With great sadness, we announce the passing of a dear Foundation friend, former Board Director and Chair, David McLean.

David was a celebrated business and community leader, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He generously gave his time to enhance many facets of life for British Columbians from education, transportation, infrastructure, art, business and health care. Born in Edmonton, David graduated from University of Alberta law school, before settling in Vancouver and setting up the McLean Group in Vancouver in 1972. Alongside Brenda, his partner and McLean Group Co-Founder, the family’s business success in real estate development was followed by successful diversification into film and aviation businesses in which his sons Jason and Sacha played leading roles.

David served as a director of CN Rail and Chair from 1994 to 2014. He has also served on other corporate and community boards including, Concord Pacific Group, Coastland Wood Industries, Westech Information Systems, DeHavilland Aircraft, Vancouver Board of Trade, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, UBC Board of Governors, in addition to his work on VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation’s Board. He has been widely recognized for these contributions, including several business awards, four honourary degrees, and was appointed to the Order of British Columbia in 1999.

VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation is proud of our longstanding collaboration with David and his wife Brenda. David served in many roles on our Board of Directors from 2011 to 2018, including Vice-Chair and Chair. He oversaw changes to the Foundation governance during his tenure, including the creation of the Patrons’ Council and a smaller Board of highly engaged Directors, which have continued to this day. He was a visionary leader in the creation of the Foundation’s Future of Surgery Campaign and served as its Honourary Chair. The Future of Surgery Campaign concluded in February of 2020, having raised $60 million, and today the new operating rooms at VGH and the significant renovations to UBC Hospital are the outcomes of this important investment in health care. Most recently, David and Brenda served on the Cabinet of our Urologic Sciences Campaign, raising funds for recruitment and retention of world-class clinicians and researchers, resulting in the establishment of the first-of-its-kind M.H. Mohseni Institute of Urologic Sciences within the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute. 

Among his many generous contributions in support of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation’s mission, a generous gift by the McLean family in support of the Division of Orthopaedic Spine Surgery is honoured with the naming of Brenda & David McLean Integrated Spine Clinic at the Blusson Spine Centre at VGH.

In recognition of their incredible contributions of time, talent and treasure to our Foundation and our community, Brenda and David McLean were named to the Foundation’s Patrons’ Council in 2019.    

On behalf of the Foundation staff and our Board of Directors, our sincere condolences to Brenda, Jason & AJ, Sacha & Melanie, and David’s grandchildren.

David, may the road rise to meet you…

Angela Chapman
President and CEO