories of him
I have never experienced the same influence by not only an educator, but as a human in general. Mr. Gilbert guided me and set my on a path to my profession in the IT sector. As a young student with my first experience in highschool, he helped me overcome many and encouraged me to so things out of my comfort zone. An example of this was putting on a truncated musical of The Phantom of the Opera and had us secondary 1 students perform that for the entire school. His perserverence and competitiveness was legendary. In our sports house leagues, Mr. Gilbert would compete at a level that would inspire us to match his effort. Condolences to his family. Safe travels Mr. Gilbert, you were one of the very best ones.
He was the best teacher I’ve ever had. Not only concerning school, but in life as well.
Mr. Gilbert started each class with a really funny story and got all of us laughing and hyped up to learn his lesson of the day. His story telling was very physical yet very quiet. He had a talent like no other teacher to get us excited to learn. He told us about his wrestling days, his nights at Yuk yuks comedy club and episodes of Seinfeld. Mr. Gilbert had us interested & howling and in a perfect state for us to really learn. It’s both very heart warming and funny to read all of the condolences. All these years, I seriously thought I was his favourite student. There’s so much more to say about this amazing man who I never forgot and will never forget. He clearly made an impact here in Kitigan Zibi and we are very fortunate to have had him as part of lives. My sincerest condolences to all of his family, friends and students! The Mr. Gilbert memories will continue on here in Kitigan Zibi! ❤️ Meegwetch Mr. Gilbert!
One of the best! My condolences to his family, a great loss. Mr Gilbert had a great positive impact on my life, I’ll say the guy had guts! One regret I’ll always have is not being able to say hello again. He was our teacher, our professor, our mentor, and more than that, a friend in high school that many of us in River East needed, maybe even more than once. Judging by the stories I still tell from the early 80’s, I am sure there are thousands who he impacted in the same positive way. Rest in Peace sir. God be with you, and God be with your family. Truly a life worth celebrating.
Mr Gilbert was definitely the most interesting teacher I had . I had him for English at REC in 82/83 and in the first class he said that if we fell asleep during his class; he would let you sleep through it as that meant he was boring. I never fell asleep in his class because he was not boring but had a unique way of engaging you. He was also my wrestling coach one year and he had me well prepared for my matches because he would let me think that I could be him but snatch it away at the last second. An excellent teacher who sometimes resorted to unorthodox methods to engage the class. One of the very best teachers I had. Rest in peace Mr. Gilbert. My sincere condolences to the family.