Obituary of David Eric Ralph Venour

February 28, 1960 – Regina, Saskatchewan

January 27, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

David Venour, beloved husband of Lisa Hynes and adored father of Maddy and Will, died peacefully at home on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at the age of 63 years.

David was born in Regina, SK, to Ralph and Jean (nee Bender) Venour, the eldest of four siblings. Ralph’s work as a geologist took the family to Edmonton and later to Calgary, where David spent his teenage years. David graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours (1981), a Master of Arts (1983), both in Political Science, and Bachelor of Laws (1986). He continued his legal education at Gonville and Caius College, University of Cambridge, graduating with a Master of Laws in 1988.

In 1992 David moved to Vancouver, where he spent the next several years practicing law, traveling the world, and enjoying all that Vancouver and the West Coast had to offer. In 2001, David decided at the last minute to attend a friend’s birthday party and, at long last, met his beloved Lisa. They moved together to Calgary in 2004. David worked for the next ten years as a respected legal counsel in the Department of Justice’s Indigenous law group. He found his work interesting and meaningful, with colleagues he liked and enjoyed. David also taught during this time, teaching a course in Aboriginal Law at the University of Calgary. David was a natural and well-liked teacher and often felt he missed his calling by not teaching earlier in his career. He took a real interest in the professional development of his students, beyond the subject matter of the course.

David and Lisa’s family was completed by the arrival of Maddy in 2006 and Will in 2008. Family was of the utmost importance to David, and he loved being a dad. His family was the focus of his life. He adored playing and reading with the kids, taking them on adventures, and sharing in their interests, hobbies, and thoughts.

When David was diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2013, he and Lisa decided they would tackle it with energy and a positive attitude. David threw his considerable talents and incredible resilience into living well with the diagnosis, and he did so for a remarkable ten years. Those years were well spent; making memories as a couple and a family, traveling, hiking in the Rockies, camping, staying at backcountry lodges, dining at favourite restaurants, spending time at their cabin and with Lisa’s extended family in Newfoundland, kayaking, cooking, gardening, and attending the opera, theatre, ballet, and symphony.

David loved the outdoors, especially walking and hiking in the mountains of western Canada, on the coast of Newfoundland, and during his travels around the world. He was an academic at heart; he took great joy in learning everything, from watercolor to bartending, and read extensively, especially history and geography, Dickens and John Buchan. He loved classical music; he took up the violin in support of Maddy’s lessons and continued long after she gave them up. He was a collector of Canadian art, and a lover of fine dining and the performing arts. In addition to attending performances in Calgary, David and Lisa took regular trips to New York to cram in as much opera, theatre, dance, and music as they could. His enthusiasm, zest for life, and unfailing positivity will be greatly missed but will live on in his family.

Besides his loving wife and children, David is survived by his sisters Lisa (Tom) Buck of Calgary and Katharine Venour (Michael Davenport) of Vancouver; his brother Christopher Venour of Calgary; his in-laws, Glenn and Eloise Hynes of Mount Pearl, NL, and Rod (Shaina) Hynes of Coquitlam, BC; his aunt Doreen Becker of Burnaby, BC, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was predeceased by his beloved parents, Ralph and Jean Venour.

Funeral Services will be held at the Anglican Parish of Christ Church (3602 8 St SW, Calgary, AB, T2T 3A7) on Friday, February 23, 2024, at 1:00 p.m., with a reception to follow.

Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join David’s service streamed live (see below) on the day of the service. For those who are unable to view live, a recording of the service will be posted.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with David’s family here.

In living memory of David Venour, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.

Click to Sign the Video Guest Book and Watch David's Funeral Service