“His Legacy Is All Around Us.”

Born in Falkirk, Scotland, to Eliza and William, David grew up with his brother, Norman, and little sister, Patricia. As a teen, he worked as a milkman and received some training in pigeon-keeping from his father.

A talented artist, David graduated from the Glasgow School of Art in 1959 with a D.A. in Drawing and Painting. In 1960, he received his Teacher Training Certificate from Jordanhill College of Education. Shortly thereafter, he accepted a professional interview in Canada and travelled to Montreal on the RMS Carinthia. He was welcomed at the pier into a community of new Canadians, many of whom would remain lifelong friends. In 1962, David met his future wife, Margaret, a radiology nurse from Cornwall, England, at a party in Montreal’s Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighbourhood.

David launched his Canadian teaching career at Lachine High School, where he taught the visual arts. Students benefited from his expertise in painting, drawing, ceramics, and printmaking. LHS was also witness to his early dabbling in stagecraft. The greater part of his teaching career was spent at F.A.C.E. School in downtown Montreal, from 1979 to 2005. In addition to leading the visual arts department, he taught one of the senior drama classes, where he directed and designed productions of Brecht, Miller, Ostrovsky, Ryga, Shakespeare, Shaw, and Walker, to name a few. David was also an early pioneer of computer technology in the classroom, introducing Macintosh platforms to various educational settings.

He earned a Master of Arts from Concordia University (1982) and pursued courses in Educational Technology at McGill University (1995). Subsequently, he became a tutor in Distance Education for the McGill Faculty of Education, for which he wrote and designed Study Guide: Desktop Publishing for Schools 1. In 1998, he illustrated ArtBasics+: Teacher’s Sourcebook, and from 1998 to 2007, he produced Review Packages for Teachers, dramaturgical workbooks commissioned by the Centaur Theatre for distribution to high school classes attending their performances.

A gifted singer, instrumentalist, and great lover of music, David was known for his clear tenor voice, joyful piano playing, and deep knowledge of choral repertoire. In 1972, along with Iwan Edwards and other talented friends from the West Island of Montreal, he co-founded the St. Lawrence Choir and was an active singer and leader with the 100-voice ensemble over several decades. Today, the choir is a treasured musical institution, and in 50+ years has enjoyed countless collaborations with artists and ensembles of international renown. David took particular pride in the choir’s concerts and recordings with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, in venues such as Place des Arts, the Montreal Forum, Notre-Dame Basilica, Carnegie Hall, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the Mann Center, Roy Thomson Hall, the National Arts Centre, and many others.

David also played a leading role in creating F.A.C.E. Treble Choir, a children’s chorus that grew into a perennial award-winner both in Canada and abroad, as well as Cantare youth choir, a stepping stone to St. Lawrence Choir. Throughout those many years, he was a proud member of the Church of Saint John the Baptist choir, in Pointe-Claire, where he was a singer, organist, and occasional choirmaster.

He was the photographe du jour for countless theatrical presentations, including children’s dance theatre produced by Les Ateliers Turcotte. He lent his vision to several stage productions by developing digital media for projection, notably for Porte-Parole in their Santé! series. In 2004, he was the set designer for Iolanthe, presented by the Montreal West Operatic Society. In 2005–2006, he was the stage director for 100% Chance of Rain, Unsung Heroes, and Brundibár, presented by the Chœur des enfants de Montréal.

David produced a large body of personal artwork, which in later years focused mainly on giclée prints. Working from his own photographs—often close-ups of natural and built environments, or archival stills taken at theatrical presentations—he combined images in overlapping, translucent layers. These digital pieces live in a space where outer, inner, and virtual worlds touch. Juxtaposed surfaces play with luminosity and depth, reading equally well on the screen, as projections, or as prints. He held two major gallery exhibitions focused on these digital innovations: the first at the Coopérative des bons voisins in Pointe-Claire, and the second at Shetler Studios, in New York’s Theater District.

David was an active mentor to family, students, and colleagues alike. Collaborations grew naturally out of mutual interests, insightful questions, and calm reflections. His passion, intellect, vision, talent, humour, kindness, and work ethic combined to make a remarkable, impactful person. He was truly one-in-a-million.

In addition, he embodied the immigrant spirit. He was part of a cohort who came to this country for its opportunities, but who were also determined to give their absolute best to their adopted land. He embraced Canada with his entire being, even if a part of his heart always remained elsewhere, whether that was Ayrshire, Cornwall, or Anna Maria Island.

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and cousin, David is fondly remembered and deeply missed by his wife of 62 years, Margaret; his three children, Valerie, Colin, and Robin; his family in Canada, Scotland, Norway, New Zealand, and the United States; as well as his many friends.

David Love Paterson was a unique soul. Perhaps the most indelible aspect of his character was his profound humility. So, if this summary of some of his achievements surprises you, rest assured, that was by design.

A Celebration of Life is planned in David’s honour on October 10 at 3 p.m. at:

The Church of Saint John the Baptist

233 Av. Sainte-Claire, Pointe-Claire, QC H9S 4E3

Followed by a Purvey (reception) beginning at 5:30 p.m. at:

Le Centre nautique de la Baie-de-Valois

90 Chemin du Bord-du-Lac–Lakeshore
Pointe-Claire H9S 4H7

For information, please contact Robin at info@robinapaterson.com