Perfect Day, Every Day. Choosing Victoria for Your Family Practice.
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Transcript of Perfect Day, Every Day. Choosing Victoria for Your Family Practice.
perfect dayevery day
CHOOSING VICTORIA FOR YOUR FAMILY PRACTICE
CHOOSING THE PLACE TO SET UP YOUR PRACTICE OR TO JOIN AN EXISTING ONE CAN BE ONE OF THE TOUGHEST DECISIONS YOUrsquoLL EVER MAKE
2 YOUR PRACTICE CAN SUIT YOUR LIFESTYLE
4 PRIORITIZING YOUR WORK-LIFE BALANCE
6 OUTDOOR LIVING IN THE WARM WEST
8 THE BEST PLACE TO RAISE YOUR FAMILY
10 YOUR VICTORIA DIVISION OF FAMILY PRACTICE
12 WELCOME amp TRANSITIONS MENTORING
14 MAKING PRACTICE COVERAGE A PRIORITY
16 CARING FOR OUR PHYSICIANSrsquo WELLBEING
THE BEST decisionOF YOUR LIFE
WE ASKED DOCTORS LIKE YOU WHY THEY CHOSE TO PRACTICE IN VICTORIA THEIR ANSWERS MAY HELP YOU TO MAKE
10 YOUR VICTORIA DIVISION OF FAMILY PRACTICE
12 WELCOME amp TRANSITIONS MENTORING
14 MAKING PRACTICE COVERAGE A PRIORITY
16 CARING FOR OUR PHYSICIANSrsquo WELLBEING
18 ACCESS TO CME
20 STRONG CONNECTIONS WITH SPECIALISTS
22 MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO TUTOR amp TEACH
24 BIG CITY OFFERINGS SMALL TOWN VIBE
26 AFTER HOURS FUN
28 FACT FILE
30 RESOURCES
31 BOOK A TOUR
SO MANY REASONS TO FLIP OVER VICTORIA WHY
PRACTICE FAMILY MEDICINE IN VICTORIA
1
Everyone knows Victoria is a stunning city that boasts one of the warmest climates in Canada and that offers recreational opportunities to excite outdoor enthusiasts year round As a family doctor you want a practice that best serves your community while engaging your interests and vision Here you have the flexibility to create the practice that you desire and that matches your lifestyle
Perhaps you like the idea of testing the waters
as a locum physician to give you a strong
introduction before either launching your
own practice or joining an established clinic
Maybe you see yourself as a hospitalist or ER
doctor at Victoria General Hospital (VGH) or the
Royal Jubilee Hospital (RJH) or as supporting
one of our many busy walk-in clinics
There are also plenty of opportunities for a
more specialized practice whether that means
developing your niche working with teens at
the Victoria Youth Clinic working as a military
physician with CFB Esquimalt or joining the
oncologists at the BC Cancer Agency
Whatever your professional goal yoursquoll find
it here on the warm and temperate west coast
in British Columbiarsquos vibrant capital city
The Victoria Division of Family Practice
the thriving professional association that
represents our GP community organizes
a full roster of professional development
opportunities to build your knowledge base
We enjoy strong ties between GPs and
specialists We have an excellent medical
school with opportunities to teach medical
students and residents Our growing locum
matching system can give you a job
or a much needed break
in a nutshell we want you here and your services are needed We will support you in settling in Victoria and in caring for your overall wellbeing
2
Your practice can suit your lifestyleldquoTo pick a place to setup a practice I think
you really have to look at your lifestyle and your personality
Ask yourself what kinds of things you want to do and to get
at both outside the office and within the office itself
I think you have to be able to reconcile your interests and your
hobbies with the environment Certainly around here therersquos
a variety of opportunities from a big city feel in an urban
environment to a country feel in a rural environment all
within very short order of downtown Victoriardquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program at the University of Victoria
ldquoThere are many options here to tailor your work to create a practice that reflects what you really
want If you want to be solely community-based you can
do that If you prefer hospitalist work there are ways to do that
Therersquos an abundance of walk-in clinics so you can add hours
on evenings and on weekends if you need to Itrsquos very flexible
Irsquom mostly based out of the clinic during the week Irsquom also
doing some shifts at a walk-in clinic on weekends as I feel
I have the energy to do so Irsquove joined a large call group where
Irsquom only on call six days a year That allows my patients to have
after-hours coverage but I donrsquot have too much burden in the
evenings and on weekends It allows me the freedom to enjoy
other things in my life I have an infant at home so I appreciate
having as much time as I can with her with my husband
to explore the island to spend time outdoors and to enjoy
our new home Therersquos a lot to dordquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just GP Tuscany Medical Clinic
Flexibility to Mix + Match Your Own Practice StyleOPTIONS TO WORK AS Abull Full-Service Doctorbull Hospitalistbull Doctor with a Specialtybull Locum Doctorbull Part-time Family Practitioner
OPTIONS TO WORK INbull The Militarybull Walk-in Clinicsbull Emergency Roomsbull The Victoria Youth Clinicbull Island Sexual Healthbull Obstetrics amp Maternity Carebull Palliative Care bull Long-term Residential Carebull Hospice Carebull The BC Cancer Agencybull
THE 12 BEST THINGS ABOUT VICTORIA
ltVOTED BY LOCALSgt
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT CLIMATE
AIR QUALITY FRIENDS amp FAMILY
FEELING OF SAFETYWALKABILITY
PARKS RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES
ACCESS TO LOCALLY GROWN FOOD ARTS amp CULTURE
FESTIVALS amp EVENTS SENSE OF COMMUNITY
DESIGN YOUR
DREAMLIFE
88 per cent of locals would describe themselves as happy
The Galloping Goose is a 60km bike trail that spans Sooke Metchosin Colwood Langford View Royal Saanich Sidney and Victoria It attracts 17-million users each year
FIND THAT
SWEET SPOT
Snow + Surf EscapesVictoria to Sombrio Beach 1h47mVictoria to Mount Washington 3h8mVictoria to Tofino 4h16m
5
Prioritizing your work-life balanceldquoI think here in Victoria we have a different idea of what
our lives should look like Between family
responsibilities work and play we need
to strike a balanced equation
The Victoria physicians I know do it brilliantly
There are so many doctors who are working
a few days in their family practice or in a group
practice doing youth clinic shifts doing Island
Sexual Health shifts sometimes working in the
hospital plus trying to have balance for their
personal and family commitments I myself
really honour the variety of work that I have
The location of Victoria and Vancouver Island
is one that just inspires work-life balance
because there is so much beauty and so much
recreational opportunity hererdquo
mdash Dr Mark Sherman Integrative Family Medicine
Physician James Bay Community Project Executive
Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
ldquoThe best thing about being in Victoria is having access to fresh air
ocean breeze and waves that crash downthey lead your mind
to a peaceful state I also really enjoy the sense of balance people
have in their lives between family work and the outdoors
The general attitude is a mix of productivity
and relaxation In some cities people walk
straight ahead as though nobody else exists
In Victoria people will talk to you in coffee shops
and acknowledge each other on the street
It gives the city a real feeling of communityrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young GP
MOST ADULTS WORK LESSTHAN 50 HOURS PER WEEK
J B lt25 25ndash34 35ndash49 50ndash59 60+
Best places to walk your dog Dallas Road Thetis Lake Elk Lake
Best urban escapes Beacon Hill Park Mount Doug Willowrsquos Beach
548178
163
62 48
Average number of hours worked in one week
6
Outdoor living in the warm westldquoI grew up in Montreal and loved the big
city environment When I came to BC I fell in love with
the outdoors the mountains the ocean the outdoor
opportunities surfing on the west coast rainforest walks
I had the world of choice of where to practice and once I had
visited a few times it seemed like the perfect place for my wife
and I to practice medicine and to live play and raise our kids
I really love surfing and spending time in the forests and on
the beaches with my kids I love exposing them to that raw
natural beauty of the West Coast We love skiing and Mount
Washington is just three hours up the island near Courtenay
We also love visiting the special subcultures of the Gulf Islandsrdquo
mdash Dr Mark Sherman
ldquoYou can do whatever
you want to do outside
all year round Thatrsquos probably
the one thing that allows
everyone to stay active
and to keep our really healthy
90-year-olds aroundrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoItrsquos January and the flowers are outrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
ldquoI feel like this is paradise everyday
Itrsquos such nice mild weather
because Irsquom used to such cold
and ice I donrsquot even wear
a jacket most days Itrsquos nice
not having to worry about
winter boots or mitts I think
the coldest itrsquos been since I got
here was in December when
it was minus one degree
So for me itrsquos just wonderfulrdquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
25
20
15
10
5
0
Average Annual Temperatures degC
EXPLORE WEST COAST
RAW+RUGGED NATURE
more than 27000 hectares
(11 of the land base ) under
park or protected area status
33 regional parks amp trails
788 km bikeway network
(the PIC or Primary
Inter-Community Network)
more than 25 completed
mildest winters in Canada
temperatures rarely below
0degC or above 30degC
lowest rainfall on British
Columbiarsquos west coast
Springtime marked by
blooming of the cherry
blossoms normally
in mid-February
71 per cent of locals spend their leisure time being active
KID-FRIENDLY Beach Life Downtown to
Dallas Road Gonzales Bay 10 minWillowrsquos Beach 12 minCadboro-Gyro Beach Park 16 minWhittyrsquos Lagoon 41 min
9
The best place to raise your familyldquoThere arenrsquot many places in Canada where kids can play outside without their
snowsuit all year long We walk to school walk to parks and wersquore a block away from the beach I can
get off of work pick up my kids within 15 minutes and get them to their lessons in another 15 minutes
The commute compared to many cities is incredible Quality private education is affordable which
means rather than being exclusive there are a lot of professional parents in the mixrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
ldquoIn terms of childcare there
are a lot of licensed family daycares and other
options Irsquove also noticed a wide variety
of schools for children of different age groups
from Montessori to very good public schools
to lots of private optionsrdquo ndash Dr Celeste Just
PARTIAL SCHOOL LIST
91 per cent of youth spend their leisure time being active
ldquoI donrsquot think therersquos any better place for families than Victoriardquo mdash Dr Janet Mak GPDoctorrsquos Medical Clinic
bull 27 PUBLIC ELEMENTARY
bull 10 PUBLIC MIDDLE
bull 7 PUBLIC SECONDARY
bull 14 MONTESSORI
bull GLENLYON NORFOLK SCHOOL
bull ST MICHAELrsquoS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL
bull ST MARGARETrsquoS SCHOOL
bull ARTSCALIBRE ACADEMY
bull OAK AND ORCA BIOREGIONAL SCHOOL
bull ST PATRICKrsquoS ELEMENTARY
bull ST ANDREWrsquoS REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
bull ST JOSEPHrsquoS ELEMENTARY
bull ELIZABETH BUCKLEY SCHOOL
bull PEARSON COLLEGE
Fun Stuff for Kidsbull Exploring nature trails
rainforests amp beachesbull Beacon Hill
Childrenrsquos Farmbull IMAX Victoria amp the
Royal BC Royal Museumbull Dolphin amp Whale Watchingbull Miniature Worldbull Bug Zoobull AdrenaLine Zipline
Adventuresbull Fort Rodd Hill
amp Fisgard Lighthousebull Maritime Museum of BCbull Harbour Ferry Toursbull Blenkinsop Valley
Adventure Golf Centrebull Western Speedway
bull All Fun Recreation Parkbull Wittyrsquos Lagoon Tide Pools
amp Skimboarding bull Butterfly Worldbull Butchart Gardens
Childrenrsquos Pavilion amp Rose Carousel
bull Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre
bull Annual Lego Exhibitbull Victoria Royals
Hockey Gamesbull Victoria Shamrocks
Lacrosse Gamesbull Victoria HarbourCats
Baseball Gamesbull Fishermanrsquos Wharfbull Ghostly Walks
10
Your Victoria Division of Family PracticeldquoThe Division is filling the void of socialization
peer support and practice improvement Since itrsquos inception
our community of family doctors has become more united
through a variety of projects such as securing locums and
practice coverage working on senior support in nursing homes
and increasing communication between patients caregivers
hospitals and GPs They offer many CME events and mentoring
for new and transitioning physicians to make it easier to settle
here or to transition into a different style of practice
The Divisionrsquos work has allowed community physicians
to come together and say lsquoThis is whatrsquos really important
to me Irsquom going to get involvedrsquo We have almost 400 member
physicians in Victoria and those who are getting involved are
really seeing the positive outcome and change they can have
That has a huge influence on creating change and allows
physicians to feel they are contributing to societyrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
Strength in numbersBenefit from the member-driven
work of your professional association
for local GPs in Victoria the Victoria
Division of Family Practice
Our members are empowered
to identify areas for change within
the local medical system and are
funded to join working groups that
reflect their passions Together
we devise and enable strategies
for real improvement
SOME DIVISION INITIATIVESbull A GP for Mebull Welcome amp Transitions Mentorshipbull Monthly Dine amp Learn Seriesbull Locum amp Practice Coverage Matchingbull Transitions in Care amp e-Notificationbull TORCH Toward Optimal Residential
Care Healthbull Emergency Response Planningbull Mental Health amp Substance Usebull Frail Seniors in the Communitybull Community Building amp Engagementbull Physician Resource Guidebull MOA Networkbull Mindfulness Meditation for GPs
ldquoI feel this group here is very forward-thinking so there are lots of opportunities to get involved
and to push forward initiatives that you believe inrdquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just
SUPPORTED BY AN awesomePROFESSIONALASSOCIATION
warm
WELCOME
GPs Dr Jessica Fry and Dr Caitlin Harmon have had great experiences with mentoring medical students and new doctors in Victoria
13
Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring ProgramBeing the new kid on the block can be tough
Thatrsquos why the Victoria Division pairs welcoming physician
mentors with doctors who are new to the area or who are shifting
their practice style Matches are made with the aim of connecting
people whose interests and availability align
Mentors sometimes meet their partners for a casual coffee or dinner or accompany them to Division
engagement events They can make introductions and offer important local or insider knowledge
supporting a physicianrsquos smooth transition to Victoria
or to a new type of practice
There are all sorts of reasons you might wish for a mentor
throughout your career The Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring
program supports physicians in all stages of their professional
lives whether you are a first year student a resident a doctor
new to the area or a GP practicing in Victoria The program also
matches mentors to those transitioning into a new area of practice
returning to work after having a baby or raising children or
preparing for retirement These personal connections can offer
a softer smoother transition to the next chapter of your life
ldquoI think it is important to support
new doctors whether they are new graduates
or have recently moved here from somewhere
else I think it definitely helps them to be more
successful and makes them more likely
to want to stay in Victoria
I myself did my residency in Victoria
and my main preceptor was Dr Darcy Nielsen
She was my mentor for all things medicine
and medicine-related She taught me what
I should look for in setting up a practice
and gave me good information about things
like accounting and incorporation
I have worked with a couple of new doctors
including one doctor who shadowed me
for a few shifts at Island Sexual Health
I taught her how to insert IUDs but also
got her thinking about things like how to set
up locums finances accounting and what
to incorporate into her practice long-term
Experiences like this give me the satisfaction
of helping new doctors just like others helped
me and remind me of all the things I really like
about practicing medicine in Victoriardquo
mdash Dr Caitlin Harmon
Dr Caitlin Harmon Family PracticeGrow Health
MENTORS ARE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORTbull Medical students from Year 1 onwardbull Residents bull GPs new to Victoria bull GPs wanting to locum bull GPs planning to work or volunteer abroadbull GPs transitioning to a new specializationbull GPs planning a familybull GPs returning from maternity leavebull GPs returning after raising childrenbull GPs retiringbull and more
To find your mentor contact Helen Welch hwelchdivisionsbcca
ldquoThe Division was very helpful for me to learn how to work in Victoria what job opportunities there are and what opportunities there are for continuing medical educationrdquo mdash Dr Celeste Just
14
Making practice coverage a priorityWe know great doctors stay that way by scheduling their well-earned breaks We also know that
locums are often more free-spirited and adventurous
and are looking for freedom and options in their schedules
The Divisionrsquos innovative one-stop locum matching service
makes that possible by supporting member locums looking
for jobs and family physicians who need practice coverage
As a locum yoursquoll have access to the best jobs in Victoria
competitive remuneration rates mentoring and administrative
support for details like logistics contracts and billing
As a member seeking coverage yoursquoll learn how to prepare
and make your practice more attractive to locums Yoursquoll also
receive support and advice on crafting effective job postings
Finding the perfect match means combining
technology with networking and personal individual support
Our locum matching service asks physicians exactly what they
are looking for in a locum or practice coverage job to ensure
the most suitable arrangements can be found
ldquoI see a lot of need for locums My wife and I have each completed at least 20 locum positionsrdquo mdash Dr Bruce Rebner
ldquoTherersquos something to be said about the locum
lifestyle We donrsquot have kids yet
and we enjoy travelling so being
locums gives my wife and I some
freedom The longer-term idea
is to establish a practice but there
are definitely periods of your life
when locuming makes sense
I think itrsquos an attractive option
at both ends of the career when
yoursquore young and after yoursquove
worked for 20 or 30 years and
have given up your practice
Division events like the Dine
amp Learns are great platforms
to meet fellow doctors
And the locum coordinator
has been really easily accessible
Irsquove emailed a couple of times
for a specific ten days and she
has worked very hard to find
a matchrdquo
mdash Dr Bruce Rebner often locums
in Victoria elsewhere in BC NWT
and New Zealand
Unique options like cross-coverage long-term locums part-time associates and transition-to-retirement practice coverage are supported
LOCUMSlove FOR
MIND OVER MATTER
ldquoI believe we serve ourselves by
practicing what we preach and by
walking our talkrdquomdash Dr Mark Sherman Executive Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
17
The Victoria Division of Family Practice has teamed up with the BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm) to offer eight-week courses for family physicians in mindfulness-based meditation
Caring for our physiciansrsquo wellbeing ldquoWhen it comes to physician stress the CMA did a study in 2003 on physician burnout
and estimated that 47 per cent of us across the board in Canada are in the advanced stages of burnout
There is a stress epidemic for a variety of reasons As physiciansmdashpeople who are in the healthcare
and wellness professionmdashI think wersquore prone to stress because of our sincere will to help others
which is often what brings us into medicine in the first place Physicians have a tendency toward
perfectionism and other traits that make stress very common
For that reason tools like mindfulness cognitive
behaviour strategies meditation and positive
psychology are particularly useful for us
As physicians we all know intellectually about
the burdens of stress and how that can affect
our cardiovascular and mental health Yet by
managing our own stress by having embodied
presence and by having a meditation practice
when wersquore giving advice to our patients
and are speaking from a place of heart
