David Bruce Flemming

He was a beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, friend and colleague.

He will be missed by wife Teresa Doré, his sons Sean (Donna), Matthew (Ines) and Michael (Deana), grandchildren Rachel, Daniel and Matilda, and brother Robert (Lucy).

He was predeceased by his father William Bruce Flemming, mother Stella Marie Levy and his brother Joseph.

He was dedicated to his family above all else and took care of his loved ones during times of need. He maintained strong ties with his cousins and extended relatives and served as the official Flemming family historian.

David was born on May 13, 1945 in Halifax. He spent his career as a museum and heritage professional, first with National Historic Sites and Parks Canada before serving as the director of the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax and later at the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum near Ottawa. He has written, lectured extensively and given media interviews and commentaries on a wide variety of historical subjects, most notably the Halifax Explosion and the Titanic.

He was also a tireless advocate for heritage conservation and other social causes in Halifax and Ottawa. He was a vital contributor to Heritage Ottawa for almost 25 years, which included nine years as President. In 2025 he received the Louise & Eric Moore Award for Outstanding Volunteerism for his contributions to Heritage Ottawa and raising awareness about the value of heritage conservation.

He also received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his dedication to the marine history of the Atlantic and his advocacy at promoting the heritage of the City of Ottawa.

He has served on the board of directors and various committees of more than a dozen local, provincial, national and international historical and heritage organizations over the years.

He has been named a Fellow of the Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society and of the Canadian Museums Association.

Throughout his life, David never shied away from taking a stand in his community, through media interviews, op-eds, in speeches at city council meetings or at public protests for the causes that were important to him. In February 2022, despite debilitating arthritis in both knees, he was part of a group that formed a blockade at Billings Bridge in Ottawa, preventing the so-called “freedom convoy” from proceeding towards Parliament Hill.

He was an active supporter and volunteer for the NDP for decades and a lifelong fan of the Montreal Canadiens.

The family would like to thank the staff of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute for the care David has received over the last few years.

A visitation and memorial service will be held at McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home and Chapel at 1411 Hunt Club Road in Ottawa on Saturday, May 3. The visitation begins at 10 a.m., with the service to follow at noon and a reception from 1-3 p.m.

The family plans to hold a reception for friends and family in Halifax at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation https://www.heartandstroke.ca/ or Heritage Ottawa https://heritageottawa.org/make-donation or to a charity of your choice.