Dave is nêhiyaw (Cree) from Driftpile Cree Nation in northern Alberta. 

As CEO, Dave is actively growing the company’s development projects across Western Canada, while continuing to champion cultural practices at LDM and sharing cultural knowledge with LDM’s sister company, Terra Housing.

Dave joined LDM in 2021 and brought his strengths as innovative thinker, skilled facilitator, and an experienced project manager to the organization. Dave has over 30 years of professional experience working with Indigenous communities and industry in the areas of Indigenous relations, labour market development and employment training and human services.

He has worked at every level of senior management in the homelessness sector in Edmonton.  Dave is most proud of is his contributions to addressing homelessness within the Indigenous population, his abilities in building relationships with Indigenous communities and governments and his involvement with the City of Edmonton’s Mayor’s Task Force on Community Safety (which saw the creation of REACH Edmonton).

Prior to joining LDM, Dave was the Executive Director for Ambrose Place, an innovative facility servicing Edmonton’s Indigenous community, offering transitional and supportive housing and helping to reconnect people to their identity. 

Dave has also dedicated a good portion of his career to industry relations, supporting companies to build strong, healthy, and long-lasting relationships with Indigenous communities utilizing the “Natural Law” teachings (Kindness, Honesty, Sharing and Strength). Recently, Dave has worked with industry to become certified with the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) and their Progressive Aboriginal Relations program (PAR). 

Dave has served as a board member for the Driftpile First Nation Enterprise Inc. and Aksis, Edmonton’s Aboriginal Business Networking Mechanism.

Dave’s educational experience includes Aboriginal Employment Development at the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College and the Bachelor of Arts program at Mount Royal Community College in Calgary.