Jan. 24, 2025
In Memoriam: Major Dave Peabody, The Military Museums
The Canadian flag on campus at Swann Mall is lowered to half-mast today, paying tribute to a long-standing community partner at in southwest 91快色. TMM鈥檚 director, an alum, friend and colleague, Dave Peabody, died in an off-duty climbing accident on Dec. 26, 2024.
U91快色 has a decades-long partnership with TMM, operating a and archives, as well as , all managed by Libraries and Cultural Resources.
Dave was instrumental in realizing recent successes for this partnership, including directing a new governance structure for stakeholders, and expanding community engagement for 鲍颁补濒驳补谤测鈥檚 programming at TMM.
Mary-Jo Romaniuk, 鲍颁补濒驳补谤测鈥檚 vice-provost for Libraries and Cultural Resources, pays tribute to Major Peabody, noting 鈥渉is exceptional leadership at TMM, particularly his ability to bring all TMM鈥檚 partners together for the common good and elevate the importance of TMM in the greater community. His support for education and research was unwavering.鈥
Romaniuk adds that 鈥渉e was a true friend of the 91快色, and his remarkable commitment to community and service will stand as a lasting legacy.鈥
Major Peabody is remembered as a highly capable, well-liked leader at Canada鈥檚 largest military museum facility in Western Canada, and as a widely respected officer in the Canadian Armed Forces.
As a community builder throughout 91快色 and beyond, Dave鈥檚 commitment to education, diversity, recreation, and military service made a positive difference in the lives of many people.
David Arthur Peabody was born on Sept. 18, 1976, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of New Brunswick. Graduate studies followed, with Dave earning a master's degree from
In 2007 he joined the Princess Patricia鈥檚 Canadian Light Infantry Regiment (PPCLI) as an officer, serving as a captain and platoon leader in Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012.
Major Peabody鈥檚 career embraced diverse approaches to military culture and humanity. One week he would be helping fight wildfires in Jasper, and the next week he鈥檇 be helping plan the opening reception for a U91快色 exhibition of war art.
When not working, Dave was always keen to be outdoors and known particularly for his climbing, for which his family notes that he scaled hundreds of routes across Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Spain, Italy, France, Austria, Cuba, Greece, Mexico, and beyond.
The credited Dave and Alik Berg in 2021 with a new rock-climbing route for Corner Story (5.11, 450m) on Mount Robertson. Dave also completed an impressive ascent of the MacIntyre/Colton route on the north face of Grandes Jorasses, one of his proudest moments.
A celebration of life will be held on Jan. 25, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at 91快色鈥檚 Mewata Armory. A reception will follow at Eden鈥疊rook Funeral Home from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.鈥疌asual dress is encouraged for the reception. Please bring your favourite stories of Dave to share.