At his funeral, a dear friend stood in front of friends and family and said, “Dave Armshaw was both the fiercest and the gentlest person, I have ever known.” Hard-headed, caring, stubborn, loyal… Dave was all of these things and more. Like so many of us, the man we knew was the culmination of a life time of experience.

Dave was born 29 November 1960 in Toronto. He was the oldest of six half siblings. His childhood was a hard one, moving from place to place with his mother. This vagabond life had some advantages. He learned to ride horses from a top Canadian equestrian, he lived briefly on a farm, known locally as “The Ark” with many exotic birds and animals raised for specialty
grocers in Toronto. He spoke often of these experiences fondly. At thirteen, the abuse became unbearable and Dave found himself living on the street for a short time before being placed in the foster care system. For a time, while in care, he was placed with an indigenous family and summers spent at the reserve in Parry Sound reinforced his love of nature and sparked his spiritual beliefs.

Dave was a Jack-of-all-trades and worked in many different fields. He was an ambulance driver, carpenter, sawmill worker and lumber grader, a millwright, cabinet maker, labourer, welder, shipwright, an odd job man and through all of that an artist. While living in Northern Ontario, working as a labourer in the mines he was asked if he could weld. Dave responded “how much more does it pay?” This was a Friday. He drove straight from work to the high school where he arranged with the shop teacher to be taught how to weld. The teacher gave him a text book and by Monday he was welding at his work. He continued to do so, while taking welding classes at the high school in the mornings to prepare for his welding certification.

Dave’s education was, like him, a little unorthodox. But no matter how it came about, learning was always important to him. The child welfare system was very different when he was a part of it and he had to pay to attend public school. He worked part time jobs after school to raise the money to attend. During his last year, he failed to raise the entire sum necessary. Three teachers inspired by his perseverance joined together to pay the remaining amount due. Dave was forever grateful. He graduated mechanical engineering from Conestoga College in 1982. However he also learned to weld, became a hardwood lumber grader, he studied wildlife carving under the Canadian Masters, took jewellery making classes, and learned knife making from world renowned knife maker Donald Bell.

As well as learning whatever he could Dave often taught his skills to others. He taught young members of Scouts Canada a great many skills, as well as teaching canoe handling skills to leaders, survival courses to the general public, and was even asked to teach his own course on tool making immediately following the jewellery making classes he had attended.

In 1981, Dave met Gwen showing off his back flips while roller skating; and they were married a year later. They had two children: Eric Owein, and Edward James (Ashley Dale Muise); and, were blessed with three grand children Ailey Luana, Conan David, and Orion Paul. Dave may have had a rough go with family during his childhood, but he loved his family more than anything else and was fiercely loyal. He also grew his family often by bringing friends into an ever expanding circle. Holding a Christmas/Mithras Day dinner open to all was very important to him. He wanted to make sure everyone, who couldn’t be home with family, was still be able to spend the day with family of the heart.

Dave was active in the Pagan community for a number of years. Offering his skills and experience to the community as Festival Coordinator for the Avalon East Pagan Gathering, as well as crafting toys, games and entertainment for many other Pagan events. He spent many hours wood working and was known for his turning: needle holders, hooks, wands, plates, cups, and pens to name just a few of the items.

Dave was passionate about crafting as whole. He tried his hand at making just about anything and everything you could think of. He created jewellery, learned to blacksmith, carved wood, leather and stone. He could sew, do bead work, make knives, and build kayaks. At thirteen, he had been carving leather and selling it at market to help support his family. The first folding knives he made with Don Bell were entered in an event at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia where two of the three won awards. He was also very interested in survival and back to the land style living. Never having given up on the idea of getting back to it in some way. Even in his final days, Dave watched videos and
studied the work of others as he endeavoured to make his suburban house a more sustainable homestead.

Dave Armshaw was a man who had been given every reason to fail. He chose a different path. He chose to rise above, to be better and to bring friends and family on that journey. We will miss him always.