David loved people. He loved helping people. Gifted with a servant’s heart, his good works are everywhere in the city. And as much as he accomplished – with the unconditional support of thousands of volunteers over the decades – he always felt there was so much left to do.

At the top of that to-do list was the construction of a new residential treatment facility to better serve the vulnerable young people who continue to reach out for help from the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre. He championed a grand vision to bring together the three existing sites into one purpose-built complex that would expand the number of available beds, reduce wait times, and bring all of the dedicated addiction councillors and healthcare professionals under one roof.

The first phase of the project was officially completed earlier this year. Even in the final days of his life, David pursued his relentless campaign to raise the remaining funds to see the new centre built. He would say that the inspiration for these tireless efforts came from the youth themselves and their remarkable ability to face challenges that would be unimaginable to most of us, to stare them down, to reach out for help, and to turn their lives around.