Dan McLaren was raised on Vancouver Island before making Prince George his home in 1987 — nearly four decades ago. In that time he’s built a business, raised a family, and taken on leadership roles across the city’s civic, charitable, and business communities.

Dan’s earliest employment was with the Department of National Defence, spending three summers training aboard HMCS Quadra – an experience that shaped the discipline and sense of duty he has carried through nearly fourty years in Prince George.

After a career in commercial banking, Dan founded Commonwealth Financial in 1995. He still leads the firm today, and his standing in the profession has been recognized through membership in the Million Dollar Round Table and the Conference for Advanced Life Underwriters — as well as two runner-up finishes for Prince George Businessperson of the Year. In 2007 Commonwealth was named Prince George’s Corporate Citizen of the Year

Dan’s civic resume runs deep. He has served on the board of BC Rail, Junior Achievement of BC, and the BC Chamber of Commerce, and served as Past President of the BC & Yukon Junior Chamber of Commerce. Locally, he is the Founding President of the Rocky Mountain Rangers Regimental Association (Prince George Branch) and the Founding Chairman of the Commonwealth Cup — Northern BC’s largest charity golf tournament.

His community contributions have been formally recognized: In 1991 Dan was made a Senator & Life Member in Junior Chamber International. In 2008 Dan was knighted by the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller. He was awarded the Queen’s Jubilee Medallion in 2022 and the King’s Coronation Medal in 2023.

In their spare time Dan and Roberta enjoy spending time at the lake with friends and family. At some point, Dan hopes to stop being a terrible golfer.