News

The Schulich School of Law extends its sympathy and condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Colin MacLean, who died on Feb. 21.

Born in Halifax in 1965, MacLean had been the president and CEO of the Waterfront Development Corporation since 2008. He had been on leave from the provincial Crown corporation for about a year, after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

MacLean earned his BA from the University of King’s College and a BEd and LLB from Dalhousie. He was a member of King’s Board of Governors and Chair of the Campus Planning Committee.

“It is very clear from the King’s community’s reaction to the news of Colin’s death that he was loved by those who attended King’s with him. Getting to know him in his life after King’s, it was easy to see why,” says King’s President and Vice-Chancellor William Lahey, who is teaching Canadian Legal History at the Schulich School of Law this semester. “He was smart and wise but also kind, generous, easygoing, and funny. He liked people and he was truly dedicated to his community and to helping it be the great community he knew it was, including by finding time in his busy life to serve on the King’s Board.”

After MacLean was admitted to the Bar of Nova Scotia, he chose not to practise law and instead accepted a position setting up an experimental alternative school for the Lunenburg County District School Board in Bridgewater, N.S. He and his wife, Marilla, then taught for two years in the Inuit village of Taloyoak, the most northern settlement on the continent, where he introduced the first high school classes offered that far north.

Colin wore all his fine qualities and many accomplishments lightly, whether as a superb pick-up hockey player, builder of a new community college, or creator of a revitalized waterfront for the city he loved." — William Lahey, President and
Vice-Chancellor, University of King's College

When MacLean returned to Halifax in 1996, he was appointed to a position in the central administration of the newly formed Nova Scotia Community Colege. The role combined the functions of general legal counsel, secretary to the Board, and assistant to the first president, Jack Buckley; he then became vice-president under president Ray Ivany. He had a special interest in the design of NSCC’s Waterfront Campus in Dartmouth, which overlooks Halifax Harbour.

MacLean’s peers are remembering him as a visionary leader, a gentleman with a sharp wit, and a creative thinker who came up with innovative solutions. He was also a beloved husband, father, and friend.

“Colin was a natural at family life and friendship,” says Lahey. “He wore all his fine qualities and many accomplishments lightly, whether as a superb pick-up hockey player, builder of a new community college, or creator of a revitalized waterfront for the city he loved. He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered at King’s for a long time to come – in many ways, he epitomized the approach to life that King’s and the Schulich School of Law inspire in their students.”

MacLean is survived by wife Marilla, daughter Mollie, and son Lewis. A celebration of his life will be held at Saint Andrew’s United Church, 6036 Coburg Rd., on Feb. 25 at 2 p.m.