Olanrewaju David Ogunkanmi

David is survived by his partner Tracy Muggli (and her son Ayden), David’s son in Saskatoon, Toluwalase (21), his children in Nigeria, Abimbola (17) and twin daughters Morayo and Moranu (15), and their mother (Olabisi), his oldest brother John (Ekundayo) in New Jersey, and his family in Nigeria—his mother Esther Ogunkanmi, brother Yinka Ogunkanmi, and his sisters Funmilayo Falaye (Richard) and Odunola Ogunkanmi. David was predeceased by his father, Joshua Ogunkanmi, in 2012.

David was a proud Yoruba and held true to his traditions and values. He maintained strong connections with like-minded friends across the globe and spent hours on calls discussing Nigerian politics with them. He was very capable of such discussions given his degree in political studies earned from the University of Saskatchewan in 2015.

While at U of S, he held positions with the University of Saskatchewan Student’s Union and was the recipient of Walter Murray Leadership Award for providing leadership “beyond the call of duty in enhancing the student experience at the U of S” for his work in organizing various campus and city-wide events including Global Peace Rally, Black History Awareness Day, coordination of Bring Back our Girls Rally, a mental health awareness competition entitled “What do you do for your mental health?” and facilitating the U of S Positive Bystander Awareness Program.

David had also attained certification in Electrical Electronics (Nigeria) and worked in Nigeria as an entrepreneur before moving to Malaysia, where he acquired a diploma in Human Resources. He was able to enjoy extensive travel throughout this period of his life and journeyed to several countries in the continents of Africa, Europe, Asia and North America.

David genuinely enjoyed his employment at the Saskatoon Open Door Society, where he supported newcomers to find work in Canada. He was always excited to match newcomers with their training and truly enjoyed special project work with his colleagues.

David loved to demonstrate his percussion skills. The harder he played, the more energy he generated. He lived to play with his mates, the Randy Woods Band and the Oral Fuentes Reggae Band, as well as freelance engagements with other musicians and for charity events.

David lit up a room with his bright smile and his boundless energy. Our lives will be dimmer without him, though his legacy will remain bright.

We are truly grateful for the kind support provided by friends, families, and health care providers (CPAS/Home Care, Saskatoon Cancer Centre team, Dr. Fourney, Dr Adam Ogieglo), along this journey, and want to extend sincere gratitude to the Hospice at Glengarda, where David was cared for with compassion and love in his final weeks.

A link will be provided in the coming weeks regarding a celebration of David’s life. If you would like to support David’s children and their education, contributions can be made to the Olanrewaju Family Trust. Contact [email protected] for details.