Dave O’Malley receives Order of Ottawa

Dave O’Malley of the Glebe was recently awarded the Order of Ottawa.

While studying at the Carleton School of Architecture and Urbanism, O’Malley founded Aerographics Creative Services, a creative agency and design studio that is now one of Ottawa’s most pre-eminent graphic design firms. As their creative director and president, he continues to be inspired by his passion for music and aviation, and by working with people who understand emotion and design.

With close to 50 years of experience as an illustrator, and more than 40 as a graphic designer, O’Malley has led Aerographics Creative Services in producing highly creative marketing materials for numerous local, national and international companies and organizations, including Hobin Architects, Carleton University, CityFolk, Bluesfest, Lansdowne Live, the Tulip Festival, The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, Beavertails, OSEG, CATSA, the CFL and Chis Hadfield. O’Malley has donated or discounted his artistic talent and designs to countless initiatives in the community, including OrKidstra, TELUS Ride for Dad, Vintage Wings of Canada, CityFolk, Bluesfest and the Festival of Small Halls.

In addition to sponsoring events and charities in Ottawa, O’Malley has sat on many boards, including RBC Bluesfest, the Canadian Tulip Festival, the National Capital Air Show and the Ottawa Ballet. Presently, he sits on the boards of CityFolk Music Festival, the Prostate Cancer Fight Foundation, the TELUS Ride for Dad and the Canadian Research and Mapping Association.

A keen amateur historian, O’Malley spent two years researching and compiling a history of the nearly 500 families from his Ottawa neighbourhood who lost family members during the Second World War (see his article in the Glebe Report of November 2019). He has also researched and written more than 400 aviation history stories.