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
I will never forget the feeling, like a freight train running through my heart, when Wes and I locked eyes in the cafeteria at the Woodward Library all those years ago. A young romance fuelled by the magic of Wes; it was a wonderful time of life for us all! Wes was so smart, so handsome, and best of all, had the craziest sense of humour. While he could command the attention of an entire room, he also had the depth to connect with people individually, and it is wonderful to read the tributes of those whose lives he impacted so meaningfully. His salt of the earth values represented those of his amazing parents, Wilf and Terry. Wendy, you are such a loyal and adoring sister, I cannot imagine how heart breaking this all must be for all of you. My deepest condolences to you all. I will always hold a special place in my heart for Wes.
old friend from Victoria..
my twin❤️
mistaken for each other many times..lol
gonna miss you bubba.
rest easy Wes.❤️
I met Wes over 35 years ago at one of many family gatherings.
Wes was always available to take care of our family when in need.
The last time I saw Wes was probably a dozen years ago in the grocery store. He had two kids in the cart, and one hanging off his leg. Wes had a big smile on his face and had time for a chat!
The world has lost a incredible human being! Rest in peace Wes. Condolences to Wes’s family.
I am shocked. If ever there was a force of nature Wes would be that. I worked with him in the Emergency Dept from time to time , he always made me feel welcome even though I was a fish out of water. I only had one conversation with him and I felt like I had his
complete attention. It is tragedy that he has been taken from his loved ones at such a young age.
I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
Maya Angelou
Wes was one of those people who left a lasting impression from the very beginning. I first met him through his close friend Terry Jones back in our Mount Doug days, and I will always be grateful for that introduction. Some of my favourite memories from high school include the good times we shared, the laughter, the music, the sports, and the easy camaraderie that Wes seemed to create wherever he went.
Even then, he had that rare mix of confidence and kindness. He was talented, generous in spirit, and genuinely interested in the people around him. It is no surprise that he went on to live such a meaningful life in service to others.
My heartfelt condolences to his family.
Rest In Peace My Friend!
An incredible human being!
I thank Wes for being there when you needed him. He pulled me out of a Code Blue first and then years later read a CScan to diagnose my Colon Cancer and saved my life for the second time. I think of him often and will continue to do so. RIP Wes.
Wes you were such a caring Dr I can’t say enough about how I was treated by you. Heaven has just received another angel. RIP Wes you were such a incredible man. God bless brother
I can’t remember a time when Dr. Wes wasn’t a part of my life. Between being in my fathers’ gym (Bodyz in Motion) doing crazy workout routines like handstand pushups with a weighted vest or making house calls when I was sick or injured, even just the odd visits. He was always a blinding light of happiness and charm, an idol and a life long friend.
So sorry to hear about Wes’s crippling and incapacitating struggle with Alzheimer’s and recent passing. Worked with Wes for 20 years at the KGH emergency department. Shared some fun times and critical moments working in ER. My deepest condolences to Wes’s family. Rest in peace Wes.