Born in Victoria, British Columbia
With love & deep sadness, we announce the passing of Dr. Wesley Woychuk, who died peacefully at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, surrounded by family, following a courageous journey with Alzheimer’s disease.
Wes leaves behind his three beloved sons- Lucas, Samuel, & Sebastian Woychuk – who were the greatest joy & pride of his life.
Born to Wilfred & Therese Woychuk, Wes was raised in Victoria & graduated from Mount Douglas Secondary School. From an early age, he was actively involved in sports, playing rep hockey with the Saanich Braves & competing in lacrosse. Wes was also a gifted musician, playing the piano, violin, upright bass, & guitar. His love of music brought him joy & connection throughout his life.
Wes attended medical school at UBC, where he also played varsity hockey for the Thunderbirds. He returned to Victoria for his internship at the RJH, where he was awarded the Silver Medal in Obstetrics. Wes later moved to Kelowna, beginning a distinguished 35-year career as an emergency room physician at Kelowna General Hospital.
Dr. Wes was widely respected by colleagues & deeply appreciated by patients for his compassion, humility & unwavering kindness-especially toward those less fortunate. Easy on the eyes & naturally charming, Wes had a charismatic personality that drew people in. He loved connecting with others & made people feel seen and at ease. Beneath that bright presence was a gentle kindness & deep love of helping others-qualities that made him perfectly suited to the profession he chose.
A passionate sports enthusiast, Wes continued playing hockey throughout his medical career with the Kelowna Doctors Hockey team, maintaining lifelong friendships & a deep love for the game. He was also frequently called upon to serve as an attending physician, toured Europe with the Canadian Olympic Freestyle ski team, was a regular “ski doc” at Big White, “Hock Doc” for the Kelowna Rockets & finally a “rock doc” for visiting musicians.
Despite a successful & fulfilling medical career, Wes’s greatest happiness came from being a father. He cherished raising his three sons & building a family with his former wife, Kim (Chapman). Wes loved being active with his boys-whether playing basketball, football, tennis, or simply having them nearby during his gym workouts. He believed deeply in the power of fitness & movement & remained committed to staying active until the very end.
Wes lived life in two distinct rhythms: boldly on the edge & quietly reflective with a strong, spiritual core. Those who knew him best understood this balance & loved him all the more for it.
Although his final chapter – an unexpected diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease -was profoundly challenging, Wes was determined to live fully & with dignity. His family is deeply grateful to Wes’s best friend, Dr. Paul Linden whose 40-year friendship & unwavering presence through this devastating illness exemplified extraordinary loyalty & kindness.
Wes was also blessed to be surrounded by an exceptional care team whose compassion made a lasting difference: Lynn, Cynthia, Yolanda, Annie, Simon & Della.
Thank you, brother, for all that you were.
A Celebration of Wes’s Life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer’s society.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
This obituary is the property of the “Woychuk” family and may not be reproduced, distributed, or altered in any way without prior written consent.
57 Responses
Dr. Wes was so very very kind to our family when my daughter passed away. He cared for my son while he was in the hospital. The love that he shared with our family will always always be remembered. May your angel wings fly and your love be remembered.
An institution at KGH ER . loved and appreciated by staff and patients alike . He’d always go the extra mile for patients . Great guy and even better ER Doc . RIP big guy you were missed when you left our department .
To the boys, Kim, Wendy and rest of the family. and Paul who was his anchor.
Wes was more than a friend to me, he was a constant. There for me and my family.
He stood by me in some of my darkest seasons. Not out of duty, but because that’s who he was. As my friend, trainer, Dr – he pushed me when I competed and he steadied me when life knocked me down. I watched his family grow and he watched mine. His home was always open and in the gym he was full of laughter. Our lives were connected far beyond profession or title. He was the kind of guy who would help you build a house, help you move, or simply sit and listen when you needed it most. Wes never judged, he accepted you as you were and supported you as you grew. He treated everyone with the same dignity and respect. Quietly and consistently, he showed up for so many.
I will always cherish what you did for me and my family.
Rest easy my friend, you’ve earned your peace.
A wonderful man who always had a smile and a laugh for all who were lucky enough to get to know him
he will be remembered with love , my deepest sympathy to all the family .
Actually met Wes when he first came to town… super talented and nice all around person that definitely had a fun side.
some people will remember “the house on the lake” back in the day..
sad when the good ones are taken too soon…deepest condolences
My heart goes out to Wes’ family; His kids. When I moved to Kelowna in 1992, he was the 1st doc I saw in ER. Years later, I ended up working in ER. He was funny, serious, compassionate, driven. He treated a couple of my kids, and you could feel he hurt at the thought of them feeling pain while being treated.
The tribute here is beautiful. He was involved in so much and was a part of so many lives. Memories will be alive, always.
Wes (and Paul) started in our clinic and we were thrilled to introduce them to Kelowna. Wes was loved by staff, colleagues and patients and extremely diligent in his care. It was Kelowna’s gain to have physician Wes. His contributions were significant and he is gone far too soon. Condolences to the family.
Sharon & Michael Shepherd
Had the pleasure of working with him back in the “old” KGH ER. Great fun loving guy… condolences. Sending light & love
Wes was there when I started at KGH and was always approachable and kind. He made work fun and had many friends. My thoughts go out to his family and friends
I am very sorry to hear of the passing of Wes Woychuk. Whenever I saw Wes around Kelowna, I was greeted with a big smile. In the hospital, Wes was one of the best. If I had to be in Emergency, I was glad when I saw that Wes was one of the physicians on duty.
My condolences to his family.