Dr. Kevin Garneau-Begin, Family Physician at Port Alice Health Centre and Kyuquot Health Centre shares a recent experience that highlights the one-of-a-kind experience rural practice programs can offer medical staff:
“On Friday, July 3, 2026, I left Old Quatsino around 6:30 a.m. for an unusual commute to Kyuquot Health Centre. Old Quatsino is a boat-access community, so my daily commute already begins on the water. But this trip was different.
The helicopter was not available that Friday, so the day was expected to become a virtual telehealth clinic. The morning weather would have made flying difficult regardless, with a low cloud ceiling and poor visibility. While virtual care is a valuable tool for remote communities, it is often easier to assess and support patients in person. So I decided to go the extra mile — or, more accurately, the extra 250 kilometres return — by Sea-Doo.
I packed my doctor’s bag into a dry bag, along with my laptop, stethoscope and portable bedside ultrasound. I wore a dry suit and carried a marine radio, satellite GPS, route tracking and communication tools. Coffee was also part of the equipment list.
The route followed coastal waterways from Quatsino toward Kyuquot, including waters near Brooks Peninsula. That area is always treated with respect. The winds and waves are often stronger there, and the crossing can be treacherous. The forecast looked favourable, though the trip still included swells of about two to three metres along the way, with the Sea-Doo rising and falling as it surfed the ocean swell.
The outbound trip took two hours and 30 minutes. After clinic at Kyuquot Health Centre, the return trip took two hours and 15 minutes. The total travel time was four hours and 45 minutes, using about 100 litres of gasoline. The trip was safe, uneventful and memorable.”
“Kyuquot Health Centre serves the Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’ / Che:k’tles7et’h’ community, whose people have lived in this region for several millennia and have long travelled these coastal waters. A registered nurse provides much of the day-to-day primary care on site, while family physicians support the community through virtual care and scheduled in-person visits, usually by helicopter.
Port Alice Health Centre, affiliated with Kyuquot Health Centre, is recruiting additional Alternative Payment Plan family physicians for part-time rural work in North Vancouver Island communities. The current need is approximately 0.3 full-time equivalent, with availability up to 1.0 full-time equivalent. Flexible working days are available, ideally shared among several providers.
Physicians interested in joining a multi-physician longitudinal family practice with emergency care in remote North Vancouver Island communities can contact me. More information is also available through Island Health Medical Staff Recruitment.”
Thank you, Dr. Garneau-Begin, for your dedication to patient care and for sharing one of the unique experiences rural practice offers medical staff.