Teaching and music have been more than professional pursuits for Dr. David Squires—they have been expressions of worship and witness.
Over more than four decades at TWU, David Squires has served as an accomplished composer, dean, and professor of music, walking alongside students, alumni, and colleagues, and helping others grow in their giftings and potential. This legacy has been shaped in deep partnership with Colette Squires, who began teaching part-time in the Music Department early in their shared journey and now contributes within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, where she teaches Sociology and is leading the development of a new certificate program. Together, David and Colette have invested significantly in the life of TWU, each contributing through teaching, mentoring, and service across multiple disciplines.
Motivated by their shared passion for fostering the next generation of leaders, professors David and Colette Squires have established the Flame Award—a unique scholarship supporting future TWU students who are grandchildren of longtime staff and faculty.
Introducing the Flame Award
The Flame Award is envisioned by David and Colette Squires to be an extension of TWU's Torch Scholarship that supports children of faculty and staff. The Squires have initiated the Flame Award as a special scholarship available to grandchildren of TWU employees who have served the University for over a decade. By focusing on need-based support, the Flame Award seeks to alleviate financial barriers for students who might otherwise be unable to attend TWU.
Designed as an endowed grant, the Flame Award is structured to grow over time, ensuring its sustainability and capacity to assist students in the long term. It stands as a testament to the Squires’ enduring commitment to the TWU community and their desire to invest in its future.
A life-giving legacy
The Squires have faithfully served their communities through their different callings. Professor Colette Squires has served as the executive director of Abbotsford Restorative Justice and is an experienced organizational consultant, mediator, and educator who works with a wide range of public and private sector clients. Beyond teaching at the Justice Institute of BC and Trinity Western University, she has authored books and scholarly papers on organizational leadership, conflict resolution, and restorative justice. She has also served on numerous boards and was awarded the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award in 2022 for her long-standing dedication to the community. In addition to holding an honours degree in music from Western University, Colette has an MA in Criminal Justice from the University of the Fraser Valley. She is a member of the Canadian Criminal Justice Association and Family Mediation Canada.
Together, the Squires have brought their distinct gifts to TWU and beyond, shaping people’s lives through scholarship, service, and thoughtful leadership. In 1981, the Squires began their TWU journey, bringing with them their shared commitment to fostering the leaders of tomorrow.
For Dr. David Squires, the intersection of music, education, and faith has been the heart of his life’s work. After graduating from Western University with an honours degree in musical performance, he went on to complete graduate training in composition at the University of Toronto and a PhD in composition at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo—an academic path that laid the foundation for his passion and vocation.
Over his tenure, Dr. Squires has held multiple roles, including serving for over 15 years as dean of the School of the Arts, Media + Culture (previously the Faculty of Professional Studies and Performing Arts). During this time, he coordinated a new worship studies program that featured an international worship band tour and a student-run radio lab. For several years, he was also the artistic director of the Verge Arts Conference at TWU, a series of events spanning over a decade that engaged students and the local community in arts, faith, and contemporary topics.
Engaging the world through music and the arts
As an educator, Dr. Squires’ contributions span undergraduate and graduate-level teaching in composition, music theory, music history, interdisciplinary arts, and worship studies. Helping students engage the world through the arts, he led travel studies to Europe that enriched their understanding of faith, history, and culture. David and Colette have toured internationally with the TWU Choirs as they performed in China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Taiwan. The couple has also led study tours for TWU alumni, staff, faculty, and supporters to London, Paris, Vienna, and Prague.
A gifted composer, Dr. Squires has created numerous works for choral and instrumental ensembles, often drawing inspiration from sacred texts and biblical narratives. Among his many musical achievements, Gardens: A Sacred Oratorio is a crowning composition in his career. The expansive nine-movement work—developed in collaboration with Colette—expresses the biblical story from creation to new creation through the theme of gardens. The work was fully premiered in 2023 in a performance by the TWU Choirs that featured alumni and members of the professional artistic community.
Faith integration and generational impact
The establishment of the Flame Award will continue to empower students for years to come. David and Colette hope that others will resonate with this vision as well. As Colette expresses, “We hope that others will catch this vision so that upcoming generations—those who have grown up hearing the stories of TWU from their parents and grandparents—can be assured a place in this wonderful community of faith and learning.”
For more information about the Flame Award and how to contribute, please visit TWU's Giving page or contact giving@twu.ca. To learn more about scholarship opportunities available to students, please visit our Scholarships & Financial Aid page.
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is a global Christian liberal arts university. We are dedicated to equipping students to discover meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. Drawing upon the riches of the Christian tradition, seeking to unite faith and reason through teaching and scholarship, Trinity Western University is a degree-granting research institution offering liberal arts and sciences as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has campuses in Canada in Langley, Richmond, and Ottawa. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Instagram @trinitywestern, Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn. For media inquiries, please contact: media@twu.ca.