David Cole McAulay

David was born and raised with his two sisters, Judy (Jim), and Jill (Pete) and his brother Scott (Karen) McAulay in a wartime house Calgary, Alberta.

Dad graduated from Central Memorial High School. He was a Queen’s Scout, and traveled to Greece, a highlight of his life. Dave played guitar, chess and read every book on history, philosophy, and fiction he could get his hands on!!

In 1965 Dad met the love of his life, Janie at the Prairie Dog Inn on 17th Avenue in Calgary. Janie took on Dad's challenge to a chess game and later took on the much more significant challenge of marrying Dave and raising the "thundering horde", his three vivacious daughters Darci-Jane (David), Cori (Thomas) and Josie.

The family of five lived in Victoria BC, where they were infamous for Dave's daughters’ energy, our mom’s kindness, and of course Dad's green Porsche.

Dave was Janie and the girl's biggest supporter. He would protect his family against all odds and taught his girls the importance of believing in themselves. Dave did extraordinary things like being a developer, taking his young family backpacking through Europe (for a month!!) and hosting the McAulay girls’ baseball teams (who he coached) to ice cream at his own ice cream parlour, the Mad Hatter.

In the early 80s on wing and prayer, Dad purchased his dream property on Pender Island. He went to the library and figured out how to build a cabin, skirt the building code, get mom on board with Pender and use recycled materials to make it all work. As Dave would tell his girls, “Take what you have and have fun with it.”

Following his forever love Janie, in 1996 they moved up island to Duncan. Mom worked as a bank manager and Dad ran his own business.

They lived on a three-acre acreage and had animals including turkeys (the Revenue Canada collection agency team), pigs (Porky and Chops), a cow (T-bone) and a horse (Rocket). They also had three dogs and a couple cats, and of course the thundering horde (who they couldn't shake). It was a wonderful time in life!!

In 2000, Dad took on his most favorite role in life.... Papa. His first grandson, Daniel, was born. Dad loved taking Daniel to playschool and always stopped to show him the boats in Cow-Bay. Then he had his first beautiful granddaughter, Braelyn, who demonstrated how independence, stubbornness and kindness was part of the family DNA.

His grandson Kyuss who proved to the world that McAulays have an athletic gene (well, maybe a few). His grandson Brennan entered the world, showing Dad the handyman gene was alive and well. And finally, Joia, who sang and danced with her Papa until a few weeks before Dad, left us.

Dave loved his family beyond belief. So much so that during his last few years, he hung on against all odds. He tried to defy death (literally), but in the end, left this world to support his family for eternity.

Dave, Papa, Dad, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend finally is reunited with his parents Alvina and Mac, and Janie's parents Charlie and Violet, and her brother Donnie. As well as the many great pets who Dad loved.

We are also pretty sure he picked his time of departure so he could join his old friends for happy hour, and guitar playing on the big stage.

In Dad's honour, take what you have and have fun with it!!!

Send him a thought, read a book, listen to music, take care of animals, or love your family just a little bit more.

The amazing staff at Cascade's in Chilliwack took such good care of Dave. He will miss ALL his girlfriends. If so desired, you can donate to in Papa's memory to the Chilliwack Search and Rescue Society.

Link: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/papa-forever-found/