April 6, 1923 — December 28, 2022

Our dad, Dr. Alexander Boggie, passed away peacefully at Vancouver General Hospital on December 28.  He lived his 99+ years to the fullest and only slowed down over the last week.

He was a true champion of family medicine – a family doctor that did house calls and knew his patients and their families.

He was born to Margaret and Sandy Boggie in Vancouver and began life in Grandview.  The Depression years hit everyone hard and the family moved to Murrayville, where they ran a farm with Dad driving horse teams and milking cows.  All this was done while living in a farmhouse with no electricity or running water.

After a few years on the farm, the family moved back to Grandview, and Dad went to Templeton and Britannia schools where he was active in rugby, lacrosse, and roller hockey.  At the age of 18, he joined the RCAF and served overseas from 1942 to 1945. After returning from the war, he decided to pursue the Department of Veteran Affairs' offer to help returning veterans go to university. He applied to UBC and was accepted. In 1948 he married Rhoda Bowes – the love of his life and our amazing mother.  In 1950 he was offered and accepted a place in the first class of UBC’s new medical school.

In 1954 he graduated from medical school and then went on to complete his internship in Vancouver. After this, the family moved to Vernon where he joined the Vernon Medical Clinic, a thriving small town practice.  From weekly trips to a satellite office in Lumby, to delivering a healthy percentage of the population of Vernon, he saw and did it all.

The family shifted to Vancouver in 1961, where he completed a year of pathology at VGH/UBC.  This was followed by an exciting year in London, England, where he was offered and accepted the chance to do a year of surgical post-graduate studies at Hammersmith Hospital.

In 1963 the family returned to Vernon, where he resumed his busy practice at the Vernon Medical Clinic.

In 1969 his career shifted back to Vancouver, where he was asked by Dr. Clyde Slade to join the faculty as a full-time teacher and mentor in the new Department of Family Practice. His work in developing the Family Practice Unit was extremely fulfilling as he was able to share his practical experience with developing medical students.

With this job came the opportunity to be an examiner for the certification exam for Family Practice (CCFP), which helped to develop a practical and reputable curriculum for undergraduate and residency programs.

The last eight years before retiring in 1988 were spent practicing and teaching half time while also acting as associate dean of Admissions to UBC’s medical school.  How fitting for a graduate of the first medical school class at UBC to return there after a long and successful medical career to assume the role of associate dean of Admissions.

In all his roles, key ingredients to his success were his ability to interact with people, coupled with his enjoyment of practicing medicine.  He was the same person in the office or hospital as he was at home.

After retirement, he continued to be very active, as shown by the following achievements:

1989/90

Elected president of the Medical Council of Canada.

2000

Received the UBC Faculty of Medicine’s Golden Jubilee Medal – for exceptional and outstanding contribution to the faculty.

2001

Received the Wallace Wilson Leadership Award – presented annually to a graduate of the UBC Faculty of Medicine who has demonstrated high ethical standards and outstanding leadership to the profession.

2001

Chair of the UBC 50th Anniversary Endowment Fund Committee, which raised $1.5 million to assist medical students.

2005

Established the Rhoda and Al Boggie M.D. Entrance Bursary to financially help 1st year medical students.

2018  

Co-chair on the board of directors that helped to create the initial funding for the Friedman Award for Scholars in Health.

Other great qualities about Dad were his insatiable curiosity and desire to travel and learn more about people from all areas of the world.  He and Mom travelled extensively until her passing in 2000.  From car trips to airplanes, to trains and cruise ships, they travelled the world. When they were not travelling they enjoyed spending time with their family and their wide circle of friends. Dad also had a great sense of humour, loved to tell stories, and had a very optimistic view on life.

Dad was predeceased by our Mom, Rhoda, and his granddaughter, Sarah. He is survived by his three children – Margaret (Bruce), Trevor (Virginia), and Sandi (Steve); six grandchildren – Fraser, Spencer, Alex, Lauren, Bryce, and Claire; and three great grandchildren – Sienna, Grant and Ethan.

A special thank you to all the staff and care givers at Tapestry and doctors and staff at UBC Family Practice Unit.

Dr. Boggie’s family has requested that if you would like to honour his legacy to please consider making a donation to the already established Rhoda and Al Boggie M.D. Entrance Bursary at UBC. This family bursary is to support students entering the first year of the MD Program who have graduated from secondary schools located outside the Greater Vancouver Regional District or the Capital Region District. You can make a donation here. 

There will be no public service or celebration.