as opposed to just from the head our message
comes through more clearly
Wersquove had quite a few physicians come into
the mindfulness program One of the exciting
things that the Division is facilitating is the
group specifically for physicians which focuses
on the unique challenges of being a physician
in Victoria
Through the Practice Support Program wersquove
also had a group for physicians to use some
mindfulness tools in their practice That was
quite popularrdquo mdash Dr Mark Sherman
BCalmrsquos referral-based mindfulness meditation courses are MSP-funded for both physicians and their patients
MIND OVER MATTER
18
ldquoThe physicians with whom we engage I have to admit are the cream of the crop because they are interested in continuing
education and in being on the forefront of how to be more effective in the care
of their patientsrdquomdash Esther Stevens Coordinator
Regional Practice Support Program Island Health
ldquoThe Dine and Learn sessions generally have one or more specialist physicians who come to talk about a particular topic Therersquos a presentation portion followed by a QampA They tend to be smaller groups so you can get more clinical questions answeredrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
Access to continuingmedical educationVictoriarsquos medical community benefits from an abundance
of local CME opportunities to keep you on the forefront
Medical Conferences As the capital city of British
Columbia and the largest city on Vancouver Island Victoria
attracts an impressive variety of annual medical conferences
Dine amp Learn Events The Divisionrsquos wildly popular
monthly Dine amp Learn events connect GPs with specialists
to exchange knowledge and to solidify strong relationships
in a social setting
Practice Support Program CME-accredited learning
modules and in-practice coaching help GPs to improve
clinical and practice management and patient care delivery
Provincial Academic Detailing Pharmacists provide
objective evidence-informed drug information to physicians
on best prescribing practices
Community Rounds Hospital-based CME events
on a rotating roster of specialized topics
LEARNING WITH YOUR
COLLEAGUES
nurturing GPndashSPECIALIST
RELATIONS
Pediatrician Dr Krystal Cullen delivers a talk at a Dine amp Learn event that brought five local pediatricians together with family practitioners for presentations and case discussions
21
ldquoIn my experience having worked here before and after implementation of the Divisions there used to be very little opportunity to get to know the specialists Now itrsquos quite straightforwardrdquomdash Dr Heera Bindra Tuscany Medical Clinic
Monthly Dine amp Learn events take place throughout Victoria and bring specialists together with family physicians to exchange knowledge network and strengthen relationships
Strong connections with specialists ldquoSpecialists are really an armrsquos length away
here We have all specialties and even some sub-specialties
within those Theyrsquore all approachable and you can
at any point call for help Given the population of Victoria
itrsquos relatively easy to see specialists even if itrsquos non-urgent
They are quite receptive to referrals in a timely manner
What I really appreciate is that therersquos good interaction
between the specialists and the family doctors The Dine
and Learn events that the Division offers allow us to interact
with specialists on a personal basis in a small group setting
and to get local input on a given topic I feel like this
relationship is relatively unique because a lot of places donrsquot
have full service specialists
As well the attitude of our specialists is very open
and approachable Our interactions and communication
between family doctors and specialists is very congenial
and thatrsquos more rewarding for both the patients and the
physicians in practicerdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoBeyond meeting with specialists the Dine amp Learns and other Division events are great for getting to know our general practice colleagues I am lucky to work in a group of four doctors but if I were in a solo practice without the Division I wouldnrsquot have had so much interactionrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
22
ldquoWersquore always putting out calls for interested tutors to come and participate in the programrdquomdash Dr Steve Martin Year 1amp2 Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program University of Victoria
Many opportunities to tutor amp teachThe Island Medical Program (IMP) at the University of Victoria is one of four provincial sites
of UBCrsquos distributed MD Undergraduate Program The program
accepts 32 medical students each year allowing many
opportunities for family doctors to get involved with tutoring
and direct mentorship
Within the Clinical Skills Program doctors act as tutors to small
groups of students for various modules delivered at a hospital
clinical site Students then spend dedicated time within a
family practice office for direct mentorship Depending on the
studentrsquos relationship with the physician they may see their
own patients or see them with the family practitionermentor
Through experience and role modelling about how they
work with patients tutors also offer a wealth of intangible
information that doesnrsquot appear in the curriculum Students
often remark on how important it is for them to learn how
to be doctors
These tutors and mentors are identified as teaching faculty
within the UBC program itself
ldquoItrsquos amazing how many tutors come back and say how the
experience has renewed their
interest in medicine and has
rejuvenated them in ways they
didnrsquot anticipate
Our family practice tutors
really find it engaging They
like the studentsrsquo questions
and it challenges them Some
come and stay for long periods
others come and go or take
breaks Irsquove had some tutors
for the last 11 years Overall
they really enjoy it and are
just very thankful
The students particularly
enjoy the variety of young
new tutors and some of the
older wiser more experienced
tutors They all bring different
elements to it and students
really appreciate bothrdquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin
share YOUR
WISDOM
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
CHOOSING THE PLACE TO SET UP YOUR PRACTICE OR TO JOIN AN EXISTING ONE CAN BE ONE OF THE TOUGHEST DECISIONS YOUrsquoLL EVER MAKE
2 YOUR PRACTICE CAN SUIT YOUR LIFESTYLE
4 PRIORITIZING YOUR WORK-LIFE BALANCE
6 OUTDOOR LIVING IN THE WARM WEST
8 THE BEST PLACE TO RAISE YOUR FAMILY
10 YOUR VICTORIA DIVISION OF FAMILY PRACTICE
12 WELCOME amp TRANSITIONS MENTORING
14 MAKING PRACTICE COVERAGE A PRIORITY
16 CARING FOR OUR PHYSICIANSrsquo WELLBEING
THE BEST decisionOF YOUR LIFE
WE ASKED DOCTORS LIKE YOU WHY THEY CHOSE TO PRACTICE IN VICTORIA THEIR ANSWERS MAY HELP YOU TO MAKE
10 YOUR VICTORIA DIVISION OF FAMILY PRACTICE
12 WELCOME amp TRANSITIONS MENTORING
14 MAKING PRACTICE COVERAGE A PRIORITY
16 CARING FOR OUR PHYSICIANSrsquo WELLBEING
18 ACCESS TO CME
20 STRONG CONNECTIONS WITH SPECIALISTS
22 MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO TUTOR amp TEACH
24 BIG CITY OFFERINGS SMALL TOWN VIBE
26 AFTER HOURS FUN
28 FACT FILE
30 RESOURCES
31 BOOK A TOUR
SO MANY REASONS TO FLIP OVER VICTORIA WHY
PRACTICE FAMILY MEDICINE IN VICTORIA
1
Everyone knows Victoria is a stunning city that boasts one of the warmest climates in Canada and that offers recreational opportunities to excite outdoor enthusiasts year round As a family doctor you want a practice that best serves your community while engaging your interests and vision Here you have the flexibility to create the practice that you desire and that matches your lifestyle
Perhaps you like the idea of testing the waters
as a locum physician to give you a strong
introduction before either launching your
own practice or joining an established clinic
Maybe you see yourself as a hospitalist or ER
doctor at Victoria General Hospital (VGH) or the
Royal Jubilee Hospital (RJH) or as supporting
one of our many busy walk-in clinics
There are also plenty of opportunities for a
more specialized practice whether that means
developing your niche working with teens at
the Victoria Youth Clinic working as a military
physician with CFB Esquimalt or joining the
oncologists at the BC Cancer Agency
Whatever your professional goal yoursquoll find
it here on the warm and temperate west coast
in British Columbiarsquos vibrant capital city
The Victoria Division of Family Practice
the thriving professional association that
represents our GP community organizes
a full roster of professional development
opportunities to build your knowledge base
We enjoy strong ties between GPs and
specialists We have an excellent medical
school with opportunities to teach medical
students and residents Our growing locum
matching system can give you a job
or a much needed break
in a nutshell we want you here and your services are needed We will support you in settling in Victoria and in caring for your overall wellbeing
2
Your practice can suit your lifestyleldquoTo pick a place to setup a practice I think
you really have to look at your lifestyle and your personality
Ask yourself what kinds of things you want to do and to get
at both outside the office and within the office itself
I think you have to be able to reconcile your interests and your
hobbies with the environment Certainly around here therersquos
a variety of opportunities from a big city feel in an urban
environment to a country feel in a rural environment all
within very short order of downtown Victoriardquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program at the University of Victoria
ldquoThere are many options here to tailor your work to create a practice that reflects what you really
want If you want to be solely community-based you can
do that If you prefer hospitalist work there are ways to do that
Therersquos an abundance of walk-in clinics so you can add hours
on evenings and on weekends if you need to Itrsquos very flexible
Irsquom mostly based out of the clinic during the week Irsquom also
doing some shifts at a walk-in clinic on weekends as I feel
I have the energy to do so Irsquove joined a large call group where
Irsquom only on call six days a year That allows my patients to have
after-hours coverage but I donrsquot have too much burden in the
evenings and on weekends It allows me the freedom to enjoy
other things in my life I have an infant at home so I appreciate
having as much time as I can with her with my husband
to explore the island to spend time outdoors and to enjoy
our new home Therersquos a lot to dordquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just GP Tuscany Medical Clinic
Flexibility to Mix + Match Your Own Practice StyleOPTIONS TO WORK AS Abull Full-Service Doctorbull Hospitalistbull Doctor with a Specialtybull Locum Doctorbull Part-time Family Practitioner
OPTIONS TO WORK INbull The Militarybull Walk-in Clinicsbull Emergency Roomsbull The Victoria Youth Clinicbull Island Sexual Healthbull Obstetrics amp Maternity Carebull Palliative Care bull Long-term Residential Carebull Hospice Carebull The BC Cancer Agencybull
THE 12 BEST THINGS ABOUT VICTORIA
ltVOTED BY LOCALSgt
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT CLIMATE
AIR QUALITY FRIENDS amp FAMILY
FEELING OF SAFETYWALKABILITY
PARKS RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES
ACCESS TO LOCALLY GROWN FOOD ARTS amp CULTURE
FESTIVALS amp EVENTS SENSE OF COMMUNITY
DESIGN YOUR
DREAMLIFE
88 per cent of locals would describe themselves as happy
The Galloping Goose is a 60km bike trail that spans Sooke Metchosin Colwood Langford View Royal Saanich Sidney and Victoria It attracts 17-million users each year
FIND THAT
SWEET SPOT
Snow + Surf EscapesVictoria to Sombrio Beach 1h47mVictoria to Mount Washington 3h8mVictoria to Tofino 4h16m
5
Prioritizing your work-life balanceldquoI think here in Victoria we have a different idea of what
our lives should look like Between family
responsibilities work and play we need
to strike a balanced equation
The Victoria physicians I know do it brilliantly
There are so many doctors who are working
a few days in their family practice or in a group
practice doing youth clinic shifts doing Island
Sexual Health shifts sometimes working in the
hospital plus trying to have balance for their
personal and family commitments I myself
really honour the variety of work that I have
The location of Victoria and Vancouver Island
is one that just inspires work-life balance
because there is so much beauty and so much
recreational opportunity hererdquo
mdash Dr Mark Sherman Integrative Family Medicine
Physician James Bay Community Project Executive
Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
ldquoThe best thing about being in Victoria is having access to fresh air
ocean breeze and waves that crash downthey lead your mind
to a peaceful state I also really enjoy the sense of balance people
have in their lives between family work and the outdoors
The general attitude is a mix of productivity
and relaxation In some cities people walk
straight ahead as though nobody else exists
In Victoria people will talk to you in coffee shops
and acknowledge each other on the street
It gives the city a real feeling of communityrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young GP
MOST ADULTS WORK LESSTHAN 50 HOURS PER WEEK
J B lt25 25ndash34 35ndash49 50ndash59 60+
Best places to walk your dog Dallas Road Thetis Lake Elk Lake
Best urban escapes Beacon Hill Park Mount Doug Willowrsquos Beach
548178
163
62 48
Average number of hours worked in one week
6
Outdoor living in the warm westldquoI grew up in Montreal and loved the big
city environment When I came to BC I fell in love with
the outdoors the mountains the ocean the outdoor
opportunities surfing on the west coast rainforest walks
I had the world of choice of where to practice and once I had
visited a few times it seemed like the perfect place for my wife
and I to practice medicine and to live play and raise our kids
I really love surfing and spending time in the forests and on
the beaches with my kids I love exposing them to that raw
natural beauty of the West Coast We love skiing and Mount
Washington is just three hours up the island near Courtenay
We also love visiting the special subcultures of the Gulf Islandsrdquo
mdash Dr Mark Sherman
ldquoYou can do whatever
you want to do outside
all year round Thatrsquos probably
the one thing that allows
everyone to stay active
and to keep our really healthy
90-year-olds aroundrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoItrsquos January and the flowers are outrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
ldquoI feel like this is paradise everyday
Itrsquos such nice mild weather
because Irsquom used to such cold
and ice I donrsquot even wear
a jacket most days Itrsquos nice
not having to worry about
winter boots or mitts I think
the coldest itrsquos been since I got
here was in December when
it was minus one degree
So for me itrsquos just wonderfulrdquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
25
20
15
10
5
0
Average Annual Temperatures degC
EXPLORE WEST COAST
RAW+RUGGED NATURE
more than 27000 hectares
(11 of the land base ) under
park or protected area status
33 regional parks amp trails
788 km bikeway network
(the PIC or Primary
Inter-Community Network)
more than 25 completed
mildest winters in Canada
temperatures rarely below
0degC or above 30degC
lowest rainfall on British
Columbiarsquos west coast
Springtime marked by
blooming of the cherry
blossoms normally
in mid-February
71 per cent of locals spend their leisure time being active
KID-FRIENDLY Beach Life Downtown to
Dallas Road Gonzales Bay 10 minWillowrsquos Beach 12 minCadboro-Gyro Beach Park 16 minWhittyrsquos Lagoon 41 min
9
The best place to raise your familyldquoThere arenrsquot many places in Canada where kids can play outside without their
snowsuit all year long We walk to school walk to parks and wersquore a block away from the beach I can
get off of work pick up my kids within 15 minutes and get them to their lessons in another 15 minutes
The commute compared to many cities is incredible Quality private education is affordable which
means rather than being exclusive there are a lot of professional parents in the mixrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
ldquoIn terms of childcare there
are a lot of licensed family daycares and other
options Irsquove also noticed a wide variety
of schools for children of different age groups
from Montessori to very good public schools
to lots of private optionsrdquo ndash Dr Celeste Just
PARTIAL SCHOOL LIST
91 per cent of youth spend their leisure time being active
ldquoI donrsquot think therersquos any better place for families than Victoriardquo mdash Dr Janet Mak GPDoctorrsquos Medical Clinic
bull 27 PUBLIC ELEMENTARY
bull 10 PUBLIC MIDDLE
bull 7 PUBLIC SECONDARY
bull 14 MONTESSORI
bull GLENLYON NORFOLK SCHOOL
bull ST MICHAELrsquoS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL
bull ST MARGARETrsquoS SCHOOL
bull ARTSCALIBRE ACADEMY
bull OAK AND ORCA BIOREGIONAL SCHOOL
bull ST PATRICKrsquoS ELEMENTARY
bull ST ANDREWrsquoS REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
bull ST JOSEPHrsquoS ELEMENTARY
bull ELIZABETH BUCKLEY SCHOOL
bull PEARSON COLLEGE
Fun Stuff for Kidsbull Exploring nature trails
rainforests amp beachesbull Beacon Hill
Childrenrsquos Farmbull IMAX Victoria amp the
Royal BC Royal Museumbull Dolphin amp Whale Watchingbull Miniature Worldbull Bug Zoobull AdrenaLine Zipline
Adventuresbull Fort Rodd Hill
amp Fisgard Lighthousebull Maritime Museum of BCbull Harbour Ferry Toursbull Blenkinsop Valley
Adventure Golf Centrebull Western Speedway
bull All Fun Recreation Parkbull Wittyrsquos Lagoon Tide Pools
amp Skimboarding bull Butterfly Worldbull Butchart Gardens
Childrenrsquos Pavilion amp Rose Carousel
bull Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre
bull Annual Lego Exhibitbull Victoria Royals
Hockey Gamesbull Victoria Shamrocks
Lacrosse Gamesbull Victoria HarbourCats
Baseball Gamesbull Fishermanrsquos Wharfbull Ghostly Walks
10
Your Victoria Division of Family PracticeldquoThe Division is filling the void of socialization
peer support and practice improvement Since itrsquos inception
our community of family doctors has become more united
through a variety of projects such as securing locums and
practice coverage working on senior support in nursing homes
and increasing communication between patients caregivers
hospitals and GPs They offer many CME events and mentoring
for new and transitioning physicians to make it easier to settle
here or to transition into a different style of practice
The Divisionrsquos work has allowed community physicians
to come together and say lsquoThis is whatrsquos really important
to me Irsquom going to get involvedrsquo We have almost 400 member
physicians in Victoria and those who are getting involved are
really seeing the positive outcome and change they can have
That has a huge influence on creating change and allows
physicians to feel they are contributing to societyrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
Strength in numbersBenefit from the member-driven
work of your professional association
for local GPs in Victoria the Victoria
Division of Family Practice
Our members are empowered
to identify areas for change within
the local medical system and are
funded to join working groups that
reflect their passions Together
we devise and enable strategies
for real improvement
SOME DIVISION INITIATIVESbull A GP for Mebull Welcome amp Transitions Mentorshipbull Monthly Dine amp Learn Seriesbull Locum amp Practice Coverage Matchingbull Transitions in Care amp e-Notificationbull TORCH Toward Optimal Residential
Care Healthbull Emergency Response Planningbull Mental Health amp Substance Usebull Frail Seniors in the Communitybull Community Building amp Engagementbull Physician Resource Guidebull MOA Networkbull Mindfulness Meditation for GPs
ldquoI feel this group here is very forward-thinking so there are lots of opportunities to get involved
and to push forward initiatives that you believe inrdquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just
SUPPORTED BY AN awesomePROFESSIONALASSOCIATION
warm
WELCOME
GPs Dr Jessica Fry and Dr Caitlin Harmon have had great experiences with mentoring medical students and new doctors in Victoria
13
Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring ProgramBeing the new kid on the block can be tough
Thatrsquos why the Victoria Division pairs welcoming physician
mentors with doctors who are new to the area or who are shifting
their practice style Matches are made with the aim of connecting
people whose interests and availability align
Mentors sometimes meet their partners for a casual coffee or dinner or accompany them to Division
