School Name History

David Luther Kandal was born on March 18, 1930, in Admiral, Saskatchewan.  In 1945, Dave moved to Matsqui Village with his parents and two sisters. His father was the first resident pastor at Matsqui Lutheran Church.

After graduating from high school, Dave attended the Lutheran College of the Pacific in Tacoma, Washington. He was a gifted athlete and was awarded an athletic scholarship. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Education and returned to Abbotsford where he began teaching at Philip Sheffield High School. He coached many sports and set up the mini basketball program in the elementary schools.

Dave learned to fly in 1953 with the Royal Canadian Air Force Reserve Squadron in Penhold, Alberta. There he met and married Ruby Enno. They moved back to Abbotsford and family life became very busy with five active children.

He was a member of the 442 Reserve Squadron in Vancouver for ten years and in 1957, he left his teaching profession to fly for Trans Canada Air Lines. He briefly returned to teaching due to downsizing and after two years was called back by the airline.

His passion was flying and it almost ended his life. In 1958, when Kandal was twenty-eight, he was flying a Lockheed T-33 fighter jet in formation over the Georgia Strait when his aircraft clipped wings with another jet. Although the other jet wasn’t seriously damaged, Kandal was forced to eject from his aircraft. He survived the impact without serious injuries and was rescued by a passing fishing boat.

Dave was instrumental in helping Jamaica start up their national airline. He flew for Jamaica Air and relocated his family there for eighteen months. After thirty-two years with Air Canada, he retired in 1990 as a captain on a Jumbo Lockheed 1011.

When the family moved back to the Abbotsford area, Dave became very interested in community service. He was elected as a school trustee in 1973 and served for seven years. During this time, he took part in forming the Matsqui/Abbotsford Recreation Commission. This arranged for school facilities to be used by the community and for students to access the arenas and pools in the area. Dave was on the Recreation Commission for the next twenty years, twelve as the Chair. He encouraged the growth and expansion of the recreational facilities in the community which are now known to be among the best in B.C. 

Dave later shifted his focus to civic affairs and became a councillor for the District of Matsqui for seven years. He was elected Mayor of Matsqui in 1987 with a huge majority and served until January 1, 1995. At this time, Matsqui amalgamated with Abbotsford to become the City of Abbotsford. He lost his position in the next election to long time Abbotsford mayor, George Ferguson. He is a “founding father” of the new City of Abbotsford for his role in helping make the amalgamation go so smoothly.

Throughout the years, Dave continued to serve his community both locally and regionally:  chairman of the Recreation Commission; director of the Abbotsford-Matsqui Foundation; vice-chair of the School Board; served on the Central Fraser Valley Water Commission and the Dewdney-Alouette Regional District; Director of the Agri Fair Board and Chair of the Police Board.  He worked tirelessly toward amalgamation, establishing and expanding the Abbotsford Airport and supporting arts and heritage in the city. 

The park next to the school that bears his name was opened in November, 2005. At the dedication he said, “The City of Abbotsford has been my home for many years, and I have seen it grow into the economically thriving city we know today, diverse in culture and rich in family values. I am privileged to be part of the history.”

Dave passed away on July 29, 2020, at the age of 90.