Dave Sopha
March 15, 1948 - May 16, 2021
Dave Sopha M.S.M, KSTG was a professional airbrushing artist for 50 years. He discovered his artistic talent during an eight-month recovery following a car accident in 1970 that left him with a broken back. He started his own business in airbrush artistry in 1973. The Portraits of Honour painting was Dave’s first excursion into the world of oil painting.
Family Man
Born in Toronto, Ontario, Dave and his wife, Penny, moved their family to Cambridge, Ontario in 1982. Together, they shared four children, one son and three daughters, 8 beautiful grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren.
Dave was a proud member of the Preston Kinsmen for 38 years, later receiving a lifetime membership as well as their highest honour, listed below. He was also a proud member of the Royal Canadian Legion for over 30 years. Dave has had an extensive career supporting the Military and Veterans across the country receiving numerous awards for his work.
He was honoured to have received:
-The Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal in Ottawa
-The Minister of Veteran Affairs Commendation in Charlottetown, PEI
-The Kinsmen's Hal Rogers Fellow
-The Rotary's Paul Harris Fellow
-The Kiwanis Walter Zeller Fellow
-The Toastmasters International Communication and Leadership Award
-Life member of Kin Canada
-HRF Recipient Life Member of the Canadian Air Force, 428 Wing.
-NATO Veterans Organization of Canada
-CAV Canadian Army Veterans Motorcycle Unit
-Life Member of UN NATO Veterans Canada Motorcycle Unit
-Life Member of the Hamilton Warplane Heritage Museum
-Honourary Member of the Canadian Rangers
-Citizen of the year, 2003, Cambridge, Ontario
-Bernice Adams Memorial Award recipient
-Cambridge Chamber of Commerce Keith Taylor Memorial Award
-Cambridge's Art and Cultural Award
-The Mayor of Calgary made him an honourary Calgarian during his visit to the city, showcasing the Portrait he's known for
-the Meritorious Service Medal (M.S.M) by the Honourable Governor General David Johnston.
And finally, Dave was knighted in September 2018 into the Order of St George, in recognition for his efforts with educating the Canadian Public on Canada's Armed Forces and their extensive Peace Keeping work by bringing the Portraits of Honour Portrait to life one face at a time.
Dave's passion for the painting took him six years to complete. With a completion total of over 10, 000 hours, he worked approximately 80-90 hours per portrait, and adding in an additional 114, 485 poppies and petals representing each of Canada's Fallen dating back from The First World War to when Canada pulled their troops from Afghanistan in 2014.
Dave fought a courageous battle with Pancreatic Cancer, but sadly, he gained his wings in May 2021 at the age of 73.
To say he will be missed is an incredible understatement. Anyone who met him felt like they knew him at the end of a single conversation. Those of us who were blessed enough to call him a friend, who knew him at all, felt more like family and we will always remember him as the funny, brilliant, caring man that he was. He was always willing to help out, even when he probably shouldn't have whether illness or injury. It didn't seem to deter him and for that reason, and many, many others, he will always hold a place in our hearts.
