Sometimes in life, you encounter someone who has truly lived life the way it is supposed to be lived. Dave Clarke is a man who has always sought out new skills and knowledge without any hesitation.
Dave is a successful entrepreneur with the measure of two successful businesses under his belt. The first, a mechanical and process equipment company that grew into one of the largest rep companies in Canada, with $200 to 300 million in annual sales. His business model was low inventory, high sales volume, making it highly efficient and profitable. He eventually sold this business and built his second, centred around engineering design and construct projects.
What truly sets Dave apart is his integrity. He never believed in cutting corners or chasing profits at the expense of fairness. Instead, he built his reputation on honesty, quality, and respect. Dave always prioritized accurate project specifications, reliable results, and the safety of his workers. His philosophy was simple: do right by people and they will return. His clients did, not just for the quality of work, but because they trusted the man behind it.
Outside of his professional career, Dave’s pursuit of knowledge remains. He follows his fascination for the way things are made, and he learns all he can to do it himself. “We moved a lot, so every time we needed renovations done, I took it as an opportunity to buy new tools. I’ve done a lot of bathrooms and rec rooms and not built a house per say, but probably did just about everything on the house by myself.” Dave also makes wooden pens, cutting boards with epoxy inserts, bandsaw boxes; the list goes on. He told us “I’ve got cherry, walnut, oak, and hardwoods… you can get some Koa wood from Hawaii that grows about 4000ft, and I had a tough job convincing my wife we were bringing it home in our luggage!” It is important to mention that he is a man proud of his workshop. He laughingly mentioned that of course he “took every opportunity to double the garage in size.”
Dave’s battle with cancer positioned him to consider how a lifetime of accumulated tools should be passed on. It was important to him to ensure that his equipment and tools would be put to good use. His accountant made him aware of CFBC’s efforts, specifically in the space of empowering youth to discover hands-on skills. As a man who has dedicated himself to the pursuit of knowledge and hands-on skills, this idea resonated with him.
Dave’s workshop is now something that will be transformed into a legacy for generations to come. He has donated a plethora of hand tools, power tools, benches, hardware, bench mounted tools, floor mounted tools, air tools, jigs, circuit boards, accessories and supports to a local Abbotsford school. These tools have supported him in his pursuit of knowledge, they have supported his family and his friends in the form of knowledge sharing, and now they will be a legacy for generations to come. He explained that students of St John Brebeauf Secondary will participate in something called “project oriented sites”. The kids will learn from the books Dave accumulated over the years for how to set up a workshop, and take pride in building it for themselves. “They’ll strip the stations down and build the whole thing from scratch. I think it’s a great idea.”
These tools, which he has used and cherished, will now serve future generations of craftsmen and women. Through this donation, Dave ensures that his knowledge, his standards, and his love of hands-on work will continue to inspire.
We asked Dave what words of advice he would pass on to young people who are unsure what their path is in life. He told us, “Number one, and by far and it’s something I’ve thought of all my life is, you find something you like doing. It doesn’t matter what it is, but you have to like what you do.” We would like to thank Dave for his generous contributions to the futures of the next generation of tradespeople. His tools will inspire young people to follow their hearts and pursue their passions just as he has throughout his life.
Watch Dave’s full interview:
