Dr. George Magee: Burns Lake Medical Pioneer & Community Leader
Dozens of physicians have made significant contributions to health care in the Lakes District during the past century. Dr. Steele and then Dr. Holmes served the area well in the early years, and others like Dr. Trevor Thompson, Dr. Jack Matvenko, and Dr. G. S. Battersby followed in their footsteps. More recently, doctors Michael Graetz and Greg Norman devoted much of their lives to patients in the region. Yet few had as much impact here and elsewhere as Dr. George Magee.
Early Life and Education
Dr. Magee was born in Welland, Ontario, in 1939 and raised in the nearby community of Port Colborne. He completed his high school education at Upper Canada College in Toronto before pursuing his medical degree at the University of Toronto, graduating in 1966. Following graduation, Dr. Magee moved west to complete his medical internship and a one-year residency in General Surgery at Vancouver General Hospital between 1966 and 1968.
In 1967, he married Bernice Elliott, a registered nurse whose partnership, support, and shared dedication would prove foundational to both his personal life and his subsequent medical career.
Fifty-Five Years of Rural Medical Practice (1968–2023)
On July 1, 1968, Dr. Magee and Bernice arrived in Burns Lake, embarking on what would become a profound, 55-year journey of medical service and community integration. Reflecting on his early days, Dr. Magee often describes his introduction to the region as a "baptism by fire." Within 48 hours of his arrival in Burns Lake, his first day on call, and before he had been able to familiarize himself, the hospital received nine victims of a serious car accident. The local healthcare landscape at the time was deeply shaped by the United Church of Canada, which built and managed the local hospital as part of its rural medical outpost program. The church’s program was instrumental in training local nurses and technicians, and supporting a fully volunteer ambulance crew—infrastructure that proved vital to the survival and success of Dr. Magee’s early practice.
“Everyone showed up, including a fan-out request for help from surrounding communities,” said Dr. Magee. “The spirit of the North was magnetic in keeping me there.”
Throughout more than five decades of practice, Dr. Magee operated with a philosophy deeply rooted in collaboration between his family and the broader Lakes District community. His medical contributions to the region were diverse and impactful.
Community Involvement and Legacy
Beyond the walls of the clinic and hospital, Dr. Magee was deeply woven into the social and athletic fabric of Burns Lake.
Dr. George Magee’s legacy is inseparable from the history of Burns Lake. His 55 years in the region represent a true symbiosis between a dedicated country doctor and a community that embraced, challenged, and grew alongside him. As Dr. Magee notes, it was the inclusion, character, and spirit of the Burns Lake community that truly shaped his life and career.
Dozens of physicians have made significant contributions to health care in the Lakes District during the past century. Dr. Steele and then Dr. Holmes served the area well in the early years, and others like Dr. Trevor Thompson, Dr. Jack Matvenko, and Dr. G. S. Battersby followed in their footsteps. More recently, doctors Michael Graetz and Greg Norman devoted much of their lives to patients in the region. Yet few had as much impact here and elsewhere as Dr. George Magee.
Early Life and Education
Dr. Magee was born in Welland, Ontario, in 1939 and raised in the nearby community of Port Colborne. He completed his high school education at Upper Canada College in Toronto before pursuing his medical degree at the University of Toronto, graduating in 1966. Following graduation, Dr. Magee moved west to complete his medical internship and a one-year residency in General Surgery at Vancouver General Hospital between 1966 and 1968.
In 1967, he married Bernice Elliott, a registered nurse whose partnership, support, and shared dedication would prove foundational to both his personal life and his subsequent medical career.
Fifty-Five Years of Rural Medical Practice (1968–2023)
On July 1, 1968, Dr. Magee and Bernice arrived in Burns Lake, embarking on what would become a profound, 55-year journey of medical service and community integration. Reflecting on his early days, Dr. Magee often describes his introduction to the region as a "baptism by fire." Within 48 hours of his arrival in Burns Lake, his first day on call, and before he had been able to familiarize himself, the hospital received nine victims of a serious car accident. The local healthcare landscape at the time was deeply shaped by the United Church of Canada, which built and managed the local hospital as part of its rural medical outpost program. The church’s program was instrumental in training local nurses and technicians, and supporting a fully volunteer ambulance crew—infrastructure that proved vital to the survival and success of Dr. Magee’s early practice.
“Everyone showed up, including a fan-out request for help from surrounding communities,” said Dr. Magee. “The spirit of the North was magnetic in keeping me there.”
Throughout more than five decades of practice, Dr. Magee operated with a philosophy deeply rooted in collaboration between his family and the broader Lakes District community. His medical contributions to the region were diverse and impactful.
- Obstetrics: Providing essential obstetric care left an indelible mark on Dr. Magee’s career. He delivered generations of residents, navigating the high-stakes demands of rural deliveries, including countless single births, twins, and a memorable set of triplets.
- Medical Education & Mentorship: Dr. Magee and his colleagues frequently hosted, fed, and mentored medical students and resident nurses. Under his guidance, Burns Lake became one of the province's most popular rural medical training destinations, successfully inspiring several students to return to the community to establish their own permanent practices.
- The "Burns Lake Project": Recognizing the unique challenges of isolated clinical environments, Dr. Magee initiated and co-authored The Manual of Rural Medicine. Originally dubbed the "Burns Lake Project," this textbook was directly modeled on the extensive scope of medical work performed and taught in Burns Lake. Medical students across Canada, Australia, and New Zealand adopted it. This initiative was supported by the Society of Rural Medicine of BC, of which Burns Lake was a founding partner and where Dr. Magee holds a lifetime membership.
- Advocacy for Local Healthcare: Dr. Magee remained a fierce advocate for local healthcare infrastructure, actively campaigning for critical facilities like a fully functioning operating room (OR) in the local hospital to ensure expectant mothers could give birth locally and residents had access to safe, acute, and specialized care without traveling dangerous highway corridors.
Community Involvement and Legacy
Beyond the walls of the clinic and hospital, Dr. Magee was deeply woven into the social and athletic fabric of Burns Lake.
- Rotary Club of Burns Lake: A long-term member and past president, Dr. Magee credits his time with Rotary as a primary gateway to his deep integration into the community. He was honored as a Paul Harris Award recipient and spent years organizing and participating in the annual Rotary Tweedsmuir Trek. His most enduring physical legacy with the club was spearheading the project to construct the local tennis courts.
- Minor Hockey: Dr. Magee was an active member and coach within the Burns Lake minor hockey organization. He coached several teams over the years, most notably behind the bench for the Burns Lake Braves and a special pewee team that captured a BC Provincial Championship title.
Dr. George Magee’s legacy is inseparable from the history of Burns Lake. His 55 years in the region represent a true symbiosis between a dedicated country doctor and a community that embraced, challenged, and grew alongside him. As Dr. Magee notes, it was the inclusion, character, and spirit of the Burns Lake community that truly shaped his life and career.
