George and Bernice Magee moved to 亚洲天堂 Lake July 1968 and are leaving 55 years later.

The community held a farewell party for them on Oct. 14 at St. John鈥檚 Heritage Church in 亚洲天堂 Lake.

Bernice Magee said they came to 亚洲天堂 Lake for George to assume the medical practice of Dr. Geoff Battersby.

亚洲天堂 Lake had a multi-service hospital and offered George the opportunity to do some surgical procedures, deliver babies, on-call emergency services, and family practice that offered continuity of care to all family members.

George practiced full-time in 亚洲天堂 Lake from 1968 until 2002. Then he continued to do locums in Prince George, Fraser Lake, Houston and 亚洲天堂 Lake until he retired in 2016.

He then worked with the College of New Caledonia, Lakes District Campus and the Complex Development Behavioural Disorder/FASD assessment team.

He taught many medical students from many parts of Canada who came to 亚洲天堂 Lake to learn about rural medicine and how to appreciate the practice and lifestyle of a physician in a small rural and remote community.

He has been recognized by various organizations and was inducted into the Northern Doctors Hall of Fame in 2004.

He received recognition from the province when he was presented with the B.C. Achievement Award by Premier Gordon Campbell and Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, Iona Campagnolo.

He was one of the founding members of the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada, and along with other members of that society, wrote and published the Manual of Rural Practice.

Besides having a heavy medical workload, George enjoyed playing and coaching hockey. He coached the peewee team in 1984 to being Tier 3 provincial winners.

He loves to fish and has made several trips into Tweedsmuir Park to catch the 鈥榖ig one.鈥�

He had an ultralight airplane and explored many areas in the Lakes District and had been a rotarian in the 亚洲天堂 Lake Rotary Club for the last 30 years.

Like George, Bernice trained as a registered nurse.But was not able to work at the 亚洲天堂 Lake Hospital because George was on staff.

鈥淚 worked in George鈥檚 office but given the tax rules of the day, he was not allowed to pay me because I was his wife.鈥�

In the following years, she ran a photography studio with her mentor Arthur Vine. She later worked as a realtor at Frame Realty for 10 years.

In 1996, she was first elected to local government. She served six years as a councillor, then nine years as mayor of the Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake.

During her terms in office, the first and only stop light was installed, the development of Spirit Square was initiated, 亚洲天堂 Lake Community Forest was created, and council worked with neighbouring communities to deal with the Mountain Pine Beetle Infestation (Omineca Beetle Action Coalition).

鈥滻 enjoyed working with members of the six local First Nations bands and came to appreciate their culture, their priorities and their friendship. There are two reserves within the village boundaries and we worked together to help the community grow, not just in infrastructure, but in respect and appreciation for one another values.鈥�

鈥淚 have participated in many local non-profit organizations,鈥� she said.

She was part of 亚洲天堂 Lake Figure Skating Club, Lakes District Childcare Society (Playschool), Lakes District Family Enhancement Society, 亚洲天堂 Lake & District Community Foundation Society (Founding President), and 亚洲天堂 Lake & District Seniors Society.

鈥淲e have really enjoyed all of the people that we have met in the Lakes District. It is a very friendly and welcoming community and has been since the day we arrived. We raised our three children here and this will always be 鈥渉ome鈥� for them,鈥� she said.

鈥淲e will miss our lifelong friends, our home and the community as a whole. If we could do it all over again, we certainly would. All of our kids and grandkids live in the lower mainland and we have reached the age when we want and need to be closer to them.鈥�

鈥淲e have purchased an apartment in White Rock B.C. and would love to have visitors. Thank you 亚洲天堂 Lake. We plan to come back to visit as often as we can,鈥� Bernice said.

Rotary Club of 亚洲天堂 Lake President Nathan Way said, 鈥淕eorge has played an important role in many community projects and activities, most notably the Rod Reid Trail. He and his wife Bernice donated most of the property to the trail and he was involved in the construction. Many residents who love playing tennis can also thank George for leading the charge to build the tennis courts and many 亚洲天堂 Lake hockey players; now grown, learned their skills when young from George鈥檚 coaching.鈥�

鈥淕eorge and Bernice鈥檚 departure will be deeply felt as they both impacted the lives of so many residents in their own ways. The club with miss George鈥檚 community oriented passion and desire to make our community a better place to live.鈥�

The Magee鈥檚 held a garage sale before moving and donated 60 per cent of the proceeds to the 亚洲天堂 Lake Rotary Club.

鈥淭he Magee鈥檚 generously donated $1,541.10 to the club so we can continue to fund projects that so many of us benefit from and enjoy in the community,鈥� said Way

Chief administrator officer Sheryl Worthing of the Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake said that the Magee鈥檚 came to 亚洲天堂 Lake as young professionals seeking a two-year adventure and had no intention of staying for 55 years.

鈥淭he people, lifestyle, and the opportunity to be instrumental in developing healthcare and the community kept them here. They pushed for recognition and improvements from regional and provincial organizations whenever they could.鈥�

鈥淭heir volunteerism list is incredibly long, from rotary to the 亚洲天堂 Lake Community Foundation and everything in between. They will be missed, but we know they will return for summer fishing adventures and barbeques with friends.鈥�

The farewell was attended by 100 people and almost everyone became nostalgic when they shared their past moments and how George and Bernice Magee helped and supported the community throughout their long stay.