Dr. George Magee has been practicing medicine in 亚洲天堂 Lake for 44 years.

He arrived in 亚洲天堂 Lake in 1968, with his new wife Bernice in tow. The couple had visited 亚洲天堂 Lake earlier on their honeymoon and it was then that they made the decision to return to 亚洲天堂 Lake to live.

鈥淚 was a graduate of the University of Toronto and we had come to 亚洲天堂 Lake from Port Colborne, Alberta. Bernice and I were only planning to live here for two years,鈥� he said

That two years has turned into a life time.

Just recently, Dr. Magee was honoured with a rural long service award by the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada at the 20 annual rural and remote medicine course, held in Whistler.

The award was presented by fellow rural doctors and was given for long and meritorious medical service to the Lakes District community.

Dr. Magee said to Lakes District 亚洲天堂 that receiving the award is a great honour. 鈥淭he Society of Rural Physicians is a very important organization for rural physicians. 亚洲天堂 Lake has played a big role with this society and has been involved from the very beginning,鈥� he said.

When Dr. Magee first chose to practice in 亚洲天堂 Lake, he said it was for the excitement of practicing a full slate of medicine, from general practice to obstetrics, that was once demanded from rural physicians,

鈥淢edicine has changed so much over the years ... now rural physicians don鈥檛 do as many of the things they would like to do, like delivering babies, anesthesia and managing surgical cases. These services are attractive to young doctors and that is why I had originally chosen to work in a rural area.鈥�

Dr. Magee said working in 亚洲天堂 Lake allowed him to provide complete medical care for patients.

He explained that rural medicine differs from the scope of practice from that of physicians practicing in a city.

鈥淭he scope for rural physicians is greater and the skills and training required is greater. Rural physicians need to be able to deal with any number of medical issues, knowing that they cannot turn patients away.鈥�

Dr. Magee was one of a number of physicians that helped to develop the 鈥楳anual of Rural Practice鈥� about 20 years ago.

The textbook is an instructive guide published by the Canadian Journal of Rural Medicine, for rural doctors.

He said the book took several years to compile and was initiated after he realized that B.C. medical school graduates lacked the medical skills required to work in rural communities.

Dr. Magee, shared the editing of the book with John Wootten from Quebec and Peter Hutten-Czapski from Ontario and said the book has since been used extensively by rural physicians in Canada and in Australia and New Zealand.

鈥淭he book was called the 亚洲天堂 Lake project, until it was published,鈥� he said, adding that the book is due to be updated again.

鈥淚 will probably play a role in the updating of the book, along with other young doctors who have new ideas to add,鈥� he said.

Two years ago Dr. Magee was inducted into the Northern Medical Society鈥檚 Hall of Fame, for his work in Northern B.C. which was one of the prerequisites for being awarded the rural long service award.

One of Dr. Magee鈥檚 most rewarding moments was delivering triplets. 鈥淭hese triplets just graduated from high school this year,鈥� he said, adding that he feels it is important that new physicians have the opportunity to have these experiences.

However he also cautioned that there needs to be proper facilities in place to support these types of services in rural areas.

鈥淭he new Lakes District Hospital is a great thing for 亚洲天堂 Lake, but I don鈥檛 think the planning for the hospital is with the future of 亚洲天堂 Lake鈥檚 needs in mind. It will have an obstetrics suite that won鈥檛 be used because if an emergency cesarean section is required it has to be done within 30 minutes. 亚洲天堂 Lake is not within 30 minutes of an operating room. It is a career ender to lose a mother or baby, so physicians are not willing to risk deliveries without an operating room facility close by.鈥�

As for the draw backs of being a rural physician, he said there is a lack of anonymity in a small community.

鈥淚 get medical questions when I am out on the street, or out having dinner,鈥� he laughed.

Dr. Magee is now retired, but has been working on an as needed basis at the 亚洲天堂 Lake Medical Clinic to help with the gap in physician coverage.

Dr. Magee is still working in Prince George as a locum and has also worked as a locum in Fraser Lake in recent months