Father James Whelihan was a legendary figure in Calgary sports, earning recognition as the third Calgary Booster Club Sportsperson of the Year in 1956.
His teaching career began in 1933 at St. Mary’s Boys High School, where he quickly established himself as one of the top high school football and track & field coaches in both Calgary and the province. At various points in his career, he served as the Athletic Director at St. Mary’s and the Supervisor of Physical Education for the Calgary Separate School District.
Father Whelihan’s coaching philosophy was simple yet profound:
“No one will ever be left out if they work hard and always do their best.”
From 1949 to 1964, St. Mary’s dominated high school football and track & field, winning numerous city championships under his leadership. Despite his demanding roles, he still found time to coach basketball, boxing, and ice hockey, all while serving as Vice Principal at the school.
His contributions to Canadian sports were formally recognized in 1985, when he was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and awarded the prestigious Order of Canada.
Personal Stories About Father Whelihan
- First Impressions (1960) – I first met Father Whelihan on a school bus heading to the Provincial High School Track & Field Championships in Stettler. I happened to sit next to him, and what a ride it was—he entertained me with stories of his coaching career and the incredible athletes he had worked with. He had a great sense of humor, and I was so fascinated by his tales that I asked to sit with him again on the way home. He gladly agreed.
- Football Coaches’ Meetings & Free Beer – Every fall, the Basilian Fathers Home near Elbow Lodge hosted a football coaches’ meeting, where Father Whelihan had a special arrangement with the Calgary Brewing & Malting Company—they supplied free beer for the coaches. Needless to say, those meetings were well attended!
- A Track & Field Controversy – Father Whelihan co-coached the boys’ and girls’ track teams alongside Ernie McCullough, one of our club’s founders and an Olympian. He once had custom shorts made for the girls to make it easier for them to run. However, the next day, none of the girls returned to practice—the nuns had deemed the shorts indecent and were not pleased.
- Getting Out of a Ticket – One day, Father Whelihan loaded nine track athletes into his car and headed toward Glenmore Park. Along the way, he got pulled over by a police officer. But with his characteristic charm, he managed to talk his way out of a ticket. Classic Father Whelihan!