engagement events They can make introductions and offer important local or insider knowledge
supporting a physicianrsquos smooth transition to Victoria
or to a new type of practice
There are all sorts of reasons you might wish for a mentor
throughout your career The Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring
program supports physicians in all stages of their professional
lives whether you are a first year student a resident a doctor
new to the area or a GP practicing in Victoria The program also
matches mentors to those transitioning into a new area of practice
returning to work after having a baby or raising children or
preparing for retirement These personal connections can offer
a softer smoother transition to the next chapter of your life
ldquoI think it is important to support
new doctors whether they are new graduates
or have recently moved here from somewhere
else I think it definitely helps them to be more
successful and makes them more likely
to want to stay in Victoria
I myself did my residency in Victoria
and my main preceptor was Dr Darcy Nielsen
She was my mentor for all things medicine
and medicine-related She taught me what
I should look for in setting up a practice
and gave me good information about things
like accounting and incorporation
I have worked with a couple of new doctors
including one doctor who shadowed me
for a few shifts at Island Sexual Health
I taught her how to insert IUDs but also
got her thinking about things like how to set
up locums finances accounting and what
to incorporate into her practice long-term
Experiences like this give me the satisfaction
of helping new doctors just like others helped
me and remind me of all the things I really like
about practicing medicine in Victoriardquo
mdash Dr Caitlin Harmon
Dr Caitlin Harmon Family PracticeGrow Health
MENTORS ARE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORTbull Medical students from Year 1 onwardbull Residents bull GPs new to Victoria bull GPs wanting to locum bull GPs planning to work or volunteer abroadbull GPs transitioning to a new specializationbull GPs planning a familybull GPs returning from maternity leavebull GPs returning after raising childrenbull GPs retiringbull and more
To find your mentor contact Helen Welch hwelchdivisionsbcca
ldquoThe Division was very helpful for me to learn how to work in Victoria what job opportunities there are and what opportunities there are for continuing medical educationrdquo mdash Dr Celeste Just
14
Making practice coverage a priorityWe know great doctors stay that way by scheduling their well-earned breaks We also know that
locums are often more free-spirited and adventurous
and are looking for freedom and options in their schedules
The Divisionrsquos innovative one-stop locum matching service
makes that possible by supporting member locums looking
for jobs and family physicians who need practice coverage
As a locum yoursquoll have access to the best jobs in Victoria
competitive remuneration rates mentoring and administrative
support for details like logistics contracts and billing
As a member seeking coverage yoursquoll learn how to prepare
and make your practice more attractive to locums Yoursquoll also
receive support and advice on crafting effective job postings
Finding the perfect match means combining
technology with networking and personal individual support
Our locum matching service asks physicians exactly what they
are looking for in a locum or practice coverage job to ensure
the most suitable arrangements can be found
ldquoI see a lot of need for locums My wife and I have each completed at least 20 locum positionsrdquo mdash Dr Bruce Rebner
ldquoTherersquos something to be said about the locum
lifestyle We donrsquot have kids yet
and we enjoy travelling so being
locums gives my wife and I some
freedom The longer-term idea
is to establish a practice but there
are definitely periods of your life
when locuming makes sense
I think itrsquos an attractive option
at both ends of the career when
yoursquore young and after yoursquove
worked for 20 or 30 years and
have given up your practice
Division events like the Dine
amp Learns are great platforms
to meet fellow doctors
And the locum coordinator
has been really easily accessible
Irsquove emailed a couple of times
for a specific ten days and she
has worked very hard to find
a matchrdquo
mdash Dr Bruce Rebner often locums
in Victoria elsewhere in BC NWT
and New Zealand
Unique options like cross-coverage long-term locums part-time associates and transition-to-retirement practice coverage are supported
LOCUMSlove FOR
MIND OVER MATTER
ldquoI believe we serve ourselves by
practicing what we preach and by
walking our talkrdquomdash Dr Mark Sherman Executive Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
17
The Victoria Division of Family Practice has teamed up with the BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm) to offer eight-week courses for family physicians in mindfulness-based meditation
Caring for our physiciansrsquo wellbeing ldquoWhen it comes to physician stress the CMA did a study in 2003 on physician burnout
and estimated that 47 per cent of us across the board in Canada are in the advanced stages of burnout
There is a stress epidemic for a variety of reasons As physiciansmdashpeople who are in the healthcare
and wellness professionmdashI think wersquore prone to stress because of our sincere will to help others
which is often what brings us into medicine in the first place Physicians have a tendency toward
perfectionism and other traits that make stress very common
For that reason tools like mindfulness cognitive
behaviour strategies meditation and positive
psychology are particularly useful for us
As physicians we all know intellectually about
the burdens of stress and how that can affect
our cardiovascular and mental health Yet by
managing our own stress by having embodied
presence and by having a meditation practice
when wersquore giving advice to our patients
and are speaking from a place of heart
as opposed to just from the head our message
comes through more clearly
Wersquove had quite a few physicians come into
the mindfulness program One of the exciting
things that the Division is facilitating is the
group specifically for physicians which focuses
on the unique challenges of being a physician
in Victoria
Through the Practice Support Program wersquove
also had a group for physicians to use some
mindfulness tools in their practice That was
quite popularrdquo mdash Dr Mark Sherman
BCalmrsquos referral-based mindfulness meditation courses are MSP-funded for both physicians and their patients
MIND OVER MATTER
18
ldquoThe physicians with whom we engage I have to admit are the cream of the crop because they are interested in continuing
education and in being on the forefront of how to be more effective in the care
of their patientsrdquomdash Esther Stevens Coordinator
Regional Practice Support Program Island Health
ldquoThe Dine and Learn sessions generally have one or more specialist physicians who come to talk about a particular topic Therersquos a presentation portion followed by a QampA They tend to be smaller groups so you can get more clinical questions answeredrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
Access to continuingmedical educationVictoriarsquos medical community benefits from an abundance
of local CME opportunities to keep you on the forefront
Medical Conferences As the capital city of British
Columbia and the largest city on Vancouver Island Victoria
attracts an impressive variety of annual medical conferences
Dine amp Learn Events The Divisionrsquos wildly popular
monthly Dine amp Learn events connect GPs with specialists
to exchange knowledge and to solidify strong relationships
in a social setting
Practice Support Program CME-accredited learning
modules and in-practice coaching help GPs to improve
clinical and practice management and patient care delivery
Provincial Academic Detailing Pharmacists provide
objective evidence-informed drug information to physicians
on best prescribing practices
Community Rounds Hospital-based CME events
on a rotating roster of specialized topics
LEARNING WITH YOUR
COLLEAGUES
nurturing GPndashSPECIALIST
RELATIONS
Pediatrician Dr Krystal Cullen delivers a talk at a Dine amp Learn event that brought five local pediatricians together with family practitioners for presentations and case discussions
21
ldquoIn my experience having worked here before and after implementation of the Divisions there used to be very little opportunity to get to know the specialists Now itrsquos quite straightforwardrdquomdash Dr Heera Bindra Tuscany Medical Clinic
Monthly Dine amp Learn events take place throughout Victoria and bring specialists together with family physicians to exchange knowledge network and strengthen relationships
Strong connections with specialists ldquoSpecialists are really an armrsquos length away
here We have all specialties and even some sub-specialties
within those Theyrsquore all approachable and you can
at any point call for help Given the population of Victoria
itrsquos relatively easy to see specialists even if itrsquos non-urgent
They are quite receptive to referrals in a timely manner
What I really appreciate is that therersquos good interaction
between the specialists and the family doctors The Dine
and Learn events that the Division offers allow us to interact
with specialists on a personal basis in a small group setting
and to get local input on a given topic I feel like this
relationship is relatively unique because a lot of places donrsquot
have full service specialists
As well the attitude of our specialists is very open
and approachable Our interactions and communication
between family doctors and specialists is very congenial
and thatrsquos more rewarding for both the patients and the
physicians in practicerdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoBeyond meeting with specialists the Dine amp Learns and other Division events are great for getting to know our general practice colleagues I am lucky to work in a group of four doctors but if I were in a solo practice without the Division I wouldnrsquot have had so much interactionrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
22
ldquoWersquore always putting out calls for interested tutors to come and participate in the programrdquomdash Dr Steve Martin Year 1amp2 Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program University of Victoria
Many opportunities to tutor amp teachThe Island Medical Program (IMP) at the University of Victoria is one of four provincial sites
of UBCrsquos distributed MD Undergraduate Program The program
accepts 32 medical students each year allowing many
opportunities for family doctors to get involved with tutoring
and direct mentorship
Within the Clinical Skills Program doctors act as tutors to small
groups of students for various modules delivered at a hospital
clinical site Students then spend dedicated time within a
family practice office for direct mentorship Depending on the
studentrsquos relationship with the physician they may see their
own patients or see them with the family practitionermentor
Through experience and role modelling about how they
work with patients tutors also offer a wealth of intangible
information that doesnrsquot appear in the curriculum Students
often remark on how important it is for them to learn how
to be doctors
These tutors and mentors are identified as teaching faculty
within the UBC program itself
ldquoItrsquos amazing how many tutors come back and say how the
experience has renewed their
interest in medicine and has
rejuvenated them in ways they
didnrsquot anticipate
Our family practice tutors
really find it engaging They
like the studentsrsquo questions
and it challenges them Some
come and stay for long periods
others come and go or take
breaks Irsquove had some tutors
for the last 11 years Overall
they really enjoy it and are
just very thankful
The students particularly
enjoy the variety of young
new tutors and some of the
older wiser more experienced
tutors They all bring different
elements to it and students
really appreciate bothrdquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin
share YOUR
WISDOM
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
THE BEST decisionOF YOUR LIFE
WE ASKED DOCTORS LIKE YOU WHY THEY CHOSE TO PRACTICE IN VICTORIA THEIR ANSWERS MAY HELP YOU TO MAKE
10 YOUR VICTORIA DIVISION OF FAMILY PRACTICE
12 WELCOME amp TRANSITIONS MENTORING
14 MAKING PRACTICE COVERAGE A PRIORITY
16 CARING FOR OUR PHYSICIANSrsquo WELLBEING
18 ACCESS TO CME
20 STRONG CONNECTIONS WITH SPECIALISTS
22 MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO TUTOR amp TEACH
24 BIG CITY OFFERINGS SMALL TOWN VIBE
26 AFTER HOURS FUN
28 FACT FILE
30 RESOURCES
31 BOOK A TOUR
SO MANY REASONS TO FLIP OVER VICTORIA WHY
PRACTICE FAMILY MEDICINE IN VICTORIA
1
Everyone knows Victoria is a stunning city that boasts one of the warmest climates in Canada and that offers recreational opportunities to excite outdoor enthusiasts year round As a family doctor you want a practice that best serves your community while engaging your interests and vision Here you have the flexibility to create the practice that you desire and that matches your lifestyle
Perhaps you like the idea of testing the waters
as a locum physician to give you a strong
introduction before either launching your
own practice or joining an established clinic
Maybe you see yourself as a hospitalist or ER
doctor at Victoria General Hospital (VGH) or the
Royal Jubilee Hospital (RJH) or as supporting
one of our many busy walk-in clinics
There are also plenty of opportunities for a
more specialized practice whether that means
developing your niche working with teens at
the Victoria Youth Clinic working as a military
physician with CFB Esquimalt or joining the
oncologists at the BC Cancer Agency
Whatever your professional goal yoursquoll find
it here on the warm and temperate west coast
in British Columbiarsquos vibrant capital city
The Victoria Division of Family Practice
the thriving professional association that
represents our GP community organizes
a full roster of professional development
opportunities to build your knowledge base
We enjoy strong ties between GPs and
specialists We have an excellent medical
school with opportunities to teach medical
students and residents Our growing locum
matching system can give you a job
or a much needed break
in a nutshell we want you here and your services are needed We will support you in settling in Victoria and in caring for your overall wellbeing
2
Your practice can suit your lifestyleldquoTo pick a place to setup a practice I think
you really have to look at your lifestyle and your personality
Ask yourself what kinds of things you want to do and to get
at both outside the office and within the office itself
I think you have to be able to reconcile your interests and your
hobbies with the environment Certainly around here therersquos
a variety of opportunities from a big city feel in an urban
environment to a country feel in a rural environment all
within very short order of downtown Victoriardquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program at the University of Victoria
ldquoThere are many options here to tailor your work to create a practice that reflects what you really
want If you want to be solely community-based you can
do that If you prefer hospitalist work there are ways to do that
Therersquos an abundance of walk-in clinics so you can add hours
on evenings and on weekends if you need to Itrsquos very flexible
Irsquom mostly based out of the clinic during the week Irsquom also
doing some shifts at a walk-in clinic on weekends as I feel
I have the energy to do so Irsquove joined a large call group where
Irsquom only on call six days a year That allows my patients to have
after-hours coverage but I donrsquot have too much burden in the
evenings and on weekends It allows me the freedom to enjoy
other things in my life I have an infant at home so I appreciate
having as much time as I can with her with my husband
to explore the island to spend time outdoors and to enjoy
our new home Therersquos a lot to dordquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just GP Tuscany Medical Clinic
Flexibility to Mix + Match Your Own Practice StyleOPTIONS TO WORK AS Abull Full-Service Doctorbull Hospitalistbull Doctor with a Specialtybull Locum Doctorbull Part-time Family Practitioner
OPTIONS TO WORK INbull The Militarybull Walk-in Clinicsbull Emergency Roomsbull The Victoria Youth Clinicbull Island Sexual Healthbull Obstetrics amp Maternity Carebull Palliative Care bull Long-term Residential Carebull Hospice Carebull The BC Cancer Agencybull
THE 12 BEST THINGS ABOUT VICTORIA
ltVOTED BY LOCALSgt
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT CLIMATE
AIR QUALITY FRIENDS amp FAMILY
FEELING OF SAFETYWALKABILITY
PARKS RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES
ACCESS TO LOCALLY GROWN FOOD ARTS amp CULTURE
FESTIVALS amp EVENTS SENSE OF COMMUNITY
DESIGN YOUR
DREAMLIFE
88 per cent of locals would describe themselves as happy
The Galloping Goose is a 60km bike trail that spans Sooke Metchosin Colwood Langford View Royal Saanich Sidney and Victoria It attracts 17-million users each year
FIND THAT
SWEET SPOT
Snow + Surf EscapesVictoria to Sombrio Beach 1h47mVictoria to Mount Washington 3h8mVictoria to Tofino 4h16m
5
Prioritizing your work-life balanceldquoI think here in Victoria we have a different idea of what
our lives should look like Between family
responsibilities work and play we need
to strike a balanced equation
The Victoria physicians I know do it brilliantly
There are so many doctors who are working
a few days in their family practice or in a group
practice doing youth clinic shifts doing Island
Sexual Health shifts sometimes working in the
hospital plus trying to have balance for their
personal and family commitments I myself
really honour the variety of work that I have
The location of Victoria and Vancouver Island
is one that just inspires work-life balance
because there is so much beauty and so much
recreational opportunity hererdquo
mdash Dr Mark Sherman Integrative Family Medicine
Physician James Bay Community Project Executive
Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
ldquoThe best thing about being in Victoria is having access to fresh air
ocean breeze and waves that crash downthey lead your mind
to a peaceful state I also really enjoy the sense of balance people
have in their lives between family work and the outdoors
The general attitude is a mix of productivity
and relaxation In some cities people walk
straight ahead as though nobody else exists
In Victoria people will talk to you in coffee shops
and acknowledge each other on the street
It gives the city a real feeling of communityrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young GP
MOST ADULTS WORK LESSTHAN 50 HOURS PER WEEK
J B lt25 25ndash34 35ndash49 50ndash59 60+
Best places to walk your dog Dallas Road Thetis Lake Elk Lake
Best urban escapes Beacon Hill Park Mount Doug Willowrsquos Beach
548178
163
62 48
Average number of hours worked in one week
6
Outdoor living in the warm westldquoI grew up in Montreal and loved the big
city environment When I came to BC I fell in love with
the outdoors the mountains the ocean the outdoor
opportunities surfing on the west coast rainforest walks
I had the world of choice of where to practice and once I had
visited a few times it seemed like the perfect place for my wife
and I to practice medicine and to live play and raise our kids
I really love surfing and spending time in the forests and on
the beaches with my kids I love exposing them to that raw
natural beauty of the West Coast We love skiing and Mount
Washington is just three hours up the island near Courtenay
We also love visiting the special subcultures of the Gulf Islandsrdquo
mdash Dr Mark Sherman
ldquoYou can do whatever
you want to do outside
all year round Thatrsquos probably
the one thing that allows
everyone to stay active
and to keep our really healthy
90-year-olds aroundrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoItrsquos January and the flowers are outrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
ldquoI feel like this is paradise everyday
Itrsquos such nice mild weather
because Irsquom used to such cold
and ice I donrsquot even wear
a jacket most days Itrsquos nice
not having to worry about
winter boots or mitts I think
the coldest itrsquos been since I got
here was in December when
it was minus one degree
So for me itrsquos just wonderfulrdquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
25
20
15
10
5
0
Average Annual Temperatures degC
EXPLORE WEST COAST
RAW+RUGGED NATURE
more than 27000 hectares
(11 of the land base ) under
park or protected area status
