A Canadian Hero Dies

A Canadian Hero Dies
Francis B. Bermido Jr.
Preda news
7 April 2022

David Kilgour, a strong and determined advocate of human rights and dignity everywhere, has died at 81. His loss is felt by the Canadian indigenous peoples and child and adult victims /survivors of the residential school system where thousands of Canadian Indigenous First Nation children died of abuse and neglect. He lived to hear that Pope Francis apologized for the widespread sexual and physical abuse of the children in the residential schools funded by the Canadian Government and run by the Catholic and other churches. That is an issue he felt strongly about and spoke about during his retirement.

David was a strong supporter of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission that revealed their true suffering and the extensive child abuse that amounted to cultural genocide as the Commission stated in 2015. This was because the forced assimilation and treatment of indigenous people in the schools amounted to cultural genocide, which David decried.

He was a true Canadian politician of integrity and a staunch human rights and child rights advocate to his dying day. David Kilgour served Edmonton ridings in the Canadian House of Commons from 1979 to 2006.

He was a child rights supporter and gave support to non-government organizations especially the work of the Preda Foundation in the Philippines for many years. On October 3, 2002 he nominated Father Shay Cullen, founder of Preda Foundation, for the Nobel Peace Prize to highlight the importance of the work combating child sexual abuse and human trafficking and Fr. Shay’s campaign to have laws protecting children passed in several countries. The work of Preda Foundation in promoting extra-territorial laws and later anti-child pornography laws in Ireland and the Philippines, which were later enacted, and many more child protection laws since, are noteworthy. Following the nomination by David Kilgour, Fr. Shay Cullen has received three more nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize and received many human rights awards for child protection and fighting human traffickers and the international sex mafia ring in the Philippines. Father Shay Cullen, said in his tribute to David Kilgour:

“David was a man of great integrity, who had a love of justice and a powerful defender of human rights for everyone, especially vulnerable children. He stood by his convictions and resigned from government parties when they violated norms of justice. He was a real Canadian and a man of peace.”

David Kilgour was a strong advocate for the implementation of strong child protection laws in Canada. He was independent-minded and a true representative of Canadians committed to human rights. He frequently spoke out against human rights and child rights violations and promoted stronger child protection laws.

He was passionate in defending the oppressed and deprived victims in developing countries and resigned from his party in protest over the Canadian government’s failure to join international opposition to human rights violations in Sudan. The government later provided support to the oppressed people of Sudan that David supported.

David Kilgour, a committed man of principle, never wavered in his dedication to defending the poor and the oppressed in Canada and the world, will be greatly missed. His spirit and dedication will live on in his family, friends and followers.

Preda News