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JB Golf Endowment
 
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"John left a lasting legacy at SFU and he will always hold a special place in our hearts." 
- Theresa Hanson, Senior Director of Athletics and Recreation
Let's Make A Difference Together

John Buchanan was part of the fabric of Simon Fraser University Athletics & Recreation. For 50 years, he energized our community and exemplified our institutional ambition to be better tomorrow than we are today. John believed in the potential of our student-athletes and created an exceptional student-athlete experience during their tenure at SFU. Sadly, John Buchanan passed away peacefully at home with his family on January 19, 2017 at the age of 77. As we celebrate John's life, we invite you to make a financial gift to support the new John Buchanan Golf Endowment at SFU.

Sadly, John Buchanan passed away peacefully at home with his family on January 19, 2017 at the age of 77. As we celebrate John's life, we invite you to make a financial gift to support the new John Buchanan Golf Endowment at SFU.
John Buchanan - Leader, Coach, Hall of Famer 

John Buchanan was part of the fabric of Simon Fraser University Athletics & Recreation. For 50 years, he energized our community and exemplified our institutional ambition to be better tomorrow than we are today. John believed in the potential of our student-athletes and created an exceptional student-athlete experience during their tenure at SFU.

John Buchanan arrived at SFU in 1966 as Facilities Manager and was Director of Recreation for 30 years. He founded the Soccer Program which gained varsity status in 1975. Under Coach Buchanan's leadership, the Men's Soccer Team won seven consecutive Regional Championships and in 1976 earned the ultimate prize by winning the NAIA National Championship and the NAIA/NCAA Championship.
 
John had a passion for golf and turned his attention to the golf program in the late 1980s.  Under his direction the Men's Golf Team won 11 NAIA West Coast Regionals and finished second at the 1999 NAIA Nationals.  After the golf program was cancelled in 2006 John worked tirelessly to have the program re-instated and in 2011 when SFU Athletics transitioned to the NCAA John helped re-introduce Men's and Women's Golf to SFU.  In the NCAA era, Coach Buchanan helped lead the teams to three Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships (with the Men winning the 2015 tittle and the Women capturing the 2016 and 2017 titles).  In 2015 he guided the Men to a 5th place finish at the NCAA Div. II National Championship.

True to his Scottish heritage, Buchanan also played an instrumental role in SFU's world championship pipe band. In 1981, with Ian McGregor, he was instructed by then President George Pedersen to approach the City of Port Moody Pipe Band and encourage them to become affiliated with the university. The SFU pipe band has become one of the world's top pipe bands for more than 35 years, finishing in the top three more than 20 times with six championship titles that include back-to-back wins in 2008-2009.
 
In 1986, John was inducted as a charter member of the SFU Athletic Hall of Fame and in 2006, he was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame. In 2014, John received the distinguished SFU Chancellors Award for his years of volunteer work with the Golf Team at SFU.  John entered the SFU Athletics Hall of Fame again in 2016 as a member of the 1976 men's soccer team.  He was also inducted posthumously into the Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame in 2017 for his contributions to Soccer and Golf.
  
"Every student-athlete owes a great deal of gratitude to John for the sacrifices he made to make this university great."
- Scott Kerr, 2017 SFU Men's Golf Player  
Endowment Details

In celebration of John's life we created the John Buchanan Endowment for Golf at SFU to recognize Coach Buchanan's legacy at Simon Fraser University. Coach Buchanan always believed that the strength of a program was in its student-athletes. Our goal through this endowment is to provide one full-ride scholarship annually to an exceptional student-athlete golfer. Your support will help us attract Canada's best and brightest male and female golfers to compete for Canada's only NCAA golf team.
 

Contact
For further information,
Contact: Sophia Janmohamed- Director, Development - Athletics & Recreation
Email: sofia_janmohamed@sfu.ca | Phone: (778) 782-7686

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