Sharing the news of Dave Bennison’s passing on August 29th, 2025 is sad, but he touched so many lives and left a legacy of passion and laughter that will live on.
Leaving us physically, at home and peacefully, he had just reached the age of 55. He is survived by his wife Victoria Young Bennison, his children David James “D.J” and Jessie (Sam). In North Bay and surrounding area he is being missed by his father John Bennison (Penny), brother Derek Bennison (Heather), and sister Christina (Tim). Predeceased by his mother Vivian Bennison.
Having grown up in South River and North Bay, Dave then moved to Pelham and Welland, where he began proudly working for Challenger Motor Freight for 30 years. In 2009 he co created Stick to the Story where he created handmade staffs, wands, and pendants. This was followed by his internet radio show “The Long Story Short Show” where he interviewed organizers of local events, artists of every kind, and celebrities. Then he began his social media page Historical Niagara, where he shared his interest in local history, seeking facts in the past. And finally, he took on the role of Santa, where his unique presentation had children (young and old) asking for chunks of coal.
“Live your life with passion.” – Dave Bennison – Not a quote, but an example.
Dave’s Celebration of Life will be held on October 5th in two parts.
The Ash Scattering Ceremony at 11:00 a.m.
Location:
Rock Point Provincial Park
215 Niece Rd.
Dunnville, ON
Followed at 1 – 4 p.m. with a Fika (coffee, sweets & savories) at The Royal Canadian Legion, 305 Queen St, Dunnville, ON N1A 1J1.
We’ll be taking a break to remember Dave’s life and what he meant to us, by telling our stories,
And sharing photos, articles, poems, etc.
If you have one of his pieces of art, please bring them (staff etc.) If you’re a cosplayer, please dress up. If you want to sing a song, instead of speaking, go for it. Dave would love all this! But the family asks that there be no photos or filming done, during the ceremony or fika.
If you wish to make donations in Dave’s memory, please consider Lions Camp Dorset. – https://www.lionscampdorset.com/. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Lampman Funeral Home. www.lampmanfuneralhome.com
Deepest Condolences to his family and friends. 🙏🏻
Great guy!
Dave, you were a ray of sunshine to many and your knowledge and thirst for history was simple awesome. You will never be forgotten. Thank you for sharing all that you learned with us. we appreciate you and now my friend you can RIP. My sincere and deepest condolences to Vickie and your family. Prayers and healing sent.
I am so sorry to hear this. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. You will be deeply missed.
As decent a man as ever I have met.
Dave, you were a one of a kind soul. You always lit up a room with stories young and old. You will be missed my friend.
My sincere condolences to the Bennison family on Dave’s passing.
I never met Dave but I felt like I knew him for many years by being part of his Historical Niagara Group.
He certainly had a passion for history and exploring the sites of the Niagara Peninsula.
I really enjoyed his posts.
Jonathan Butler-Caughie
So very sorry for your loss. I have been an admirer of Dave’s Historical Niagara and his great passion for life in general. May He rest in Peace. … and may Family and Friends find comfort during this difficult time.
One of your first “followers”. I hope someone takes up the torch and continues your legacy. You will live on.
I’m so fortunate to have had Dave as a friend! Our historical ventures on the ground and in the air are memories I will always treasure! So glad I got Santa up for one last sleigh ride a few weeks ago!
I would like to express my condolence to His family and friends Dave and his family have a long connection with myself and my family through work with our parents and growing up together on Oakwood avenue although over the years we drifted away. I have often thought of birthday parties of ours that we each attended many years together going to school from grade 1 right up to high-school Dave has always been a great person and someone that I have admired from a distance and often enjoyed reading and learning from his post and knowledge of the things he was passionate about. Although we drifted apart and went our separate ways I will always cherish the times we had as children playing, talking and just hanging out as kids. Your where a great person exceptional family man and a remarkable story teller and will be missed by all. Anyone who ever had the opportunity to come in contact and spend even a moment with him could see how passionate he was about the things that mattered most to him. Family friends and history. You will be truly missed my friend.Until we meet again. May the force be with you.
I didn’t have the honor of knowing Dave personally. I knew him through the predominant information medium of our age: Social media. But as I read the online messages Dave’s friends and followers have posted, a specific quote comes to mind: “The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones.” Dave Bennison lived a life in defiance of Shakespeare’s immortal words. He took on the thankless, monumental task of recording Niagara’s history and presenting it to all of us in the most accessible way: Through his good humor and humanity. I don’t think I could take on such a noble mission while still balancing all the responsibilities and pressures of my own life. Could anyone? Dave Bennison kept the dead in the land of the living by telling their stories. Now it’s up to all of us to do the same for him.
Dave was a force of history – Niagara history. He did about as much as, or more than anyone ever has to rekindle interest in Niagara history and heritage and to bring it to life. And to show its traces everywhere. May that legacy of his passion and the interest he toked long continue! And may he himself be long and fondly remembered as a good man who loved the work he did and the fun he had doing it.
“…the interest he stoked…” apologies for that slip of an arthritic finger!
I have only met Dave a few times but I feel I have lost a friend. He was a fellow history lover. Amazingly he stoked that fire for learning about our past in the hearts of many young people. So many people followed the Historicsl Niagara page and it was wonderful to see. So many stories and people that won’t be forgotten because of Dave and his tireless research. He presented history in a way that was entertaining and informative. I can’t tell you how many new things I learned from his posts.
To Vicky and his family, my sincere condolences. God broke the mold when he made Dave.
RIP Dave, you have earned your wings.