Tributes pour in for Halifax engineering professor who died after a road accident

Dr. Nouman Ali is pictured. The engineering professor died after a cycling accident in Halifax on July 17, 2026. (Dalhousie University)

HALIFAX — Tributes are pouring in for a Dalhousie University engineering professor and cyclist described as a mentor and father figure who died following a road accident in Halifax.

A 71-year-old man was cycling along Strawberry Hill Street when the driver of a pickup truck opened the vehicle’s door into his path around 1 p.m. Friday, police said.

The cyclist died in hospital, prompting some calls for motorists to be more careful when getting behind the wheel.

Halifax Regional Police said the driver of the pickup truck was issued a summary offence ticket of $180. They did not immediately say if any further charges are expected.

Over the weekend, the Sabeel Muslim and Youth Community Center in Halifax said in online posts that Nouman Ali had died following a serious accident.

“Today, the Muslim community in Halifax lost a great man and a dear brother, who played a major role in establishing many of our Islamic centres in this country,” reads the centre’s statement.

Dalhousie’s faculty of engineering issued a separate statement Monday sharing the news of Ali’s death, saying the dedicated professor and researcher was a pillar of the community for more than 30 years.

“What he’ll be remembered for most was his unwavering commitment to the people around him. He went above and beyond for everyone,” reads the statement.

“Dr. Ali was always there with his time and generosity. His door was always open, and he never hesitated to help,” it continued.

The school said Ali’s research in transportation engineering and pavement helped make a difference well beyond Dalhousie, and he cared deeply for his family and the broader community around him.

“To his students, he was much more than a professor, described by many as a mentor, supporter and father figure. He believed in their potential, and each day did everything he could to help them succeed,” the statement reads.

Stephen MacKay, a Halifax cycling advocate, said bikers across the city are mourning Ali.

“A lot of people are missing a friend, a family member, an ally today,” he said in an interview Tuesday.

MacKay said the resulting $180 ticket makes it clear that deaths caused by drivers are treated differently than other accidental causes of death.

“Any time someone causes somebody’s death through any means that’s non-vehicular, it is going to amount to charges. Almost always, you’re looking at manslaughter, but not if it’s done with a vehicle,” he said.

MacKay said drivers have a responsibility to safely operate their vehicle, which includes being aware of their surroundings when exiting.

MacKay said the tragedy has prompted many Halifax cyclists to share their own experiences of getting so-called “doored” while biking. This refers to someone opening a car door into the path of a cyclist, which can often result in injury.

He said many experienced cyclists have had this happen to them, and for some, “it can be their last experience cycling.”

“It may not be a fatal incident like it was the other day, but this is the kind of thing that injures someone or scares someone to the point that they won’t get on a bike again,” MacKay said.

He said drivers would benefit from practising a technique called a “Dutch Reach” -- which is when a driver uses their right hand to open the door, ensuring that the driver’s body turns to look at the road before leaving a vehicle.

Those on the passenger-side of a vehicle should do the same with their left hand, MacKay said.

“This is an important thing people can do to keep cyclists safer,” he said.

MacKay said members of the Halifax cycling community are in the early stages of planning a memorial bike ride in Ali’s honour.

By Lyndsay Armstrong

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2026.