About 

A life shaped by medicine, memory, and story

As a young kid, I was captivated by books and the stories within them. At school, sciences and math were my strengths, but creative writing classes always drew my interest. As I grew older, I dreamed of becoming a doctor, and when I was accepted into medical school at the age of nineteen, my passion for writing was pushed aside, buried under the heavy stacks of medical textbooks like Gray’s Anatomy.

Twenty years ago, we laid my grandfather to rest. After the funeral, I asked my grandmother to recount stories about him—where he was born, whether she knew his parents, what he was like as a young man. Her response was simply, “I don’t know” or “I don’t remember.” That moment sparked a deep hunger in me for stories—family stories, stories of people and their lives. Stories … so that we wouldn’t forget.

Now, as a (mostly) retired rural family physician and former Chief Medical Officer at Southern Health–Santé Sud, a rural Manitoba Service Delivery Organization, I have rekindled my love of writing.

When an open invitation to join a writing group arrived, I nearly backed out, convinced by the nagging voice on my shoulder that it was too late. But I persevered. I enrolled in courses with a remarkable coach and immersed myself in writing groups filled with talented individuals eager to explore and refine their craft. My motivation stemmed from a compelling story from the past—a coming-of-age narrative rooted in a Canadian tragedy I witnessed on a hot summer day long ago. Over time, this story evolved into historical fiction, weaving together real events and fictional characters whose journeys brought both despair and hope.

There are other stories waiting to be told—stories of intolerance and hardship endured by my parents and grandparents, and Métis stories I never heard, long buried beneath generations of shame. It is time to bring those stories into the light—for myself, my children, and my grandchildren.

When I’m not reading ECGs or removing lumps and bumps at the clinic, I spend mornings in my author’s cave, writing or wondering. I still love reading, travelling to places I’ve read about, and spending time by the lake. Above all, I cherish time with my family—my wife, Annette; our three daughters and sons-in-law; and eight grandchildren, who are always eager for stories from the past. Perhaps, if time permits, they’ll have heard them all.