Hon. Allan McEachern, UBC’s 16th Chancellor

A statement from Brad Bennett, Chair of the UBC Board of Governors and Prof. Stephen J. Toope, UBC President.

The University of British Columbia and the people of Canada have today lost an outstanding friend with the passing of the Hon. Allan McEachern, UBC’s 16th Chancellor.

Allan McEachern’s passion for UBC was longstanding, and it was abundantly evident in his unstinting service to the university from which he graduated, first in Arts in 1949 and then in Law in 1950. He was given -- no, he earned -- an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from UBC in 1990.

He was associated with the Faculty of Law for many years and he returned to the university as a visiting professor of law in 2001. The following year, he was elected Chancellor by his fellow alumni and members of the university community. As Chancellor, he served as a member of the UBC Board of Governors.

Allan found the energy to give back to his alma mater after a remarkable legal career during which he served the people of British Columbia as Chief Justice of both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.

Allan had deep commitments to all the communities he touched: he was a Director of the Vancouver Bar Association, President of the Legal Aid Society, Bencher of the Law Society and a member of the Council of the Canadian Bar Association, President of the B.C. Lions, President of the Canadian Football League, Commissioner in the Canadian Football League and Ethics Commissioner for VANOC.

UBC’s board of Governors has been fortunate beyond measure to have as Chancellor one of Canada’s finest legal minds to help in our deliberations. Allan’s experience, wisdom, integrity, and wonderful sense of humour have substantially contributed to the success of the university he loved so deeply.

During the creation of UBC Okanagan, Allan spent a great deal of time in the valley communities in which he was raised, tirelessly listening to the hopes and dreams of residents about this new UBC campus in their midst. Despite the formalities of his role as Chancellor, he continually disarmed people with his warmth and down-to-earth interest in their welfare.

Our hearts go out to Allan’s wife, Madam Justice Mary Newbury, and family. To them also goes our profound gratitude for the time they allowed us to spend in his august, witty, and humane company.

Brad Bennett, Chair
Board of Governors
The University of British Columbia

Prof. Stephen J. Toope
President
The University of British Columbia

The public memorial service for Chancellor McEachern will take place on Friday, January 25, 2008, at 4:30 p.m., in the Great Hall of the Law Courts Building, 800 Smithe Street, Vancouver.

More details about the memorial service for the UBC community will be available at www.ubc.ca once they are available.