The 49 Langarans are just a few of the inspirational Langarans who have made an impact at Langara and within the community over the past 49 years. From politicians to program founders, to outstanding alumni and dedicated employees, Langarans are making us proud.
On November 6, we celebrated the 49 Langarans at an on-campus reception.
An “original Langaran,” who was part of the 1970 trek from Vancouver Community College’s old King Edward Campus, Valerie was the Dean of Student and Education Support Services for Langara College and had previously been the Registrar for the VCC Langara campus. Her impact on the College has been immeasurable. As the Registrar, she set up Langara’s student records systems and processes, many of which are still in use today. As Dean, she was responsible for all student and educational support services on campus which included the Library, Bookstore, the Registrar’s Office, Counselling, Health Services, Athletics, Daycare, Food Services, Disability Services, and First Nations Services. She was also a passionate champion for Langara outside of her work. In 1999, Valerie was awarded the Order of the Falcon for her support of the Langara Athletics department. She continues to support student success through her endowed award with the Langara College Foundation.
Kevin is the Artistic Director of Indigenous Theatre at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, the first national Indigenous theatre department in the world. A member of the Nlaka’pamux Nation, he is an accomplished Canadian playwright, actor, and director. He has written several plays, including Where the Blood Mixes, exploring the intergenerational effects of the residential school system, for which he won the 2009 Governor General’s Award for English Language Drama as well as three Jessie Richardson awards. Previously, he served as co-curator of the Talking Stick Festival; Artist in Residence at the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre; and Artistic Director of the Savage Society. Kevin also acted as Playwright in Residence at the National Arts Centre; Documentary Producer of Canyon Wars: The Untold Story; and Project Lead/Creator and Director of the Songs of the Land, a project in his home community of Lytton First Nation exploring the 100-year old audio recordings of songs and stories of the Nlaka’pamux people.
Duncan was Langara’s first Athletics Director and Coach of the men’s basketball team. Duncan coached the Falcons from 1971–1991 and served as the Athletic Director from 1971–1994. He established a men’s basketball program that won 10 BC Provincial College Championships, five National College Championship silver medals, and amassed nearly 400 league wins during his college career. He developed community leaders and coaches during his time at Langara College and was named the CCAA Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year in 1986. Several years later, the men’s basketball fair play award was renamed in his honour. In 2009, he was inducted into the Basketball BC Hall of Fame and was inducted in the Canadian Collegiate Athletics Association Hall of Fame in 2017 in recognition of the indelible legacy he left at Langara and in the basketball community.