33 regional parks amp trails
788 km bikeway network
(the PIC or Primary
Inter-Community Network)
more than 25 completed
mildest winters in Canada
temperatures rarely below
0degC or above 30degC
lowest rainfall on British
Columbiarsquos west coast
Springtime marked by
blooming of the cherry
blossoms normally
in mid-February
71 per cent of locals spend their leisure time being active
KID-FRIENDLY Beach Life Downtown to
Dallas Road Gonzales Bay 10 minWillowrsquos Beach 12 minCadboro-Gyro Beach Park 16 minWhittyrsquos Lagoon 41 min
9
The best place to raise your familyldquoThere arenrsquot many places in Canada where kids can play outside without their
snowsuit all year long We walk to school walk to parks and wersquore a block away from the beach I can
get off of work pick up my kids within 15 minutes and get them to their lessons in another 15 minutes
The commute compared to many cities is incredible Quality private education is affordable which
means rather than being exclusive there are a lot of professional parents in the mixrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
ldquoIn terms of childcare there
are a lot of licensed family daycares and other
options Irsquove also noticed a wide variety
of schools for children of different age groups
from Montessori to very good public schools
to lots of private optionsrdquo ndash Dr Celeste Just
PARTIAL SCHOOL LIST
91 per cent of youth spend their leisure time being active
ldquoI donrsquot think therersquos any better place for families than Victoriardquo mdash Dr Janet Mak GPDoctorrsquos Medical Clinic
bull 27 PUBLIC ELEMENTARY
bull 10 PUBLIC MIDDLE
bull 7 PUBLIC SECONDARY
bull 14 MONTESSORI
bull GLENLYON NORFOLK SCHOOL
bull ST MICHAELrsquoS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL
bull ST MARGARETrsquoS SCHOOL
bull ARTSCALIBRE ACADEMY
bull OAK AND ORCA BIOREGIONAL SCHOOL
bull ST PATRICKrsquoS ELEMENTARY
bull ST ANDREWrsquoS REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
bull ST JOSEPHrsquoS ELEMENTARY
bull ELIZABETH BUCKLEY SCHOOL
bull PEARSON COLLEGE
Fun Stuff for Kidsbull Exploring nature trails
rainforests amp beachesbull Beacon Hill
Childrenrsquos Farmbull IMAX Victoria amp the
Royal BC Royal Museumbull Dolphin amp Whale Watchingbull Miniature Worldbull Bug Zoobull AdrenaLine Zipline
Adventuresbull Fort Rodd Hill
amp Fisgard Lighthousebull Maritime Museum of BCbull Harbour Ferry Toursbull Blenkinsop Valley
Adventure Golf Centrebull Western Speedway
bull All Fun Recreation Parkbull Wittyrsquos Lagoon Tide Pools
amp Skimboarding bull Butterfly Worldbull Butchart Gardens
Childrenrsquos Pavilion amp Rose Carousel
bull Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre
bull Annual Lego Exhibitbull Victoria Royals
Hockey Gamesbull Victoria Shamrocks
Lacrosse Gamesbull Victoria HarbourCats
Baseball Gamesbull Fishermanrsquos Wharfbull Ghostly Walks
10
Your Victoria Division of Family PracticeldquoThe Division is filling the void of socialization
peer support and practice improvement Since itrsquos inception
our community of family doctors has become more united
through a variety of projects such as securing locums and
practice coverage working on senior support in nursing homes
and increasing communication between patients caregivers
hospitals and GPs They offer many CME events and mentoring
for new and transitioning physicians to make it easier to settle
here or to transition into a different style of practice
The Divisionrsquos work has allowed community physicians
to come together and say lsquoThis is whatrsquos really important
to me Irsquom going to get involvedrsquo We have almost 400 member
physicians in Victoria and those who are getting involved are
really seeing the positive outcome and change they can have
That has a huge influence on creating change and allows
physicians to feel they are contributing to societyrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
Strength in numbersBenefit from the member-driven
work of your professional association
for local GPs in Victoria the Victoria
Division of Family Practice
Our members are empowered
to identify areas for change within
the local medical system and are
funded to join working groups that
reflect their passions Together
we devise and enable strategies
for real improvement
SOME DIVISION INITIATIVESbull A GP for Mebull Welcome amp Transitions Mentorshipbull Monthly Dine amp Learn Seriesbull Locum amp Practice Coverage Matchingbull Transitions in Care amp e-Notificationbull TORCH Toward Optimal Residential
Care Healthbull Emergency Response Planningbull Mental Health amp Substance Usebull Frail Seniors in the Communitybull Community Building amp Engagementbull Physician Resource Guidebull MOA Networkbull Mindfulness Meditation for GPs
ldquoI feel this group here is very forward-thinking so there are lots of opportunities to get involved
and to push forward initiatives that you believe inrdquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just
SUPPORTED BY AN awesomePROFESSIONALASSOCIATION
warm
WELCOME
GPs Dr Jessica Fry and Dr Caitlin Harmon have had great experiences with mentoring medical students and new doctors in Victoria
13
Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring ProgramBeing the new kid on the block can be tough
Thatrsquos why the Victoria Division pairs welcoming physician
mentors with doctors who are new to the area or who are shifting
their practice style Matches are made with the aim of connecting
people whose interests and availability align
Mentors sometimes meet their partners for a casual coffee or dinner or accompany them to Division
engagement events They can make introductions and offer important local or insider knowledge
supporting a physicianrsquos smooth transition to Victoria
or to a new type of practice
There are all sorts of reasons you might wish for a mentor
throughout your career The Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring
program supports physicians in all stages of their professional
lives whether you are a first year student a resident a doctor
new to the area or a GP practicing in Victoria The program also
matches mentors to those transitioning into a new area of practice
returning to work after having a baby or raising children or
preparing for retirement These personal connections can offer
a softer smoother transition to the next chapter of your life
ldquoI think it is important to support
new doctors whether they are new graduates
or have recently moved here from somewhere
else I think it definitely helps them to be more
successful and makes them more likely
to want to stay in Victoria
I myself did my residency in Victoria
and my main preceptor was Dr Darcy Nielsen
She was my mentor for all things medicine
and medicine-related She taught me what
I should look for in setting up a practice
and gave me good information about things
like accounting and incorporation
I have worked with a couple of new doctors
including one doctor who shadowed me
for a few shifts at Island Sexual Health
I taught her how to insert IUDs but also
got her thinking about things like how to set
up locums finances accounting and what
to incorporate into her practice long-term
Experiences like this give me the satisfaction
of helping new doctors just like others helped
me and remind me of all the things I really like
about practicing medicine in Victoriardquo
mdash Dr Caitlin Harmon
Dr Caitlin Harmon Family PracticeGrow Health
MENTORS ARE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORTbull Medical students from Year 1 onwardbull Residents bull GPs new to Victoria bull GPs wanting to locum bull GPs planning to work or volunteer abroadbull GPs transitioning to a new specializationbull GPs planning a familybull GPs returning from maternity leavebull GPs returning after raising childrenbull GPs retiringbull and more
To find your mentor contact Helen Welch hwelchdivisionsbcca
ldquoThe Division was very helpful for me to learn how to work in Victoria what job opportunities there are and what opportunities there are for continuing medical educationrdquo mdash Dr Celeste Just
14
Making practice coverage a priorityWe know great doctors stay that way by scheduling their well-earned breaks We also know that
locums are often more free-spirited and adventurous
and are looking for freedom and options in their schedules
The Divisionrsquos innovative one-stop locum matching service
makes that possible by supporting member locums looking
for jobs and family physicians who need practice coverage
As a locum yoursquoll have access to the best jobs in Victoria
competitive remuneration rates mentoring and administrative
support for details like logistics contracts and billing
As a member seeking coverage yoursquoll learn how to prepare
and make your practice more attractive to locums Yoursquoll also
receive support and advice on crafting effective job postings
Finding the perfect match means combining
technology with networking and personal individual support
Our locum matching service asks physicians exactly what they
are looking for in a locum or practice coverage job to ensure
the most suitable arrangements can be found
ldquoI see a lot of need for locums My wife and I have each completed at least 20 locum positionsrdquo mdash Dr Bruce Rebner
ldquoTherersquos something to be said about the locum
lifestyle We donrsquot have kids yet
and we enjoy travelling so being
locums gives my wife and I some
freedom The longer-term idea
is to establish a practice but there
are definitely periods of your life
when locuming makes sense
I think itrsquos an attractive option
at both ends of the career when
yoursquore young and after yoursquove
worked for 20 or 30 years and
have given up your practice
Division events like the Dine
amp Learns are great platforms
to meet fellow doctors
And the locum coordinator
has been really easily accessible
Irsquove emailed a couple of times
for a specific ten days and she
has worked very hard to find
a matchrdquo
mdash Dr Bruce Rebner often locums
in Victoria elsewhere in BC NWT
and New Zealand
Unique options like cross-coverage long-term locums part-time associates and transition-to-retirement practice coverage are supported
LOCUMSlove FOR
MIND OVER MATTER
ldquoI believe we serve ourselves by
practicing what we preach and by
walking our talkrdquomdash Dr Mark Sherman Executive Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
17
The Victoria Division of Family Practice has teamed up with the BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm) to offer eight-week courses for family physicians in mindfulness-based meditation
Caring for our physiciansrsquo wellbeing ldquoWhen it comes to physician stress the CMA did a study in 2003 on physician burnout
and estimated that 47 per cent of us across the board in Canada are in the advanced stages of burnout
There is a stress epidemic for a variety of reasons As physiciansmdashpeople who are in the healthcare
and wellness professionmdashI think wersquore prone to stress because of our sincere will to help others
which is often what brings us into medicine in the first place Physicians have a tendency toward
perfectionism and other traits that make stress very common
For that reason tools like mindfulness cognitive
behaviour strategies meditation and positive
psychology are particularly useful for us
As physicians we all know intellectually about
the burdens of stress and how that can affect
our cardiovascular and mental health Yet by
managing our own stress by having embodied
presence and by having a meditation practice
when wersquore giving advice to our patients
and are speaking from a place of heart
as opposed to just from the head our message
comes through more clearly
Wersquove had quite a few physicians come into
the mindfulness program One of the exciting
things that the Division is facilitating is the
group specifically for physicians which focuses
on the unique challenges of being a physician
in Victoria
Through the Practice Support Program wersquove
also had a group for physicians to use some
mindfulness tools in their practice That was
quite popularrdquo mdash Dr Mark Sherman
BCalmrsquos referral-based mindfulness meditation courses are MSP-funded for both physicians and their patients
MIND OVER MATTER
18
ldquoThe physicians with whom we engage I have to admit are the cream of the crop because they are interested in continuing
education and in being on the forefront of how to be more effective in the care
of their patientsrdquomdash Esther Stevens Coordinator
Regional Practice Support Program Island Health
ldquoThe Dine and Learn sessions generally have one or more specialist physicians who come to talk about a particular topic Therersquos a presentation portion followed by a QampA They tend to be smaller groups so you can get more clinical questions answeredrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
Access to continuingmedical educationVictoriarsquos medical community benefits from an abundance
of local CME opportunities to keep you on the forefront
Medical Conferences As the capital city of British
Columbia and the largest city on Vancouver Island Victoria
attracts an impressive variety of annual medical conferences
Dine amp Learn Events The Divisionrsquos wildly popular
monthly Dine amp Learn events connect GPs with specialists
to exchange knowledge and to solidify strong relationships
in a social setting
Practice Support Program CME-accredited learning
modules and in-practice coaching help GPs to improve
clinical and practice management and patient care delivery
Provincial Academic Detailing Pharmacists provide
objective evidence-informed drug information to physicians
on best prescribing practices
Community Rounds Hospital-based CME events
on a rotating roster of specialized topics
LEARNING WITH YOUR
COLLEAGUES
nurturing GPndashSPECIALIST
RELATIONS
Pediatrician Dr Krystal Cullen delivers a talk at a Dine amp Learn event that brought five local pediatricians together with family practitioners for presentations and case discussions
21
ldquoIn my experience having worked here before and after implementation of the Divisions there used to be very little opportunity to get to know the specialists Now itrsquos quite straightforwardrdquomdash Dr Heera Bindra Tuscany Medical Clinic
Monthly Dine amp Learn events take place throughout Victoria and bring specialists together with family physicians to exchange knowledge network and strengthen relationships
Strong connections with specialists ldquoSpecialists are really an armrsquos length away
here We have all specialties and even some sub-specialties
within those Theyrsquore all approachable and you can
at any point call for help Given the population of Victoria
itrsquos relatively easy to see specialists even if itrsquos non-urgent
They are quite receptive to referrals in a timely manner
What I really appreciate is that therersquos good interaction
between the specialists and the family doctors The Dine
and Learn events that the Division offers allow us to interact
with specialists on a personal basis in a small group setting
and to get local input on a given topic I feel like this
relationship is relatively unique because a lot of places donrsquot
have full service specialists
As well the attitude of our specialists is very open
and approachable Our interactions and communication
between family doctors and specialists is very congenial
and thatrsquos more rewarding for both the patients and the
physicians in practicerdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoBeyond meeting with specialists the Dine amp Learns and other Division events are great for getting to know our general practice colleagues I am lucky to work in a group of four doctors but if I were in a solo practice without the Division I wouldnrsquot have had so much interactionrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
22
ldquoWersquore always putting out calls for interested tutors to come and participate in the programrdquomdash Dr Steve Martin Year 1amp2 Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program University of Victoria
Many opportunities to tutor amp teachThe Island Medical Program (IMP) at the University of Victoria is one of four provincial sites
of UBCrsquos distributed MD Undergraduate Program The program
accepts 32 medical students each year allowing many
opportunities for family doctors to get involved with tutoring
and direct mentorship
Within the Clinical Skills Program doctors act as tutors to small
groups of students for various modules delivered at a hospital
clinical site Students then spend dedicated time within a
family practice office for direct mentorship Depending on the
studentrsquos relationship with the physician they may see their
own patients or see them with the family practitionermentor
Through experience and role modelling about how they
work with patients tutors also offer a wealth of intangible
information that doesnrsquot appear in the curriculum Students
often remark on how important it is for them to learn how
to be doctors
These tutors and mentors are identified as teaching faculty
within the UBC program itself
ldquoItrsquos amazing how many tutors come back and say how the
experience has renewed their
interest in medicine and has
rejuvenated them in ways they
didnrsquot anticipate
Our family practice tutors
really find it engaging They
like the studentsrsquo questions
and it challenges them Some
come and stay for long periods
others come and go or take
breaks Irsquove had some tutors
for the last 11 years Overall
they really enjoy it and are
just very thankful
The students particularly
enjoy the variety of young
new tutors and some of the
older wiser more experienced
tutors They all bring different
elements to it and students
really appreciate bothrdquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin
share YOUR
WISDOM
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
SO MANY REASONS TO FLIP OVER VICTORIA WHY
PRACTICE FAMILY MEDICINE IN VICTORIA
1
Everyone knows Victoria is a stunning city that boasts one of the warmest climates in Canada and that offers recreational opportunities to excite outdoor enthusiasts year round As a family doctor you want a practice that best serves your community while engaging your interests and vision Here you have the flexibility to create the practice that you desire and that matches your lifestyle
Perhaps you like the idea of testing the waters
as a locum physician to give you a strong
introduction before either launching your
own practice or joining an established clinic
Maybe you see yourself as a hospitalist or ER
doctor at Victoria General Hospital (VGH) or the
Royal Jubilee Hospital (RJH) or as supporting
one of our many busy walk-in clinics
There are also plenty of opportunities for a
more specialized practice whether that means
developing your niche working with teens at
the Victoria Youth Clinic working as a military
physician with CFB Esquimalt or joining the
oncologists at the BC Cancer Agency
Whatever your professional goal yoursquoll find
it here on the warm and temperate west coast
in British Columbiarsquos vibrant capital city
The Victoria Division of Family Practice
the thriving professional association that
represents our GP community organizes
a full roster of professional development
opportunities to build your knowledge base
We enjoy strong ties between GPs and
specialists We have an excellent medical
school with opportunities to teach medical
students and residents Our growing locum
matching system can give you a job
or a much needed break
in a nutshell we want you here and your services are needed We will support you in settling in Victoria and in caring for your overall wellbeing
2
Your practice can suit your lifestyleldquoTo pick a place to setup a practice I think
you really have to look at your lifestyle and your personality
Ask yourself what kinds of things you want to do and to get
at both outside the office and within the office itself
I think you have to be able to reconcile your interests and your
hobbies with the environment Certainly around here therersquos
a variety of opportunities from a big city feel in an urban
environment to a country feel in a rural environment all
within very short order of downtown Victoriardquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program at the University of Victoria
ldquoThere are many options here to tailor your work to create a practice that reflects what you really
want If you want to be solely community-based you can
do that If you prefer hospitalist work there are ways to do that
Therersquos an abundance of walk-in clinics so you can add hours
on evenings and on weekends if you need to Itrsquos very flexible
Irsquom mostly based out of the clinic during the week Irsquom also
doing some shifts at a walk-in clinic on weekends as I feel
I have the energy to do so Irsquove joined a large call group where
