DAVID MCNICHOL SANDERS

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DAVID MCNICHOL SANDERS David McNichol Sanders died in Winnipeg at Victoria General Hospital early on the evening of June 12, 2016 after a brief battle with cancer. He was 69 years old. David was born in Winnipeg in 1947, the son of Howard Russell Sanders, a First World War veteran and Judge Nellie McNichol Sanders, the first woman called to the Bench in Manitoba. He lived his entire life working hard to make our world, in general, and Winnipeg specifically, a better place in which people could live and work and, together, fulfill their dreams for themselves and their families. David's father died when he was only two years old. In our family, absences have often been filled by stories. And the stories about his father always included his experiences in the trenches in Europe which led him to return to Winnipeg committed to a world without war and a better Canada. Upon his return from Europe, he marched along with other veterans in support of the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike. These stories also always included his father's relationship with the illustrator of AA Milne's "Winnie-the-Pooh" books. They had shared a hospital room while recovering from wounds and, apparently, the sign above the door to Winnie-the-Pooh's treehouse referred to David's father - the original Mr. Sanders' from Winnipeg. As a result, Winnie-the-Pooh has always occupied a special place in the stories our family tells. At the same time, his mother cleared the way for women in the judiciary in a life that was also devoted to the service of others and the community. Their examples - through stories and experiences - led David on a journey that was always defined by this drive to make a difference for others. David attended Grosvenor Elementary School in Winnipeg before completing his secondary education at Ridley College in St. Catharines, Ontario. Upon graduation from Ridley, David returned to Winnipeg to attend the University of Manitoba. While there, David became Editor of the student newspaper, the Manitoban, and then was elected President of the University of Manitoba Student Union (UMSU). Building on his experience at the Manitoban, David worked as a reporter for the Winnipeg Tribune before circumstances (the arrival of his eldest son David) led him into what would be 18 years of experience with the Provincial government. He worked in the Ministry of Health as Manitoba implemented medicare. Ultimately, he became a Deputy Minister under three Premiers - the NDP governments of Schreyer and Pawley as well as the PC government of Lyon. During this period, some of his most important achievements included the Winnipeg Core Area Initiative, which led to developments like the Forks - a public space enjoyed by the entire community - as well as coordinating Manitoba's participation in the process of negotiating Canada's 1982 Constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Later, David was called to the Bar as a lawyer and offered his services pro bono to a variety of community groups. He also worked as a property tax consultant. But in recent years, he threw himself into civic policy debates in an effort to improve municipal governance to the benefit of all Winnipeggers no matter what their background or circumstance. Ultimately, this led to his Mayoral run in 2014 where he placed fifth in a field of seven but was able to use this platform to highlight the need for change and accountability in our government. All of this is important but does not capture David's humility and kindness as a person. More than all of the above, that is what we will all remember him for. He was selfless, kind, giving, humble, and, while terrible at telling jokes, had an easy laugh that was not difficult to provoke. He suffered from heart problems for a number of years and, ironically, one cause of those problems was an enlarged heart muscle. That his heart would be too big would surprise no one who knew David - especially his family. At the end of AA Milne's 1928 book, The House at Pooh Corner,' Christopher Robin is getting ready to go away and he takes one last trip with Pooh to one of their favourite spots. He says: "Pooh, when I'm - you know - when I'm not doing Nothing, will you come up here sometimes?" "Just Me?" "Yes, Pooh." "Will you be here too?" "Yes, Pooh, I will be really. I promise I will be, Pooh." "That's good," said Pooh. "Pooh, promise you won't forget about me, ever. Not even when I'm a hundred." Pooh thought for a little. "How old shall I be then?" "Ninety-nine." Pooh nodded. "I promise," he said. We won't forget. David is survived by his loving wife, Françoise; her son Robin and his wife Chantal; as well as her daughter Marianne; and grandchildren, Yan, Nicholas, and Leia. He is also survived by his children David Kevin and his partner, Lyndsy; Christa and her husband Nicolas; Gillian and her husband Scott; and Jim and his wife Danielle; their mother, Lacey; and grandchildren Cloé, Etiène, Tessa, Zachary, Beckett, Gib, Oliver, Edgar, and Irving; his brother Robert and nephew James. The funeral will occur Saturday, June 18 at 10:30 a.m. at the All Saints Anglican Church, 175 Colony St. A brief reception of coffee and dainties will follow at the church. Interment will be between 12:15 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. John's Cathedral, 135 Anderson Ave. For those who would like to make a donation rather than flowers, donations in memoriam may be made to Victoria General Hospital Foundation, 2340 Pembina Hwy., Winnipeg, MB R2T 2E8, or to the Public Interest Law Centre, 200 - 393 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3B 0G9.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 16, 2016