Remembering Duncan McCallum

Courtesy of the Langara Falcons athletic department

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Duncan McCallum, a beloved member of the Langara Falcons and PACWEST community.

Duncan was the Falcons first and longest-serving Director of Athletics (1970-1994) and dedicated much of his life to the college and its students. As the men’s basketball coach from 1970 to 1991 and an instructor in the Kinesiology Department, Duncan's contributions shaped one of the most successful athletic programs in Canada. He was a proud member of the Basketball BC Hall of Fame and the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Hall of Fame. In 2020, he was named one of Langara’s Emeriti, recognizing his distinguished service.

To honour Duncan's memory, the Falcons invite you to make a donation that will go towards the Duncan McCallum Athletic Scholarship at Langara College. This award recognizes student-athletes for their athletic achievements and scholastic excellence, continuing Duncan's mission of supporting and inspiring future generations. Your generosity will help maintain Duncan's legacy and assist student-athletes, a cause he cared deeply about.

Duncan is survived by his wife Anne, children, Renée, Tracy (David), Jake (Katie), grandchildren Maryn, Holden, Maddox, Duke and Beau, and sister Sheila who cherish his memory and the profound impact he had on countless lives.

The PACWEST send our sincere condolences to the McCallum family.

CCAA Hall of Fame recognition:

For two decades, Duncan McCallum established one of the finest men’s basketball programs in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association. The longtime Falcons coach now takes his place in the CCAA Hall of Fame in the Coach Category.

Under McCallum’s guidance, Langara, formerly Vancouver Community College, captured 10 provincial championships and five national silver medals. He amassed nearly 400 league wins in his collegiate career.

“Langara is very proud of its rich athletic history and as an institution we have not forgotten the instrumental role that Duncan played in establishing our strong tradition of excellence,” said Jake McCallum, Director, Athletics & Intramurals at Langara.

Duncan, Jake’s father, coached the Falcons from 1971-91 and served as the institution’s Athletic Director from 1971-94.

“Although he has not coached at Langara for a number of years now, there is no question that his legacy of athletic quality, integrity and honour continues to be the foundation for which the Falcons athletic program is based upon as well as the standard for which our student-athletes, coaches and athletic staff strive to achieve,” said Jake.

While McCallum’s record as a coach and as an administrator speaks for itself, his impact is greatly magnified when looking at the legacy he left behind for Langara and for the greater basketball and sport community in British Columbia. Over his 20-plus years of coaching, he developed some of today’s finest community leaders and coaches.

“It is from this standpoint where his significance within the basketball community and beyond is as immeasurable as it is endless,” said Jake.

One of McCallum’s fondest memories of the CCAA was participating in the very first basketball national championship in 1975 at Mount Royal College in Calgary, AB. The Falcons advanced to the gold-medal game, where they ultimately fell to George Brown.

“I took a bunch of 18- and 19-year old’s right into the final and we were up against a much, much older team,” said Duncan. “We stayed with them most of the game, but I could have cried for my kids after.”

With 10 Totem (now PACWEST) titles, McCallum certainly got to visit different parts of the country.

“I particularly enjoyed that I got to travel all across Canada and got the opportunity to meet a lot of really great people in the CCAA,” he said.

McCallum was named the CCAA Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year in 1986. Several years later, the Duncan McCallum Fair Play Award in men’s basketball was renamed in his honour.
And in 2009, he was inducted into the Basketball BC Hall of Fame, largely due to his career at Langara and results within the CCAA.

“Being named to the CCAA Hall of Fame is a very prestigious honour and one that is fitting for a man who gave so much to the sport and to those who he passionately taught,” said Jake.