Irsquom only on call six days a year That allows my patients to have
after-hours coverage but I donrsquot have too much burden in the
evenings and on weekends It allows me the freedom to enjoy
other things in my life I have an infant at home so I appreciate
having as much time as I can with her with my husband
to explore the island to spend time outdoors and to enjoy
our new home Therersquos a lot to dordquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just GP Tuscany Medical Clinic
Flexibility to Mix + Match Your Own Practice StyleOPTIONS TO WORK AS Abull Full-Service Doctorbull Hospitalistbull Doctor with a Specialtybull Locum Doctorbull Part-time Family Practitioner
OPTIONS TO WORK INbull The Militarybull Walk-in Clinicsbull Emergency Roomsbull The Victoria Youth Clinicbull Island Sexual Healthbull Obstetrics amp Maternity Carebull Palliative Care bull Long-term Residential Carebull Hospice Carebull The BC Cancer Agencybull
THE 12 BEST THINGS ABOUT VICTORIA
ltVOTED BY LOCALSgt
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT CLIMATE
AIR QUALITY FRIENDS amp FAMILY
FEELING OF SAFETYWALKABILITY
PARKS RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES
ACCESS TO LOCALLY GROWN FOOD ARTS amp CULTURE
FESTIVALS amp EVENTS SENSE OF COMMUNITY
DESIGN YOUR
DREAMLIFE
88 per cent of locals would describe themselves as happy
The Galloping Goose is a 60km bike trail that spans Sooke Metchosin Colwood Langford View Royal Saanich Sidney and Victoria It attracts 17-million users each year
FIND THAT
SWEET SPOT
Snow + Surf EscapesVictoria to Sombrio Beach 1h47mVictoria to Mount Washington 3h8mVictoria to Tofino 4h16m
5
Prioritizing your work-life balanceldquoI think here in Victoria we have a different idea of what
our lives should look like Between family
responsibilities work and play we need
to strike a balanced equation
The Victoria physicians I know do it brilliantly
There are so many doctors who are working
a few days in their family practice or in a group
practice doing youth clinic shifts doing Island
Sexual Health shifts sometimes working in the
hospital plus trying to have balance for their
personal and family commitments I myself
really honour the variety of work that I have
The location of Victoria and Vancouver Island
is one that just inspires work-life balance
because there is so much beauty and so much
recreational opportunity hererdquo
mdash Dr Mark Sherman Integrative Family Medicine
Physician James Bay Community Project Executive
Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
ldquoThe best thing about being in Victoria is having access to fresh air
ocean breeze and waves that crash downthey lead your mind
to a peaceful state I also really enjoy the sense of balance people
have in their lives between family work and the outdoors
The general attitude is a mix of productivity
and relaxation In some cities people walk
straight ahead as though nobody else exists
In Victoria people will talk to you in coffee shops
and acknowledge each other on the street
It gives the city a real feeling of communityrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young GP
MOST ADULTS WORK LESSTHAN 50 HOURS PER WEEK
J B lt25 25ndash34 35ndash49 50ndash59 60+
Best places to walk your dog Dallas Road Thetis Lake Elk Lake
Best urban escapes Beacon Hill Park Mount Doug Willowrsquos Beach
548178
163
62 48
Average number of hours worked in one week
6
Outdoor living in the warm westldquoI grew up in Montreal and loved the big
city environment When I came to BC I fell in love with
the outdoors the mountains the ocean the outdoor
opportunities surfing on the west coast rainforest walks
I had the world of choice of where to practice and once I had
visited a few times it seemed like the perfect place for my wife
and I to practice medicine and to live play and raise our kids
I really love surfing and spending time in the forests and on
the beaches with my kids I love exposing them to that raw
natural beauty of the West Coast We love skiing and Mount
Washington is just three hours up the island near Courtenay
We also love visiting the special subcultures of the Gulf Islandsrdquo
mdash Dr Mark Sherman
ldquoYou can do whatever
you want to do outside
all year round Thatrsquos probably
the one thing that allows
everyone to stay active
and to keep our really healthy
90-year-olds aroundrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoItrsquos January and the flowers are outrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
ldquoI feel like this is paradise everyday
Itrsquos such nice mild weather
because Irsquom used to such cold
and ice I donrsquot even wear
a jacket most days Itrsquos nice
not having to worry about
winter boots or mitts I think
the coldest itrsquos been since I got
here was in December when
it was minus one degree
So for me itrsquos just wonderfulrdquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
25
20
15
10
5
0
Average Annual Temperatures degC
EXPLORE WEST COAST
RAW+RUGGED NATURE
more than 27000 hectares
(11 of the land base ) under
park or protected area status
33 regional parks amp trails
788 km bikeway network
(the PIC or Primary
Inter-Community Network)
more than 25 completed
mildest winters in Canada
temperatures rarely below
0degC or above 30degC
lowest rainfall on British
Columbiarsquos west coast
Springtime marked by
blooming of the cherry
blossoms normally
in mid-February
71 per cent of locals spend their leisure time being active
KID-FRIENDLY Beach Life Downtown to
Dallas Road Gonzales Bay 10 minWillowrsquos Beach 12 minCadboro-Gyro Beach Park 16 minWhittyrsquos Lagoon 41 min
9
The best place to raise your familyldquoThere arenrsquot many places in Canada where kids can play outside without their
snowsuit all year long We walk to school walk to parks and wersquore a block away from the beach I can
get off of work pick up my kids within 15 minutes and get them to their lessons in another 15 minutes
The commute compared to many cities is incredible Quality private education is affordable which
means rather than being exclusive there are a lot of professional parents in the mixrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
ldquoIn terms of childcare there
are a lot of licensed family daycares and other
options Irsquove also noticed a wide variety
of schools for children of different age groups
from Montessori to very good public schools
to lots of private optionsrdquo ndash Dr Celeste Just
PARTIAL SCHOOL LIST
91 per cent of youth spend their leisure time being active
ldquoI donrsquot think therersquos any better place for families than Victoriardquo mdash Dr Janet Mak GPDoctorrsquos Medical Clinic
bull 27 PUBLIC ELEMENTARY
bull 10 PUBLIC MIDDLE
bull 7 PUBLIC SECONDARY
bull 14 MONTESSORI
bull GLENLYON NORFOLK SCHOOL
bull ST MICHAELrsquoS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL
bull ST MARGARETrsquoS SCHOOL
bull ARTSCALIBRE ACADEMY
bull OAK AND ORCA BIOREGIONAL SCHOOL
bull ST PATRICKrsquoS ELEMENTARY
bull ST ANDREWrsquoS REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
bull ST JOSEPHrsquoS ELEMENTARY
bull ELIZABETH BUCKLEY SCHOOL
bull PEARSON COLLEGE
Fun Stuff for Kidsbull Exploring nature trails
rainforests amp beachesbull Beacon Hill
Childrenrsquos Farmbull IMAX Victoria amp the
Royal BC Royal Museumbull Dolphin amp Whale Watchingbull Miniature Worldbull Bug Zoobull AdrenaLine Zipline
Adventuresbull Fort Rodd Hill
amp Fisgard Lighthousebull Maritime Museum of BCbull Harbour Ferry Toursbull Blenkinsop Valley
Adventure Golf Centrebull Western Speedway
bull All Fun Recreation Parkbull Wittyrsquos Lagoon Tide Pools
amp Skimboarding bull Butterfly Worldbull Butchart Gardens
Childrenrsquos Pavilion amp Rose Carousel
bull Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre
bull Annual Lego Exhibitbull Victoria Royals
Hockey Gamesbull Victoria Shamrocks
Lacrosse Gamesbull Victoria HarbourCats
Baseball Gamesbull Fishermanrsquos Wharfbull Ghostly Walks
10
Your Victoria Division of Family PracticeldquoThe Division is filling the void of socialization
peer support and practice improvement Since itrsquos inception
our community of family doctors has become more united
through a variety of projects such as securing locums and
practice coverage working on senior support in nursing homes
and increasing communication between patients caregivers
hospitals and GPs They offer many CME events and mentoring
for new and transitioning physicians to make it easier to settle
here or to transition into a different style of practice
The Divisionrsquos work has allowed community physicians
to come together and say lsquoThis is whatrsquos really important
to me Irsquom going to get involvedrsquo We have almost 400 member
physicians in Victoria and those who are getting involved are
really seeing the positive outcome and change they can have
That has a huge influence on creating change and allows
physicians to feel they are contributing to societyrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
Strength in numbersBenefit from the member-driven
work of your professional association
for local GPs in Victoria the Victoria
Division of Family Practice
Our members are empowered
to identify areas for change within
the local medical system and are
funded to join working groups that
reflect their passions Together
we devise and enable strategies
for real improvement
SOME DIVISION INITIATIVESbull A GP for Mebull Welcome amp Transitions Mentorshipbull Monthly Dine amp Learn Seriesbull Locum amp Practice Coverage Matchingbull Transitions in Care amp e-Notificationbull TORCH Toward Optimal Residential
Care Healthbull Emergency Response Planningbull Mental Health amp Substance Usebull Frail Seniors in the Communitybull Community Building amp Engagementbull Physician Resource Guidebull MOA Networkbull Mindfulness Meditation for GPs
ldquoI feel this group here is very forward-thinking so there are lots of opportunities to get involved
and to push forward initiatives that you believe inrdquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just
SUPPORTED BY AN awesomePROFESSIONALASSOCIATION
warm
WELCOME
GPs Dr Jessica Fry and Dr Caitlin Harmon have had great experiences with mentoring medical students and new doctors in Victoria
13
Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring ProgramBeing the new kid on the block can be tough
Thatrsquos why the Victoria Division pairs welcoming physician
mentors with doctors who are new to the area or who are shifting
their practice style Matches are made with the aim of connecting
people whose interests and availability align
Mentors sometimes meet their partners for a casual coffee or dinner or accompany them to Division
engagement events They can make introductions and offer important local or insider knowledge
supporting a physicianrsquos smooth transition to Victoria
or to a new type of practice
There are all sorts of reasons you might wish for a mentor
throughout your career The Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring
program supports physicians in all stages of their professional
lives whether you are a first year student a resident a doctor
new to the area or a GP practicing in Victoria The program also
matches mentors to those transitioning into a new area of practice
returning to work after having a baby or raising children or
preparing for retirement These personal connections can offer
a softer smoother transition to the next chapter of your life
ldquoI think it is important to support
new doctors whether they are new graduates
or have recently moved here from somewhere
else I think it definitely helps them to be more
successful and makes them more likely
to want to stay in Victoria
I myself did my residency in Victoria
and my main preceptor was Dr Darcy Nielsen
She was my mentor for all things medicine
and medicine-related She taught me what
I should look for in setting up a practice
and gave me good information about things
like accounting and incorporation
I have worked with a couple of new doctors
including one doctor who shadowed me
for a few shifts at Island Sexual Health
I taught her how to insert IUDs but also
got her thinking about things like how to set
up locums finances accounting and what
to incorporate into her practice long-term
Experiences like this give me the satisfaction
of helping new doctors just like others helped
me and remind me of all the things I really like
about practicing medicine in Victoriardquo
mdash Dr Caitlin Harmon
Dr Caitlin Harmon Family PracticeGrow Health
MENTORS ARE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORTbull Medical students from Year 1 onwardbull Residents bull GPs new to Victoria bull GPs wanting to locum bull GPs planning to work or volunteer abroadbull GPs transitioning to a new specializationbull GPs planning a familybull GPs returning from maternity leavebull GPs returning after raising childrenbull GPs retiringbull and more
To find your mentor contact Helen Welch hwelchdivisionsbcca
ldquoThe Division was very helpful for me to learn how to work in Victoria what job opportunities there are and what opportunities there are for continuing medical educationrdquo mdash Dr Celeste Just
14
Making practice coverage a priorityWe know great doctors stay that way by scheduling their well-earned breaks We also know that
locums are often more free-spirited and adventurous
and are looking for freedom and options in their schedules
The Divisionrsquos innovative one-stop locum matching service
makes that possible by supporting member locums looking
for jobs and family physicians who need practice coverage
As a locum yoursquoll have access to the best jobs in Victoria
competitive remuneration rates mentoring and administrative
support for details like logistics contracts and billing
As a member seeking coverage yoursquoll learn how to prepare
and make your practice more attractive to locums Yoursquoll also
receive support and advice on crafting effective job postings
Finding the perfect match means combining
technology with networking and personal individual support
Our locum matching service asks physicians exactly what they
are looking for in a locum or practice coverage job to ensure
the most suitable arrangements can be found
ldquoI see a lot of need for locums My wife and I have each completed at least 20 locum positionsrdquo mdash Dr Bruce Rebner
ldquoTherersquos something to be said about the locum
lifestyle We donrsquot have kids yet
and we enjoy travelling so being
locums gives my wife and I some
freedom The longer-term idea
is to establish a practice but there
are definitely periods of your life
when locuming makes sense
I think itrsquos an attractive option
at both ends of the career when
yoursquore young and after yoursquove
worked for 20 or 30 years and
have given up your practice
Division events like the Dine
amp Learns are great platforms
to meet fellow doctors
And the locum coordinator
has been really easily accessible
Irsquove emailed a couple of times
for a specific ten days and she
has worked very hard to find
a matchrdquo
mdash Dr Bruce Rebner often locums
in Victoria elsewhere in BC NWT
and New Zealand
Unique options like cross-coverage long-term locums part-time associates and transition-to-retirement practice coverage are supported
LOCUMSlove FOR
MIND OVER MATTER
ldquoI believe we serve ourselves by
practicing what we preach and by
walking our talkrdquomdash Dr Mark Sherman Executive Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
17
The Victoria Division of Family Practice has teamed up with the BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm) to offer eight-week courses for family physicians in mindfulness-based meditation
Caring for our physiciansrsquo wellbeing ldquoWhen it comes to physician stress the CMA did a study in 2003 on physician burnout
and estimated that 47 per cent of us across the board in Canada are in the advanced stages of burnout
There is a stress epidemic for a variety of reasons As physiciansmdashpeople who are in the healthcare
and wellness professionmdashI think wersquore prone to stress because of our sincere will to help others
which is often what brings us into medicine in the first place Physicians have a tendency toward
perfectionism and other traits that make stress very common
For that reason tools like mindfulness cognitive
behaviour strategies meditation and positive
psychology are particularly useful for us
As physicians we all know intellectually about
the burdens of stress and how that can affect
our cardiovascular and mental health Yet by
managing our own stress by having embodied
presence and by having a meditation practice
when wersquore giving advice to our patients
and are speaking from a place of heart
as opposed to just from the head our message
comes through more clearly
Wersquove had quite a few physicians come into
the mindfulness program One of the exciting
things that the Division is facilitating is the
group specifically for physicians which focuses
on the unique challenges of being a physician
in Victoria
Through the Practice Support Program wersquove
also had a group for physicians to use some
mindfulness tools in their practice That was
quite popularrdquo mdash Dr Mark Sherman
BCalmrsquos referral-based mindfulness meditation courses are MSP-funded for both physicians and their patients
MIND OVER MATTER
18
ldquoThe physicians with whom we engage I have to admit are the cream of the crop because they are interested in continuing
education and in being on the forefront of how to be more effective in the care
of their patientsrdquomdash Esther Stevens Coordinator
Regional Practice Support Program Island Health
ldquoThe Dine and Learn sessions generally have one or more specialist physicians who come to talk about a particular topic Therersquos a presentation portion followed by a QampA They tend to be smaller groups so you can get more clinical questions answeredrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
Access to continuingmedical educationVictoriarsquos medical community benefits from an abundance
of local CME opportunities to keep you on the forefront
Medical Conferences As the capital city of British
Columbia and the largest city on Vancouver Island Victoria
attracts an impressive variety of annual medical conferences
Dine amp Learn Events The Divisionrsquos wildly popular
monthly Dine amp Learn events connect GPs with specialists
to exchange knowledge and to solidify strong relationships
in a social setting
Practice Support Program CME-accredited learning
modules and in-practice coaching help GPs to improve
clinical and practice management and patient care delivery
Provincial Academic Detailing Pharmacists provide
objective evidence-informed drug information to physicians
on best prescribing practices
Community Rounds Hospital-based CME events
on a rotating roster of specialized topics
LEARNING WITH YOUR
COLLEAGUES
nurturing GPndashSPECIALIST
RELATIONS
Pediatrician Dr Krystal Cullen delivers a talk at a Dine amp Learn event that brought five local pediatricians together with family practitioners for presentations and case discussions
21
ldquoIn my experience having worked here before and after implementation of the Divisions there used to be very little opportunity to get to know the specialists Now itrsquos quite straightforwardrdquomdash Dr Heera Bindra Tuscany Medical Clinic
Monthly Dine amp Learn events take place throughout Victoria and bring specialists together with family physicians to exchange knowledge network and strengthen relationships
Strong connections with specialists ldquoSpecialists are really an armrsquos length away
here We have all specialties and even some sub-specialties
within those Theyrsquore all approachable and you can
at any point call for help Given the population of Victoria
itrsquos relatively easy to see specialists even if itrsquos non-urgent
They are quite receptive to referrals in a timely manner
What I really appreciate is that therersquos good interaction
between the specialists and the family doctors The Dine
and Learn events that the Division offers allow us to interact
with specialists on a personal basis in a small group setting
and to get local input on a given topic I feel like this
relationship is relatively unique because a lot of places donrsquot
have full service specialists
As well the attitude of our specialists is very open
and approachable Our interactions and communication
between family doctors and specialists is very congenial
and thatrsquos more rewarding for both the patients and the
physicians in practicerdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoBeyond meeting with specialists the Dine amp Learns and other Division events are great for getting to know our general practice colleagues I am lucky to work in a group of four doctors but if I were in a solo practice without the Division I wouldnrsquot have had so much interactionrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
