Skip to content

Community support leaves mark on Boshoff family

He arrived with just three suitcases in hand and will leave with more than 18 years of memories.
8117855_web1_boshoffbw
Submitted Dr. Johan Boshoff and daughters Danielle, 15, and Lamay, 14, are moving to Chilliwack. Locums will oversee Dr. Boshoff’s practice until a new full-time doctor is hired.

He arrived with just three suitcases in hand and will leave with more than 18 years of memories.

Dr. Johan Boshoff is leaving his practice at the South Similkameen Health Centre. In the interim two locum doctors (Dr. Silva and Dr. Rooke) will care for his 1,300 patients while recruitment is underway for a full-time doctor.

Boshoff said he will continue to work every fourth weekend at the clinic until the New Year.

“All my patients will stay with the practice. They are recruiting to find a replacement for me. I don’t think people have to fret about that,” he said during a phone interview last week.

Boshoff and daughters Danielle and Lamay are headed to Chilliwack.

“I’ve met a lovely lady and we’re getting married,” he said. “We’ll have a blended family.”

During his time in the community Boshoff has seen many professional and personal changes.

The South African born doctor started working in Keremeos in 1999.

His first job in Canada was in a community in Saskatchewan. After about 10 months he started asking around to find out where was the warmest place Canada.

The answer he heard - the Okanagan Valley.

“There was lots of work available at the time. During a five-day period we looked at 23 different clinics. We made a short list and Keremeos came on top of it all,” he said.

Boshoff said the turn-key operation of the clinic in Keremeos was a big draw along with the friendliness of the people in the community and of course the weather.

It was almost a missed opportunity for the community and the Boshoff’s as the clinic offered the job to someone else.

“The job was already taken. We were about to go with the second option in Kimberley. We were just about to sign the contract there and the guy’s papers fell through so there was an opening,” he said.

When he first came to town he stayed at the Elks Motel.

“We drove across the Similkameen River by the rodeo grounds there and looked over the valley. It was May and just beautiful,” he said.

During his time in Keremeos he helped move the clinic to its present location on the highway from where the village office is located now.

The move came about two years after Boshoff arrived.

“It actually took awhile to adjust. It was pretty cozy where we were. Suddenly we were in this big facility and it was all brand new. The centre has served the community well. People come from all over to come and see the model that is setup here,” he said. “One of the features is that you don’t have to buy anything or appoint staff. You practice medicine and you don’t have to worry too much.”

As the population of the area grows so has the need for physicians.

Until 2008, just three doctors ran the health centre, which is a clinic and also handles emergencies outside of clinic hours. Doctors also visit some palliative care patients at home.

A fourth doctor was added about nine years ago.

“That definitely took a load off. There was a big need for that,” he said.

On a personal level both of Boshoff’s daughters Danielle, 15, and Lamay, 14, were born while the family lived in Keremeos.

“They’re excited about the move and of course a little anxious but really happy,” he said.

As many know Helga Boshoff passed away suddenly in 2015. With two teenaged girls and a more than full-time job, Boshoff said it was the community that helped the family through.

“My wife passed away and the sense of community support was something amazing,” he said. “The Keremeos Community Church they been wonderful. The community at large, all the friendships we’ve made they feel like family.”

He said he’ll miss practicing with his colleagues and the community.

At this time he has not made any decisions about where he will practice yet and is keeping his options open.