David McLean, OBC, LL.D. June 25, 1938 – January 23, 2025
By any measure, David McLean led a successful and accomplished life. Widely recognized as a titan of Canadian business, he built a remarkable career spanning law, real estate, transportation and entertainment.
Yet, for those who knew him best, he will be remembered even more for the generosity and integrity that defined not just his professional life but also his role as a husband, father and grandfather. Through his stewardship of The McLean Group—a proudly Canadian, multi-generational family enterprise — David McLean has left a legacy that combined significant economic impact with enduring personal values.
“He was iconic,” recalls Sacha McLean, the younger of David’s two sons. “Just look at where he came from to where he got. He was the definition of driven. He knew where he came from and where he wanted to go.”
Born in 1938 in Calgary, David spent part of his childhood in Beiseker, Alta., a small railway town where his father worked as the station master. Living above a Canadian National Railway station, David developed an early fascination with trains, which grew into a lifelong passion and ultimately led to his role as chair of CN Rail.
David earned a law degree from the University of Alberta before moving to Vancouver, where he began a career as a lawyer with a focus on real estate. During that time, he met the love of his life, his wife Brenda, who became his partner not just in life but in business as well.
As David was building a successful law practice, Brenda was focused on raising their two sons, Jason and Sacha. Growing up, Jason McLean remembers his mother as the constant presence in their lives while his father was frequently on the road for work. “When we were kids, my dad was building his business, working really hard and travelling a lot. But when he was with us, he made it count. He was engaged and present,” says Jason. “He threaded the needle well between having a busy professional life and being an active parent and having fun with us.”
In the early 1970s, David left his law practice to found the McLean Group. Given his demanding career, he and Brenda figured the best way forward was to merge work and home life. “We decided we would blend working and raising a family,” says Brenda. “And it happened sort of seamlessly. We would talk about business all the time at the dinner table, so our children had real insight into what was happening in our lives and in the business.”
That insight ultimately served Jason and Sacha well. David brought his sons into the business at a young age, and today they are McLean Group CEO and chair, respectively.
“It’s no secret Sacha and I became owners at a tender age, which was a bit out of sync with ‘best practices’ at the time,” says Jason. “My dad was fearless and generous about bringing us into the business. His philosophy was to give us responsibility and, when we proved ourselves, he gave us a stake in the business. He felt intention was much more important than structure.”
The McLean Group initially focused on real estate investment and development, but over time the family business expanded into film and television production, aviation, construction and communications.
David always had strong ties to the Liberal Party, and in 1994 Prime Minister Jean Chrétien asked him to serve as chair of CN Rail. His role as the longest-serving chair of CN became a defining chapter in his career, characterized by bold vision and steady leadership. He led the railway through its historic privatization, overseeing what was then the largest initial public offering in Canadian history.
“He was an amazingly fearless leader and had this great ability to say yes to any task,” says Brenda. “He was interested in everyone—a great storyteller. For instance, if he was chairing a board, like at CN, he always gave everyone a chance to speak. He’d have a vision of where he wanted the meeting to go, but he wanted each person present to participate, and he was really good at making sure everyone was heard.”
David’s calm, principled leadership during this transformative period culminated in his being named chairman emeritus.
His legacy extended well beyond the boardroom, through his deep commitment to philanthropy and community service. He supported numerous causes across education, healthcare and the arts, often giving without fanfare. Through scholarships, hospital fundraising and cultural institutions, David believed in giving back to the country and the communities that shaped him.
“He came from a modest upbringing where he didn’t have a lot,” Brenda says. “I think he felt one of the reasons he was put on the Earth was to help make other people’s lives better, and so he did that. He literally shared the wealth—and in some cases used debt to share that wealth.”
“He could be overly generous, to the point where it was debatable whether he could even afford it. But he knew it was the right thing to do,” says Sacha. “I think he felt he had a duty to create a legacy that helped support the overarching community. His generosity and big-heartedness left a lasting impression on us.”
Jason and Sacha both say they strive to follow their father’s example—not just by giving back, but also by continuing to prioritize family by celebrating milestones and upholding traditions.
“He had a great sense of occasion,” Jason says. “He felt those family traditions are really important and worth investing in. He set a high bar, which is instructive for how I’d like my kids to carry that on.”
David was a gentleman—witty, smart and a great family leader.
Thane Stenner
Family gatherings—especially birthdays—often involved David reciting poetry, to the delight of his five grandchildren.
They of course knew David not as a corporate mogul but as “Gaga,” with a sweet tooth and secret stashes of chocolates. At his Celebration of Life earlier this year in Vancouver, his eldest grandchild, Hazel, recalled his poetry. “His words were filled with love, wisdom and humour,” she said. “I’ll always remember his passion and the way he spoke about the things he loved and the excitement he brought to even the smallest moments. Everyone should have a ‘Gaga’ in their lives—someone who lifts you up, encourages you and inspires you just by being themselves.”
Following David’s passing, the family was overwhelmed by a flood of letters and cards from people who knew him well and from those who had met him only briefly but were deeply impacted by the encounter. “It’s so amazing to see the impression he left on people,” says Jason. “One of the themes that comes through in this correspondence is great moral clarity, a willingness to help and be helpful, roll up his sleeves, get involved and take an interest in people.”
Among those who remember David well is Thane Stenner, founder of Stenner Wealth Partners+ at CG Wealth Management, who has known the family for more than 15 years. Stenner has always been impressed not only by David’s deep commitment to Canada’s economic and cultural landscape, but also by his ability to bridge business and personal life in the realm of family enterprises.
“David was a gentleman—witty, smart and a great family leader,” says Stenner. “The McLean Group isn’t just a business empire—it’s a family legacy.”
Watch this tribute video from David’s sons, Jason and Sacha.
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