Businessman David McLean was the chair of CN during its privatization

David McLean spent part of his childhood living above a Canadian National Railways station in rural Alberta and eventually became the chair of the company, guiding its privatization. Mr. McLean also practised law, specialising in real estate, then started his own business, which expanded into areas as diverse as real estate, a giant film studio in Vancouver and a helicopter company. He died in Vancouver on Jan. 23 at the age of 86.David George Alexander McLean was born in Calgary on June 25, 1938. His father, Frank, was the station master in Beiseker, Alta., and the family lived above the train station. David’s mother, Agnes (née Campbell), was in her 40s during her pregnancy with David and she insisted her husband drive her to Calgary for the birth. They drove for two hours along a rough dirt road from Beiseker, which sits in farm country about halfway between Calgary and Drumheller.