ɡɹˈoʊɪŋ ˌʌp ɪn væŋkˈuːvɚ, tʃˈɜːtʃləndz fˈɑːðɚ wʌzɐ hˈaɪ skˈuːl sˈaɪəns tˈiːtʃɚ ænd hɪz mˈʌðɚ tˈʊk ɪn sˈoʊɪŋ.
Growing up in Vancouver, Churchland's father was a high school science teacher and his mother took in sewing.