[2] Shepherd has a Bachelors of Arts in Professional Communications from Royal Roads University where he received the Chancellor's award in 2014.

[2] Shepherd worked in a variety of jobs such as taxpayer service agent, salesperson, musician and studio engineer.

Shepherd is an avid cyclist and volunteered for the Edmonton Bike Coalition as a spokesperson and organizer.

In 2017, David worked with then Minister of Culture and Tourism, Ricardo Miranda, to secure a proclamation making Alberta the fourth province in Canada to recognize February as Black History Month.

In September 2024, he was appointed as the Alberta NDP Caucus' Shadow Minister for Public Safety and Emergency Services and Deputy House Leader.