David Whellams, BA/69, dedicated much of his career to serving as Counsel with the Government of Canada in the Department of Justice, with a focus on reform of the Criminal Code, addressing a wide range of issues, including high-risk offenders and anti-terrorism. His expertise in criminal law inspired his novel Walking into the Ocean and informed the short story collection Stories from the Criminal Code. A dedicated writer, David regularly contributed to newspapers, exploring a wide range of topics including film history, the Academy Awards, and the American Civil War.

Born in Winnipeg and raised in Ottawa, David graduated from Carleton University and later built his life and family in the nation’s capital.

To honor his lifelong passion for writing, the David Whellams Scholarship in Creative Writing was endowed in 2024, serving as a lasting tribute to his life and legacy.

Academic Terms: Awarded annually on the recommendation of the Chair of the Department of English Language and Literature to an outstanding undergraduate student entering or proceeding from one year to another in a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing. Endowed in 2024 in loving memory of David Whellams, BA/69, to honor his interest in writing. Although he had a career as a lawyer for the federal government, Dave enjoyed writing in his free time, penning newspaper articles, a play, and a series of three mystery novels before he passed away in February 2024 from Parkinson’s disease.