22
ldquoWersquore always putting out calls for interested tutors to come and participate in the programrdquomdash Dr Steve Martin Year 1amp2 Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program University of Victoria
Many opportunities to tutor amp teachThe Island Medical Program (IMP) at the University of Victoria is one of four provincial sites
of UBCrsquos distributed MD Undergraduate Program The program
accepts 32 medical students each year allowing many
opportunities for family doctors to get involved with tutoring
and direct mentorship
Within the Clinical Skills Program doctors act as tutors to small
groups of students for various modules delivered at a hospital
clinical site Students then spend dedicated time within a
family practice office for direct mentorship Depending on the
studentrsquos relationship with the physician they may see their
own patients or see them with the family practitionermentor
Through experience and role modelling about how they
work with patients tutors also offer a wealth of intangible
information that doesnrsquot appear in the curriculum Students
often remark on how important it is for them to learn how
to be doctors
These tutors and mentors are identified as teaching faculty
within the UBC program itself
ldquoItrsquos amazing how many tutors come back and say how the
experience has renewed their
interest in medicine and has
rejuvenated them in ways they
didnrsquot anticipate
Our family practice tutors
really find it engaging They
like the studentsrsquo questions
and it challenges them Some
come and stay for long periods
others come and go or take
breaks Irsquove had some tutors
for the last 11 years Overall
they really enjoy it and are
just very thankful
The students particularly
enjoy the variety of young
new tutors and some of the
older wiser more experienced
tutors They all bring different
elements to it and students
really appreciate bothrdquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin
share YOUR
WISDOM
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
1
Everyone knows Victoria is a stunning city that boasts one of the warmest climates in Canada and that offers recreational opportunities to excite outdoor enthusiasts year round As a family doctor you want a practice that best serves your community while engaging your interests and vision Here you have the flexibility to create the practice that you desire and that matches your lifestyle
Perhaps you like the idea of testing the waters
as a locum physician to give you a strong
introduction before either launching your
own practice or joining an established clinic
Maybe you see yourself as a hospitalist or ER
doctor at Victoria General Hospital (VGH) or the
Royal Jubilee Hospital (RJH) or as supporting
one of our many busy walk-in clinics
There are also plenty of opportunities for a
more specialized practice whether that means
developing your niche working with teens at
the Victoria Youth Clinic working as a military
physician with CFB Esquimalt or joining the
oncologists at the BC Cancer Agency
Whatever your professional goal yoursquoll find
it here on the warm and temperate west coast
in British Columbiarsquos vibrant capital city
The Victoria Division of Family Practice
the thriving professional association that
represents our GP community organizes
a full roster of professional development
opportunities to build your knowledge base
We enjoy strong ties between GPs and
specialists We have an excellent medical
school with opportunities to teach medical
students and residents Our growing locum
matching system can give you a job
or a much needed break
in a nutshell we want you here and your services are needed We will support you in settling in Victoria and in caring for your overall wellbeing
2
Your practice can suit your lifestyleldquoTo pick a place to setup a practice I think
you really have to look at your lifestyle and your personality
Ask yourself what kinds of things you want to do and to get
at both outside the office and within the office itself
I think you have to be able to reconcile your interests and your
hobbies with the environment Certainly around here therersquos
a variety of opportunities from a big city feel in an urban
environment to a country feel in a rural environment all
within very short order of downtown Victoriardquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program at the University of Victoria
ldquoThere are many options here to tailor your work to create a practice that reflects what you really
want If you want to be solely community-based you can
do that If you prefer hospitalist work there are ways to do that
Therersquos an abundance of walk-in clinics so you can add hours
on evenings and on weekends if you need to Itrsquos very flexible
Irsquom mostly based out of the clinic during the week Irsquom also
doing some shifts at a walk-in clinic on weekends as I feel
I have the energy to do so Irsquove joined a large call group where
Irsquom only on call six days a year That allows my patients to have
after-hours coverage but I donrsquot have too much burden in the
evenings and on weekends It allows me the freedom to enjoy
other things in my life I have an infant at home so I appreciate
having as much time as I can with her with my husband
to explore the island to spend time outdoors and to enjoy
our new home Therersquos a lot to dordquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just GP Tuscany Medical Clinic
Flexibility to Mix + Match Your Own Practice StyleOPTIONS TO WORK AS Abull Full-Service Doctorbull Hospitalistbull Doctor with a Specialtybull Locum Doctorbull Part-time Family Practitioner
OPTIONS TO WORK INbull The Militarybull Walk-in Clinicsbull Emergency Roomsbull The Victoria Youth Clinicbull Island Sexual Healthbull Obstetrics amp Maternity Carebull Palliative Care bull Long-term Residential Carebull Hospice Carebull The BC Cancer Agencybull
THE 12 BEST THINGS ABOUT VICTORIA
ltVOTED BY LOCALSgt
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT CLIMATE
AIR QUALITY FRIENDS amp FAMILY
FEELING OF SAFETYWALKABILITY
PARKS RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES
ACCESS TO LOCALLY GROWN FOOD ARTS amp CULTURE
FESTIVALS amp EVENTS SENSE OF COMMUNITY
DESIGN YOUR
DREAMLIFE
88 per cent of locals would describe themselves as happy
The Galloping Goose is a 60km bike trail that spans Sooke Metchosin Colwood Langford View Royal Saanich Sidney and Victoria It attracts 17-million users each year
FIND THAT
SWEET SPOT
Snow + Surf EscapesVictoria to Sombrio Beach 1h47mVictoria to Mount Washington 3h8mVictoria to Tofino 4h16m
5
Prioritizing your work-life balanceldquoI think here in Victoria we have a different idea of what
our lives should look like Between family
responsibilities work and play we need
to strike a balanced equation
The Victoria physicians I know do it brilliantly
There are so many doctors who are working
a few days in their family practice or in a group
practice doing youth clinic shifts doing Island
Sexual Health shifts sometimes working in the
hospital plus trying to have balance for their
personal and family commitments I myself
really honour the variety of work that I have
The location of Victoria and Vancouver Island
is one that just inspires work-life balance
because there is so much beauty and so much
recreational opportunity hererdquo
mdash Dr Mark Sherman Integrative Family Medicine
Physician James Bay Community Project Executive
Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
ldquoThe best thing about being in Victoria is having access to fresh air
ocean breeze and waves that crash downthey lead your mind
to a peaceful state I also really enjoy the sense of balance people
have in their lives between family work and the outdoors
The general attitude is a mix of productivity
and relaxation In some cities people walk
straight ahead as though nobody else exists
In Victoria people will talk to you in coffee shops
and acknowledge each other on the street
It gives the city a real feeling of communityrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young GP
MOST ADULTS WORK LESSTHAN 50 HOURS PER WEEK
J B lt25 25ndash34 35ndash49 50ndash59 60+
Best places to walk your dog Dallas Road Thetis Lake Elk Lake
Best urban escapes Beacon Hill Park Mount Doug Willowrsquos Beach
548178
163
62 48
Average number of hours worked in one week
6
Outdoor living in the warm westldquoI grew up in Montreal and loved the big
city environment When I came to BC I fell in love with
the outdoors the mountains the ocean the outdoor
opportunities surfing on the west coast rainforest walks
I had the world of choice of where to practice and once I had
visited a few times it seemed like the perfect place for my wife
and I to practice medicine and to live play and raise our kids
I really love surfing and spending time in the forests and on
the beaches with my kids I love exposing them to that raw
natural beauty of the West Coast We love skiing and Mount
Washington is just three hours up the island near Courtenay
We also love visiting the special subcultures of the Gulf Islandsrdquo
mdash Dr Mark Sherman
ldquoYou can do whatever
you want to do outside
all year round Thatrsquos probably
the one thing that allows
everyone to stay active
and to keep our really healthy
90-year-olds aroundrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoItrsquos January and the flowers are outrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
ldquoI feel like this is paradise everyday
Itrsquos such nice mild weather
because Irsquom used to such cold
and ice I donrsquot even wear
a jacket most days Itrsquos nice
not having to worry about
winter boots or mitts I think
the coldest itrsquos been since I got
here was in December when
it was minus one degree
So for me itrsquos just wonderfulrdquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
25
20
15
10
5
0
Average Annual Temperatures degC
EXPLORE WEST COAST
RAW+RUGGED NATURE
more than 27000 hectares
(11 of the land base ) under
park or protected area status
33 regional parks amp trails
788 km bikeway network
(the PIC or Primary
Inter-Community Network)
more than 25 completed
mildest winters in Canada
temperatures rarely below
0degC or above 30degC
lowest rainfall on British
Columbiarsquos west coast
Springtime marked by
blooming of the cherry
blossoms normally
in mid-February
71 per cent of locals spend their leisure time being active
KID-FRIENDLY Beach Life Downtown to
Dallas Road Gonzales Bay 10 minWillowrsquos Beach 12 minCadboro-Gyro Beach Park 16 minWhittyrsquos Lagoon 41 min
9
The best place to raise your familyldquoThere arenrsquot many places in Canada where kids can play outside without their
snowsuit all year long We walk to school walk to parks and wersquore a block away from the beach I can
get off of work pick up my kids within 15 minutes and get them to their lessons in another 15 minutes
The commute compared to many cities is incredible Quality private education is affordable which
means rather than being exclusive there are a lot of professional parents in the mixrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
ldquoIn terms of childcare there
are a lot of licensed family daycares and other
options Irsquove also noticed a wide variety
of schools for children of different age groups
from Montessori to very good public schools
to lots of private optionsrdquo ndash Dr Celeste Just
PARTIAL SCHOOL LIST
91 per cent of youth spend their leisure time being active
ldquoI donrsquot think therersquos any better place for families than Victoriardquo mdash Dr Janet Mak GPDoctorrsquos Medical Clinic
bull 27 PUBLIC ELEMENTARY
bull 10 PUBLIC MIDDLE
bull 7 PUBLIC SECONDARY
bull 14 MONTESSORI
bull GLENLYON NORFOLK SCHOOL
bull ST MICHAELrsquoS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL
bull ST MARGARETrsquoS SCHOOL
bull ARTSCALIBRE ACADEMY
bull OAK AND ORCA BIOREGIONAL SCHOOL
bull ST PATRICKrsquoS ELEMENTARY
bull ST ANDREWrsquoS REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
bull ST JOSEPHrsquoS ELEMENTARY
bull ELIZABETH BUCKLEY SCHOOL
bull PEARSON COLLEGE
Fun Stuff for Kidsbull Exploring nature trails
rainforests amp beachesbull Beacon Hill
Childrenrsquos Farmbull IMAX Victoria amp the
Royal BC Royal Museumbull Dolphin amp Whale Watchingbull Miniature Worldbull Bug Zoobull AdrenaLine Zipline
Adventuresbull Fort Rodd Hill
amp Fisgard Lighthousebull Maritime Museum of BCbull Harbour Ferry Toursbull Blenkinsop Valley
Adventure Golf Centrebull Western Speedway
bull All Fun Recreation Parkbull Wittyrsquos Lagoon Tide Pools
amp Skimboarding bull Butterfly Worldbull Butchart Gardens
Childrenrsquos Pavilion amp Rose Carousel
bull Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre
bull Annual Lego Exhibitbull Victoria Royals
Hockey Gamesbull Victoria Shamrocks
Lacrosse Gamesbull Victoria HarbourCats
Baseball Gamesbull Fishermanrsquos Wharfbull Ghostly Walks
10
Your Victoria Division of Family PracticeldquoThe Division is filling the void of socialization
peer support and practice improvement Since itrsquos inception
our community of family doctors has become more united
through a variety of projects such as securing locums and
practice coverage working on senior support in nursing homes
and increasing communication between patients caregivers
hospitals and GPs They offer many CME events and mentoring
for new and transitioning physicians to make it easier to settle
here or to transition into a different style of practice
The Divisionrsquos work has allowed community physicians
to come together and say lsquoThis is whatrsquos really important
to me Irsquom going to get involvedrsquo We have almost 400 member
physicians in Victoria and those who are getting involved are
really seeing the positive outcome and change they can have
That has a huge influence on creating change and allows
physicians to feel they are contributing to societyrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
Strength in numbersBenefit from the member-driven
work of your professional association
for local GPs in Victoria the Victoria
Division of Family Practice
Our members are empowered
to identify areas for change within
the local medical system and are
funded to join working groups that
reflect their passions Together
we devise and enable strategies
for real improvement
SOME DIVISION INITIATIVESbull A GP for Mebull Welcome amp Transitions Mentorshipbull Monthly Dine amp Learn Seriesbull Locum amp Practice Coverage Matchingbull Transitions in Care amp e-Notificationbull TORCH Toward Optimal Residential
Care Healthbull Emergency Response Planningbull Mental Health amp Substance Usebull Frail Seniors in the Communitybull Community Building amp Engagementbull Physician Resource Guidebull MOA Networkbull Mindfulness Meditation for GPs
ldquoI feel this group here is very forward-thinking so there are lots of opportunities to get involved
and to push forward initiatives that you believe inrdquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just
SUPPORTED BY AN awesomePROFESSIONALASSOCIATION
warm
WELCOME
GPs Dr Jessica Fry and Dr Caitlin Harmon have had great experiences with mentoring medical students and new doctors in Victoria
13
Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring ProgramBeing the new kid on the block can be tough
Thatrsquos why the Victoria Division pairs welcoming physician
mentors with doctors who are new to the area or who are shifting
their practice style Matches are made with the aim of connecting
people whose interests and availability align
Mentors sometimes meet their partners for a casual coffee or dinner or accompany them to Division
engagement events They can make introductions and offer important local or insider knowledge
supporting a physicianrsquos smooth transition to Victoria
or to a new type of practice
There are all sorts of reasons you might wish for a mentor
throughout your career The Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring
program supports physicians in all stages of their professional
lives whether you are a first year student a resident a doctor
new to the area or a GP practicing in Victoria The program also
matches mentors to those transitioning into a new area of practice
returning to work after having a baby or raising children or
preparing for retirement These personal connections can offer
a softer smoother transition to the next chapter of your life
ldquoI think it is important to support
new doctors whether they are new graduates
or have recently moved here from somewhere
else I think it definitely helps them to be more
successful and makes them more likely
to want to stay in Victoria
I myself did my residency in Victoria
and my main preceptor was Dr Darcy Nielsen
She was my mentor for all things medicine
and medicine-related She taught me what
I should look for in setting up a practice
and gave me good information about things
like accounting and incorporation
I have worked with a couple of new doctors
including one doctor who shadowed me
for a few shifts at Island Sexual Health
I taught her how to insert IUDs but also
got her thinking about things like how to set
up locums finances accounting and what
to incorporate into her practice long-term
Experiences like this give me the satisfaction
of helping new doctors just like others helped
me and remind me of all the things I really like
about practicing medicine in Victoriardquo
mdash Dr Caitlin Harmon
Dr Caitlin Harmon Family PracticeGrow Health
MENTORS ARE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORTbull Medical students from Year 1 onwardbull Residents bull GPs new to Victoria bull GPs wanting to locum bull GPs planning to work or volunteer abroadbull GPs transitioning to a new specializationbull GPs planning a familybull GPs returning from maternity leavebull GPs returning after raising childrenbull GPs retiringbull and more
To find your mentor contact Helen Welch hwelchdivisionsbcca
ldquoThe Division was very helpful for me to learn how to work in Victoria what job opportunities there are and what opportunities there are for continuing medical educationrdquo mdash Dr Celeste Just
14
Making practice coverage a priorityWe know great doctors stay that way by scheduling their well-earned breaks We also know that
locums are often more free-spirited and adventurous
and are looking for freedom and options in their schedules
The Divisionrsquos innovative one-stop locum matching service
makes that possible by supporting member locums looking
for jobs and family physicians who need practice coverage
As a locum yoursquoll have access to the best jobs in Victoria
competitive remuneration rates mentoring and administrative
support for details like logistics contracts and billing
As a member seeking coverage yoursquoll learn how to prepare
and make your practice more attractive to locums Yoursquoll also
receive support and advice on crafting effective job postings
Finding the perfect match means combining
technology with networking and personal individual support
Our locum matching service asks physicians exactly what they
are looking for in a locum or practice coverage job to ensure
the most suitable arrangements can be found
ldquoI see a lot of need for locums My wife and I have each completed at least 20 locum positionsrdquo mdash Dr Bruce Rebner
ldquoTherersquos something to be said about the locum
lifestyle We donrsquot have kids yet
and we enjoy travelling so being
locums gives my wife and I some
freedom The longer-term idea
is to establish a practice but there
are definitely periods of your life
when locuming makes sense
I think itrsquos an attractive option
at both ends of the career when
yoursquore young and after yoursquove
worked for 20 or 30 years and
have given up your practice
Division events like the Dine
amp Learns are great platforms
to meet fellow doctors
And the locum coordinator
has been really easily accessible
Irsquove emailed a couple of times
for a specific ten days and she
has worked very hard to find
a matchrdquo
mdash Dr Bruce Rebner often locums
in Victoria elsewhere in BC NWT
and New Zealand
Unique options like cross-coverage long-term locums part-time associates and transition-to-retirement practice coverage are supported
LOCUMSlove FOR
MIND OVER MATTER
ldquoI believe we serve ourselves by
practicing what we preach and by
walking our talkrdquomdash Dr Mark Sherman Executive Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
17
The Victoria Division of Family Practice has teamed up with the BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm) to offer eight-week courses for family physicians in mindfulness-based meditation
Caring for our physiciansrsquo wellbeing ldquoWhen it comes to physician stress the CMA did a study in 2003 on physician burnout
and estimated that 47 per cent of us across the board in Canada are in the advanced stages of burnout
