ABOUT DAVID BLACKMORE
David Blackmore’s life began again at age ten. On a cold April evening in 1968, he was pulled from the frigid waters of Lake Ontario during what became Canada’s largest marine rescue mission of its era — an event that changed the trajectory of his life. The full story is told in The Captain & the Kid, his first-hand account of survival, courage, and the community that brought him home.
Emerging from a Regent Park childhood marked by hardship and possibility, David carried forward a lifelong sense of responsibility, gratitude, and purpose. Over the next five decades, he became a jazz flutist, author, environmental artist, youth mentor, and leader in some of Canada’s most impactful arts and social-service organizations. His work has touched thousands of children, families, seniors, and communities — particularly those facing poverty, isolation, or mental health challenges.
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He founded the Cabbagetown Arts Centre, using music and creativity to help low-income children develop confidence, emotional resilience, and social connection. He later held pivotal roles with UforChange, Margaret’s Housing and Community Support Services, and UrbanArts, organizing major fundraisers, mental-health advocacy galas, and community celebrations such as the Queen’s Park Sizzler and the Bob Rae Comedy Roast.
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Today, David leads NewArts, a registered charity blending creativity with climate education, arts programming, and youth storytelling. Through the Climate Generation Project, he empowers young people to explore climate anxiety, environmental hope, and mental well-being through film, art, and their own lived experience. Through Tootor, he continues to support families with accessible tutoring and mentorship.
Honoured with the King Charles III Coronation Medal, the Fellowship of Man Humanitarian Award, and the Charles Hendry Humanitarian Award, David remains guided by the lesson he learned as a child saved from the lake:
life is a gift — and the best way to honour it is to serve others.