Dr. David William Leonard

David William Leonard AOE, PhD, was born in Fairview, Alberta and raised in 
Sexsmith.

He attended the University of Alberta (BA - Honours 1968, MA 1969) and received a 
doctorate in Modern Irish History from the University of Sheffield in 1975.

David held archivist positions with the City of Edmonton, the Northwest Territories, 
and the Province of Alberta. He was Alberta’s Provincial Archivist from 1993 to 1996.
He taught archives and records management at the University of Alberta. In 1996 
he became Project Historian for Northern Alberta.

David published several histories of the Peace River Country, he edited various 
historical works to make them available to modern audiences, and he worked with 
historical societies across Alberta to help communities collect and preserve their 
own histories.

In 2007, David was inducted into the Alberta Order of Excellence recognizing the 
key role he played in the preservation and understanding of Alberta’s history, 
particularly the history of Alberta’s northwest Peace River Country. The Lieutenant 
Governor of Alberta said, “His knowledge of Alberta history is as solid as his passion 
for sharing it with others. His work has helped uncover and preserve the stories that
make up Alberta history, from singular moments in the province’s development to 
pieces that capture elements of everyday life. He has helped us understand who we
are as Albertans and helped us share our stories with the world”.

In 2022, David received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal recognizing a 
lifetime of dedicated service to the people of Alberta.

David passed away peacefully after a brief illness on July 3, 2025, in Edmonton, 
Alberta.

David had a lifelong passion for baseball as a player and a fan. He loved popular 
music of the 40s and 50s and developed an extensive record collection. He will be 
remembered for the large family dinner he hosted every Christmas. David travelled 
extensively in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and America, but his abiding love was 
Alberta’s Peace River Country.

He was predeceased by parents William John (Bill) and Marjory Grace Leonard, sister
Donna (James) Menzies and sister Ann (George) Leighton. He is survived by nephew 
Jim (Jean) Menzies, niece Kathy (Larry) Paul, niece Sheryl (Ken) Nelson, niece Shelley
(Kevin) Clay, and nephew Darryl (Fran) Leighton. He is remembered with love by a 
large extended family and a wide network of friends and colleagues.

David’s family extend thanks to the doctors, nurses, and staff at the University of 
Alberta Hospital, unit 5C3.

A memorial will be planned later. In lieu of flowers, please
donate in David’s memory to your local historical society or archives.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dr. David William Leonard, please visit our floral store.