There is a stress epidemic for a variety of reasons As physiciansmdashpeople who are in the healthcare
and wellness professionmdashI think wersquore prone to stress because of our sincere will to help others
which is often what brings us into medicine in the first place Physicians have a tendency toward
perfectionism and other traits that make stress very common
For that reason tools like mindfulness cognitive
behaviour strategies meditation and positive
psychology are particularly useful for us
As physicians we all know intellectually about
the burdens of stress and how that can affect
our cardiovascular and mental health Yet by
managing our own stress by having embodied
presence and by having a meditation practice
when wersquore giving advice to our patients
and are speaking from a place of heart
as opposed to just from the head our message
comes through more clearly
Wersquove had quite a few physicians come into
the mindfulness program One of the exciting
things that the Division is facilitating is the
group specifically for physicians which focuses
on the unique challenges of being a physician
in Victoria
Through the Practice Support Program wersquove
also had a group for physicians to use some
mindfulness tools in their practice That was
quite popularrdquo mdash Dr Mark Sherman
BCalmrsquos referral-based mindfulness meditation courses are MSP-funded for both physicians and their patients
MIND OVER MATTER
18
ldquoThe physicians with whom we engage I have to admit are the cream of the crop because they are interested in continuing
education and in being on the forefront of how to be more effective in the care
of their patientsrdquomdash Esther Stevens Coordinator
Regional Practice Support Program Island Health
ldquoThe Dine and Learn sessions generally have one or more specialist physicians who come to talk about a particular topic Therersquos a presentation portion followed by a QampA They tend to be smaller groups so you can get more clinical questions answeredrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
Access to continuingmedical educationVictoriarsquos medical community benefits from an abundance
of local CME opportunities to keep you on the forefront
Medical Conferences As the capital city of British
Columbia and the largest city on Vancouver Island Victoria
attracts an impressive variety of annual medical conferences
Dine amp Learn Events The Divisionrsquos wildly popular
monthly Dine amp Learn events connect GPs with specialists
to exchange knowledge and to solidify strong relationships
in a social setting
Practice Support Program CME-accredited learning
modules and in-practice coaching help GPs to improve
clinical and practice management and patient care delivery
Provincial Academic Detailing Pharmacists provide
objective evidence-informed drug information to physicians
on best prescribing practices
Community Rounds Hospital-based CME events
on a rotating roster of specialized topics
LEARNING WITH YOUR
COLLEAGUES
nurturing GPndashSPECIALIST
RELATIONS
Pediatrician Dr Krystal Cullen delivers a talk at a Dine amp Learn event that brought five local pediatricians together with family practitioners for presentations and case discussions
21
ldquoIn my experience having worked here before and after implementation of the Divisions there used to be very little opportunity to get to know the specialists Now itrsquos quite straightforwardrdquomdash Dr Heera Bindra Tuscany Medical Clinic
Monthly Dine amp Learn events take place throughout Victoria and bring specialists together with family physicians to exchange knowledge network and strengthen relationships
Strong connections with specialists ldquoSpecialists are really an armrsquos length away
here We have all specialties and even some sub-specialties
within those Theyrsquore all approachable and you can
at any point call for help Given the population of Victoria
itrsquos relatively easy to see specialists even if itrsquos non-urgent
They are quite receptive to referrals in a timely manner
What I really appreciate is that therersquos good interaction
between the specialists and the family doctors The Dine
and Learn events that the Division offers allow us to interact
with specialists on a personal basis in a small group setting
and to get local input on a given topic I feel like this
relationship is relatively unique because a lot of places donrsquot
have full service specialists
As well the attitude of our specialists is very open
and approachable Our interactions and communication
between family doctors and specialists is very congenial
and thatrsquos more rewarding for both the patients and the
physicians in practicerdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoBeyond meeting with specialists the Dine amp Learns and other Division events are great for getting to know our general practice colleagues I am lucky to work in a group of four doctors but if I were in a solo practice without the Division I wouldnrsquot have had so much interactionrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
22
ldquoWersquore always putting out calls for interested tutors to come and participate in the programrdquomdash Dr Steve Martin Year 1amp2 Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program University of Victoria
Many opportunities to tutor amp teachThe Island Medical Program (IMP) at the University of Victoria is one of four provincial sites
of UBCrsquos distributed MD Undergraduate Program The program
accepts 32 medical students each year allowing many
opportunities for family doctors to get involved with tutoring
and direct mentorship
Within the Clinical Skills Program doctors act as tutors to small
groups of students for various modules delivered at a hospital
clinical site Students then spend dedicated time within a
family practice office for direct mentorship Depending on the
studentrsquos relationship with the physician they may see their
own patients or see them with the family practitionermentor
Through experience and role modelling about how they
work with patients tutors also offer a wealth of intangible
information that doesnrsquot appear in the curriculum Students
often remark on how important it is for them to learn how
to be doctors
These tutors and mentors are identified as teaching faculty
within the UBC program itself
ldquoItrsquos amazing how many tutors come back and say how the
experience has renewed their
interest in medicine and has
rejuvenated them in ways they
didnrsquot anticipate
Our family practice tutors
really find it engaging They
like the studentsrsquo questions
and it challenges them Some
come and stay for long periods
others come and go or take
breaks Irsquove had some tutors
for the last 11 years Overall
they really enjoy it and are
just very thankful
The students particularly
enjoy the variety of young
new tutors and some of the
older wiser more experienced
tutors They all bring different
elements to it and students
really appreciate bothrdquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin
share YOUR
WISDOM
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
2
Your practice can suit your lifestyleldquoTo pick a place to setup a practice I think
you really have to look at your lifestyle and your personality
Ask yourself what kinds of things you want to do and to get
at both outside the office and within the office itself
I think you have to be able to reconcile your interests and your
hobbies with the environment Certainly around here therersquos
a variety of opportunities from a big city feel in an urban
environment to a country feel in a rural environment all
within very short order of downtown Victoriardquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program at the University of Victoria
ldquoThere are many options here to tailor your work to create a practice that reflects what you really
want If you want to be solely community-based you can
do that If you prefer hospitalist work there are ways to do that
Therersquos an abundance of walk-in clinics so you can add hours
on evenings and on weekends if you need to Itrsquos very flexible
Irsquom mostly based out of the clinic during the week Irsquom also
doing some shifts at a walk-in clinic on weekends as I feel
I have the energy to do so Irsquove joined a large call group where
Irsquom only on call six days a year That allows my patients to have
after-hours coverage but I donrsquot have too much burden in the
evenings and on weekends It allows me the freedom to enjoy
other things in my life I have an infant at home so I appreciate
having as much time as I can with her with my husband
to explore the island to spend time outdoors and to enjoy
our new home Therersquos a lot to dordquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just GP Tuscany Medical Clinic
Flexibility to Mix + Match Your Own Practice StyleOPTIONS TO WORK AS Abull Full-Service Doctorbull Hospitalistbull Doctor with a Specialtybull Locum Doctorbull Part-time Family Practitioner
OPTIONS TO WORK INbull The Militarybull Walk-in Clinicsbull Emergency Roomsbull The Victoria Youth Clinicbull Island Sexual Healthbull Obstetrics amp Maternity Carebull Palliative Care bull Long-term Residential Carebull Hospice Carebull The BC Cancer Agencybull
THE 12 BEST THINGS ABOUT VICTORIA
ltVOTED BY LOCALSgt
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT CLIMATE
AIR QUALITY FRIENDS amp FAMILY
FEELING OF SAFETYWALKABILITY
PARKS RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES
ACCESS TO LOCALLY GROWN FOOD ARTS amp CULTURE
FESTIVALS amp EVENTS SENSE OF COMMUNITY
DESIGN YOUR
DREAMLIFE
88 per cent of locals would describe themselves as happy
The Galloping Goose is a 60km bike trail that spans Sooke Metchosin Colwood Langford View Royal Saanich Sidney and Victoria It attracts 17-million users each year
FIND THAT
SWEET SPOT
Snow + Surf EscapesVictoria to Sombrio Beach 1h47mVictoria to Mount Washington 3h8mVictoria to Tofino 4h16m
5
Prioritizing your work-life balanceldquoI think here in Victoria we have a different idea of what
our lives should look like Between family
responsibilities work and play we need
to strike a balanced equation
The Victoria physicians I know do it brilliantly
There are so many doctors who are working
a few days in their family practice or in a group
practice doing youth clinic shifts doing Island
Sexual Health shifts sometimes working in the
hospital plus trying to have balance for their
personal and family commitments I myself
really honour the variety of work that I have
The location of Victoria and Vancouver Island
is one that just inspires work-life balance
because there is so much beauty and so much
recreational opportunity hererdquo
mdash Dr Mark Sherman Integrative Family Medicine
Physician James Bay Community Project Executive
Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
ldquoThe best thing about being in Victoria is having access to fresh air
ocean breeze and waves that crash downthey lead your mind
to a peaceful state I also really enjoy the sense of balance people
have in their lives between family work and the outdoors
The general attitude is a mix of productivity
and relaxation In some cities people walk
straight ahead as though nobody else exists
In Victoria people will talk to you in coffee shops
and acknowledge each other on the street
It gives the city a real feeling of communityrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young GP
MOST ADULTS WORK LESSTHAN 50 HOURS PER WEEK
J B lt25 25ndash34 35ndash49 50ndash59 60+
Best places to walk your dog Dallas Road Thetis Lake Elk Lake
Best urban escapes Beacon Hill Park Mount Doug Willowrsquos Beach
548178
163
62 48
Average number of hours worked in one week
6
Outdoor living in the warm westldquoI grew up in Montreal and loved the big
city environment When I came to BC I fell in love with
the outdoors the mountains the ocean the outdoor
opportunities surfing on the west coast rainforest walks
I had the world of choice of where to practice and once I had
visited a few times it seemed like the perfect place for my wife
and I to practice medicine and to live play and raise our kids
I really love surfing and spending time in the forests and on
the beaches with my kids I love exposing them to that raw
natural beauty of the West Coast We love skiing and Mount
Washington is just three hours up the island near Courtenay
We also love visiting the special subcultures of the Gulf Islandsrdquo
mdash Dr Mark Sherman
ldquoYou can do whatever
you want to do outside
all year round Thatrsquos probably
the one thing that allows
everyone to stay active
and to keep our really healthy
90-year-olds aroundrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoItrsquos January and the flowers are outrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
ldquoI feel like this is paradise everyday
Itrsquos such nice mild weather
because Irsquom used to such cold
and ice I donrsquot even wear
a jacket most days Itrsquos nice
not having to worry about
winter boots or mitts I think
the coldest itrsquos been since I got
here was in December when
it was minus one degree
So for me itrsquos just wonderfulrdquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
25
20
15
10
5
0
Average Annual Temperatures degC
EXPLORE WEST COAST
RAW+RUGGED NATURE
more than 27000 hectares
(11 of the land base ) under
park or protected area status
33 regional parks amp trails
788 km bikeway network
(the PIC or Primary
Inter-Community Network)
more than 25 completed
mildest winters in Canada
temperatures rarely below
0degC or above 30degC
lowest rainfall on British
Columbiarsquos west coast
Springtime marked by
blooming of the cherry
blossoms normally
in mid-February
71 per cent of locals spend their leisure time being active
KID-FRIENDLY Beach Life Downtown to
Dallas Road Gonzales Bay 10 minWillowrsquos Beach 12 minCadboro-Gyro Beach Park 16 minWhittyrsquos Lagoon 41 min
9
The best place to raise your familyldquoThere arenrsquot many places in Canada where kids can play outside without their
snowsuit all year long We walk to school walk to parks and wersquore a block away from the beach I can
get off of work pick up my kids within 15 minutes and get them to their lessons in another 15 minutes
The commute compared to many cities is incredible Quality private education is affordable which
means rather than being exclusive there are a lot of professional parents in the mixrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
ldquoIn terms of childcare there
are a lot of licensed family daycares and other
options Irsquove also noticed a wide variety
of schools for children of different age groups
from Montessori to very good public schools
to lots of private optionsrdquo ndash Dr Celeste Just
PARTIAL SCHOOL LIST
91 per cent of youth spend their leisure time being active
ldquoI donrsquot think therersquos any better place for families than Victoriardquo mdash Dr Janet Mak GPDoctorrsquos Medical Clinic
bull 27 PUBLIC ELEMENTARY
bull 10 PUBLIC MIDDLE
bull 7 PUBLIC SECONDARY
bull 14 MONTESSORI
bull GLENLYON NORFOLK SCHOOL
bull ST MICHAELrsquoS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL
bull ST MARGARETrsquoS SCHOOL
bull ARTSCALIBRE ACADEMY
bull OAK AND ORCA BIOREGIONAL SCHOOL
bull ST PATRICKrsquoS ELEMENTARY
bull ST ANDREWrsquoS REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
bull ST JOSEPHrsquoS ELEMENTARY
bull ELIZABETH BUCKLEY SCHOOL
bull PEARSON COLLEGE
Fun Stuff for Kidsbull Exploring nature trails
rainforests amp beachesbull Beacon Hill
Childrenrsquos Farmbull IMAX Victoria amp the
Royal BC Royal Museumbull Dolphin amp Whale Watchingbull Miniature Worldbull Bug Zoobull AdrenaLine Zipline
Adventuresbull Fort Rodd Hill
amp Fisgard Lighthousebull Maritime Museum of BCbull Harbour Ferry Toursbull Blenkinsop Valley
Adventure Golf Centrebull Western Speedway
bull All Fun Recreation Parkbull Wittyrsquos Lagoon Tide Pools
amp Skimboarding bull Butterfly Worldbull Butchart Gardens
Childrenrsquos Pavilion amp Rose Carousel
bull Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre
bull Annual Lego Exhibitbull Victoria Royals
Hockey Gamesbull Victoria Shamrocks
Lacrosse Gamesbull Victoria HarbourCats
Baseball Gamesbull Fishermanrsquos Wharfbull Ghostly Walks
10
Your Victoria Division of Family PracticeldquoThe Division is filling the void of socialization
peer support and practice improvement Since itrsquos inception
our community of family doctors has become more united
through a variety of projects such as securing locums and
practice coverage working on senior support in nursing homes
and increasing communication between patients caregivers
hospitals and GPs They offer many CME events and mentoring
for new and transitioning physicians to make it easier to settle
here or to transition into a different style of practice
The Divisionrsquos work has allowed community physicians
to come together and say lsquoThis is whatrsquos really important
to me Irsquom going to get involvedrsquo We have almost 400 member
physicians in Victoria and those who are getting involved are
really seeing the positive outcome and change they can have
That has a huge influence on creating change and allows
physicians to feel they are contributing to societyrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
Strength in numbersBenefit from the member-driven
work of your professional association
for local GPs in Victoria the Victoria
Division of Family Practice
Our members are empowered
to identify areas for change within
the local medical system and are
funded to join working groups that
reflect their passions Together
we devise and enable strategies
for real improvement
SOME DIVISION INITIATIVESbull A GP for Mebull Welcome amp Transitions Mentorshipbull Monthly Dine amp Learn Seriesbull Locum amp Practice Coverage Matchingbull Transitions in Care amp e-Notificationbull TORCH Toward Optimal Residential
Care Healthbull Emergency Response Planningbull Mental Health amp Substance Usebull Frail Seniors in the Communitybull Community Building amp Engagementbull Physician Resource Guidebull MOA Networkbull Mindfulness Meditation for GPs
ldquoI feel this group here is very forward-thinking so there are lots of opportunities to get involved
and to push forward initiatives that you believe inrdquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just
SUPPORTED BY AN awesomePROFESSIONALASSOCIATION
warm
WELCOME
GPs Dr Jessica Fry and Dr Caitlin Harmon have had great experiences with mentoring medical students and new doctors in Victoria
13
Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring ProgramBeing the new kid on the block can be tough
Thatrsquos why the Victoria Division pairs welcoming physician
mentors with doctors who are new to the area or who are shifting
their practice style Matches are made with the aim of connecting
people whose interests and availability align
Mentors sometimes meet their partners for a casual coffee or dinner or accompany them to Division
engagement events They can make introductions and offer important local or insider knowledge
supporting a physicianrsquos smooth transition to Victoria
or to a new type of practice
There are all sorts of reasons you might wish for a mentor
throughout your career The Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring
program supports physicians in all stages of their professional
lives whether you are a first year student a resident a doctor
new to the area or a GP practicing in Victoria The program also
matches mentors to those transitioning into a new area of practice
returning to work after having a baby or raising children or
preparing for retirement These personal connections can offer
a softer smoother transition to the next chapter of your life
ldquoI think it is important to support
new doctors whether they are new graduates
or have recently moved here from somewhere
else I think it definitely helps them to be more
successful and makes them more likely
to want to stay in Victoria
I myself did my residency in Victoria
and my main preceptor was Dr Darcy Nielsen
She was my mentor for all things medicine
and medicine-related She taught me what
I should look for in setting up a practice
and gave me good information about things
like accounting and incorporation
I have worked with a couple of new doctors
including one doctor who shadowed me
for a few shifts at Island Sexual Health
I taught her how to insert IUDs but also
got her thinking about things like how to set
up locums finances accounting and what
to incorporate into her practice long-term
Experiences like this give me the satisfaction
of helping new doctors just like others helped
me and remind me of all the things I really like
about practicing medicine in Victoriardquo
mdash Dr Caitlin Harmon
Dr Caitlin Harmon Family PracticeGrow Health
MENTORS ARE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORTbull Medical students from Year 1 onwardbull Residents bull GPs new to Victoria bull GPs wanting to locum bull GPs planning to work or volunteer abroadbull GPs transitioning to a new specializationbull GPs planning a familybull GPs returning from maternity leavebull GPs returning after raising childrenbull GPs retiringbull and more
To find your mentor contact Helen Welch hwelchdivisionsbcca
ldquoThe Division was very helpful for me to learn how to work in Victoria what job opportunities there are and what opportunities there are for continuing medical educationrdquo mdash Dr Celeste Just
14
Making practice coverage a priorityWe know great doctors stay that way by scheduling their well-earned breaks We also know that
locums are often more free-spirited and adventurous
and are looking for freedom and options in their schedules
The Divisionrsquos innovative one-stop locum matching service
makes that possible by supporting member locums looking
for jobs and family physicians who need practice coverage
As a locum yoursquoll have access to the best jobs in Victoria
competitive remuneration rates mentoring and administrative
support for details like logistics contracts and billing
As a member seeking coverage yoursquoll learn how to prepare
and make your practice more attractive to locums Yoursquoll also
receive support and advice on crafting effective job postings
Finding the perfect match means combining
technology with networking and personal individual support
Our locum matching service asks physicians exactly what they
are looking for in a locum or practice coverage job to ensure
the most suitable arrangements can be found
ldquoI see a lot of need for locums My wife and I have each completed at least 20 locum positionsrdquo mdash Dr Bruce Rebner
ldquoTherersquos something to be said about the locum
lifestyle We donrsquot have kids yet
and we enjoy travelling so being
locums gives my wife and I some
freedom The longer-term idea
is to establish a practice but there
are definitely periods of your life
when locuming makes sense
I think itrsquos an attractive option
at both ends of the career when
yoursquore young and after yoursquove
worked for 20 or 30 years and
have given up your practice
Division events like the Dine
amp Learns are great platforms
to meet fellow doctors
And the locum coordinator
has been really easily accessible
Irsquove emailed a couple of times
for a specific ten days and she
has worked very hard to find
a matchrdquo
mdash Dr Bruce Rebner often locums
in Victoria elsewhere in BC NWT
and New Zealand
Unique options like cross-coverage long-term locums part-time associates and transition-to-retirement practice coverage are supported
LOCUMSlove FOR
MIND OVER MATTER
ldquoI believe we serve ourselves by
practicing what we preach and by
walking our talkrdquomdash Dr Mark Sherman Executive Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
17
The Victoria Division of Family Practice has teamed up with the BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm) to offer eight-week courses for family physicians in mindfulness-based meditation
Caring for our physiciansrsquo wellbeing ldquoWhen it comes to physician stress the CMA did a study in 2003 on physician burnout
and estimated that 47 per cent of us across the board in Canada are in the advanced stages of burnout
There is a stress epidemic for a variety of reasons As physiciansmdashpeople who are in the healthcare
and wellness professionmdashI think wersquore prone to stress because of our sincere will to help others
which is often what brings us into medicine in the first place Physicians have a tendency toward
perfectionism and other traits that make stress very common
For that reason tools like mindfulness cognitive
behaviour strategies meditation and positive
psychology are particularly useful for us
As physicians we all know intellectually about
the burdens of stress and how that can affect
our cardiovascular and mental health Yet by
managing our own stress by having embodied
presence and by having a meditation practice
when wersquore giving advice to our patients
and are speaking from a place of heart
as opposed to just from the head our message
comes through more clearly
Wersquove had quite a few physicians come into
the mindfulness program One of the exciting
things that the Division is facilitating is the
group specifically for physicians which focuses
on the unique challenges of being a physician
in Victoria
Through the Practice Support Program wersquove
also had a group for physicians to use some
mindfulness tools in their practice That was
quite popularrdquo mdash Dr Mark Sherman
BCalmrsquos referral-based mindfulness meditation courses are MSP-funded for both physicians and their patients
MIND OVER MATTER
18
ldquoThe physicians with whom we engage I have to admit are the cream of the crop because they are interested in continuing
education and in being on the forefront of how to be more effective in the care
of their patientsrdquomdash Esther Stevens Coordinator
Regional Practice Support Program Island Health
ldquoThe Dine and Learn sessions generally have one or more specialist physicians who come to talk about a particular topic Therersquos a presentation portion followed by a QampA They tend to be smaller groups so you can get more clinical questions answeredrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
Access to continuingmedical educationVictoriarsquos medical community benefits from an abundance
of local CME opportunities to keep you on the forefront
Medical Conferences As the capital city of British
Columbia and the largest city on Vancouver Island Victoria
attracts an impressive variety of annual medical conferences
Dine amp Learn Events The Divisionrsquos wildly popular
monthly Dine amp Learn events connect GPs with specialists
to exchange knowledge and to solidify strong relationships
in a social setting
Practice Support Program CME-accredited learning
modules and in-practice coaching help GPs to improve
clinical and practice management and patient care delivery
Provincial Academic Detailing Pharmacists provide
objective evidence-informed drug information to physicians
on best prescribing practices
Community Rounds Hospital-based CME events
on a rotating roster of specialized topics
LEARNING WITH YOUR
COLLEAGUES
nurturing GPndashSPECIALIST
RELATIONS
Pediatrician Dr Krystal Cullen delivers a talk at a Dine amp Learn event that brought five local pediatricians together with family practitioners for presentations and case discussions
21
ldquoIn my experience having worked here before and after implementation of the Divisions there used to be very little opportunity to get to know the specialists Now itrsquos quite straightforwardrdquomdash Dr Heera Bindra Tuscany Medical Clinic
Monthly Dine amp Learn events take place throughout Victoria and bring specialists together with family physicians to exchange knowledge network and strengthen relationships
Strong connections with specialists ldquoSpecialists are really an armrsquos length away
here We have all specialties and even some sub-specialties
within those Theyrsquore all approachable and you can
at any point call for help Given the population of Victoria
itrsquos relatively easy to see specialists even if itrsquos non-urgent
They are quite receptive to referrals in a timely manner
What I really appreciate is that therersquos good interaction
between the specialists and the family doctors The Dine
and Learn events that the Division offers allow us to interact
with specialists on a personal basis in a small group setting
and to get local input on a given topic I feel like this
relationship is relatively unique because a lot of places donrsquot
have full service specialists
As well the attitude of our specialists is very open
and approachable Our interactions and communication
between family doctors and specialists is very congenial
and thatrsquos more rewarding for both the patients and the
physicians in practicerdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoBeyond meeting with specialists the Dine amp Learns and other Division events are great for getting to know our general practice colleagues I am lucky to work in a group of four doctors but if I were in a solo practice without the Division I wouldnrsquot have had so much interactionrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
22
ldquoWersquore always putting out calls for interested tutors to come and participate in the programrdquomdash Dr Steve Martin Year 1amp2 Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program University of Victoria
Many opportunities to tutor amp teachThe Island Medical Program (IMP) at the University of Victoria is one of four provincial sites
of UBCrsquos distributed MD Undergraduate Program The program
accepts 32 medical students each year allowing many
opportunities for family doctors to get involved with tutoring
and direct mentorship
Within the Clinical Skills Program doctors act as tutors to small
groups of students for various modules delivered at a hospital
clinical site Students then spend dedicated time within a
family practice office for direct mentorship Depending on the
studentrsquos relationship with the physician they may see their
own patients or see them with the family practitionermentor
Through experience and role modelling about how they
work with patients tutors also offer a wealth of intangible
information that doesnrsquot appear in the curriculum Students
often remark on how important it is for them to learn how
to be doctors
These tutors and mentors are identified as teaching faculty
within the UBC program itself
ldquoItrsquos amazing how many tutors come back and say how the
experience has renewed their
interest in medicine and has
rejuvenated them in ways they
didnrsquot anticipate
Our family practice tutors
really find it engaging They
like the studentsrsquo questions
and it challenges them Some
come and stay for long periods
others come and go or take
breaks Irsquove had some tutors
for the last 11 years Overall
they really enjoy it and are
just very thankful
The students particularly
enjoy the variety of young
new tutors and some of the
older wiser more experienced
tutors They all bring different
elements to it and students
really appreciate bothrdquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin
share YOUR
WISDOM
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
DESIGN YOUR
DREAMLIFE
88 per cent of locals would describe themselves as happy
The Galloping Goose is a 60km bike trail that spans Sooke Metchosin Colwood Langford View Royal Saanich Sidney and Victoria It attracts 17-million users each year
FIND THAT
SWEET SPOT
Snow + Surf EscapesVictoria to Sombrio Beach 1h47mVictoria to Mount Washington 3h8mVictoria to Tofino 4h16m
5
Prioritizing your work-life balanceldquoI think here in Victoria we have a different idea of what
our lives should look like Between family
responsibilities work and play we need
to strike a balanced equation
The Victoria physicians I know do it brilliantly
There are so many doctors who are working
a few days in their family practice or in a group
practice doing youth clinic shifts doing Island
Sexual Health shifts sometimes working in the
hospital plus trying to have balance for their
personal and family commitments I myself
really honour the variety of work that I have
The location of Victoria and Vancouver Island
is one that just inspires work-life balance
because there is so much beauty and so much
recreational opportunity hererdquo
mdash Dr Mark Sherman Integrative Family Medicine
Physician James Bay Community Project Executive
Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
ldquoThe best thing about being in Victoria is having access to fresh air
ocean breeze and waves that crash downthey lead your mind
to a peaceful state I also really enjoy the sense of balance people
have in their lives between family work and the outdoors
The general attitude is a mix of productivity
and relaxation In some cities people walk
straight ahead as though nobody else exists
In Victoria people will talk to you in coffee shops
and acknowledge each other on the street
It gives the city a real feeling of communityrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young GP
MOST ADULTS WORK LESSTHAN 50 HOURS PER WEEK
J B lt25 25ndash34 35ndash49 50ndash59 60+
Best places to walk your dog Dallas Road Thetis Lake Elk Lake
Best urban escapes Beacon Hill Park Mount Doug Willowrsquos Beach
548178
163
62 48
Average number of hours worked in one week
6
Outdoor living in the warm westldquoI grew up in Montreal and loved the big
city environment When I came to BC I fell in love with
the outdoors the mountains the ocean the outdoor
opportunities surfing on the west coast rainforest walks
I had the world of choice of where to practice and once I had
visited a few times it seemed like the perfect place for my wife
and I to practice medicine and to live play and raise our kids
I really love surfing and spending time in the forests and on
the beaches with my kids I love exposing them to that raw
natural beauty of the West Coast We love skiing and Mount
Washington is just three hours up the island near Courtenay
We also love visiting the special subcultures of the Gulf Islandsrdquo
mdash Dr Mark Sherman
ldquoYou can do whatever
you want to do outside
all year round Thatrsquos probably
the one thing that allows
everyone to stay active
and to keep our really healthy
90-year-olds aroundrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoItrsquos January and the flowers are outrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
ldquoI feel like this is paradise everyday
Itrsquos such nice mild weather
because Irsquom used to such cold
and ice I donrsquot even wear
a jacket most days Itrsquos nice
not having to worry about
winter boots or mitts I think
the coldest itrsquos been since I got
here was in December when
it was minus one degree
So for me itrsquos just wonderfulrdquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
25
20
15
10
5
0
Average Annual Temperatures degC
EXPLORE WEST COAST
RAW+RUGGED NATURE
more than 27000 hectares
(11 of the land base ) under
park or protected area status
33 regional parks amp trails
788 km bikeway network
(the PIC or Primary
Inter-Community Network)
more than 25 completed
mildest winters in Canada
temperatures rarely below
0degC or above 30degC
lowest rainfall on British
Columbiarsquos west coast
Springtime marked by
blooming of the cherry
blossoms normally
in mid-February
71 per cent of locals spend their leisure time being active
KID-FRIENDLY Beach Life Downtown to
Dallas Road Gonzales Bay 10 minWillowrsquos Beach 12 minCadboro-Gyro Beach Park 16 minWhittyrsquos Lagoon 41 min
9
The best place to raise your familyldquoThere arenrsquot many places in Canada where kids can play outside without their
snowsuit all year long We walk to school walk to parks and wersquore a block away from the beach I can
get off of work pick up my kids within 15 minutes and get them to their lessons in another 15 minutes
The commute compared to many cities is incredible Quality private education is affordable which
means rather than being exclusive there are a lot of professional parents in the mixrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
ldquoIn terms of childcare there
are a lot of licensed family daycares and other
options Irsquove also noticed a wide variety
of schools for children of different age groups
from Montessori to very good public schools
to lots of private optionsrdquo ndash Dr Celeste Just
PARTIAL SCHOOL LIST
91 per cent of youth spend their leisure time being active
ldquoI donrsquot think therersquos any better place for families than Victoriardquo mdash Dr Janet Mak GPDoctorrsquos Medical Clinic
bull 27 PUBLIC ELEMENTARY
bull 10 PUBLIC MIDDLE
bull 7 PUBLIC SECONDARY
bull 14 MONTESSORI
bull GLENLYON NORFOLK SCHOOL
bull ST MICHAELrsquoS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL
bull ST MARGARETrsquoS SCHOOL
bull ARTSCALIBRE ACADEMY
bull OAK AND ORCA BIOREGIONAL SCHOOL
bull ST PATRICKrsquoS ELEMENTARY
bull ST ANDREWrsquoS REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
bull ST JOSEPHrsquoS ELEMENTARY
bull ELIZABETH BUCKLEY SCHOOL
bull PEARSON COLLEGE
Fun Stuff for Kidsbull Exploring nature trails
rainforests amp beachesbull Beacon Hill
Childrenrsquos Farmbull IMAX Victoria amp the
Royal BC Royal Museumbull Dolphin amp Whale Watchingbull Miniature Worldbull Bug Zoobull AdrenaLine Zipline
Adventuresbull Fort Rodd Hill
amp Fisgard Lighthousebull Maritime Museum of BCbull Harbour Ferry Toursbull Blenkinsop Valley
Adventure Golf Centrebull Western Speedway
bull All Fun Recreation Parkbull Wittyrsquos Lagoon Tide Pools
amp Skimboarding bull Butterfly Worldbull Butchart Gardens
Childrenrsquos Pavilion amp Rose Carousel
bull Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre
bull Annual Lego Exhibitbull Victoria Royals
Hockey Gamesbull Victoria Shamrocks
Lacrosse Gamesbull Victoria HarbourCats
Baseball Gamesbull Fishermanrsquos Wharfbull Ghostly Walks
10
Your Victoria Division of Family PracticeldquoThe Division is filling the void of socialization
peer support and practice improvement Since itrsquos inception
our community of family doctors has become more united
through a variety of projects such as securing locums and
practice coverage working on senior support in nursing homes
and increasing communication between patients caregivers
hospitals and GPs They offer many CME events and mentoring
for new and transitioning physicians to make it easier to settle
here or to transition into a different style of practice
The Divisionrsquos work has allowed community physicians
to come together and say lsquoThis is whatrsquos really important
to me Irsquom going to get involvedrsquo We have almost 400 member
physicians in Victoria and those who are getting involved are
really seeing the positive outcome and change they can have
That has a huge influence on creating change and allows
physicians to feel they are contributing to societyrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
Strength in numbersBenefit from the member-driven
work of your professional association
for local GPs in Victoria the Victoria
Division of Family Practice
Our members are empowered
to identify areas for change within
the local medical system and are
funded to join working groups that
reflect their passions Together
we devise and enable strategies
for real improvement
SOME DIVISION INITIATIVESbull A GP for Mebull Welcome amp Transitions Mentorshipbull Monthly Dine amp Learn Seriesbull Locum amp Practice Coverage Matchingbull Transitions in Care amp e-Notificationbull TORCH Toward Optimal Residential
Care Healthbull Emergency Response Planningbull Mental Health amp Substance Usebull Frail Seniors in the Communitybull Community Building amp Engagementbull Physician Resource Guidebull MOA Networkbull Mindfulness Meditation for GPs
ldquoI feel this group here is very forward-thinking so there are lots of opportunities to get involved
and to push forward initiatives that you believe inrdquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just
SUPPORTED BY AN awesomePROFESSIONALASSOCIATION
warm
WELCOME
GPs Dr Jessica Fry and Dr Caitlin Harmon have had great experiences with mentoring medical students and new doctors in Victoria
13
Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring ProgramBeing the new kid on the block can be tough
Thatrsquos why the Victoria Division pairs welcoming physician
mentors with doctors who are new to the area or who are shifting
their practice style Matches are made with the aim of connecting
people whose interests and availability align
Mentors sometimes meet their partners for a casual coffee or dinner or accompany them to Division
engagement events They can make introductions and offer important local or insider knowledge
supporting a physicianrsquos smooth transition to Victoria
or to a new type of practice
There are all sorts of reasons you might wish for a mentor
throughout your career The Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring
program supports physicians in all stages of their professional
lives whether you are a first year student a resident a doctor
new to the area or a GP practicing in Victoria The program also
matches mentors to those transitioning into a new area of practice
returning to work after having a baby or raising children or
preparing for retirement These personal connections can offer
a softer smoother transition to the next chapter of your life
ldquoI think it is important to support
new doctors whether they are new graduates
or have recently moved here from somewhere
else I think it definitely helps them to be more
successful and makes them more likely
to want to stay in Victoria
I myself did my residency in Victoria
and my main preceptor was Dr Darcy Nielsen
She was my mentor for all things medicine
and medicine-related She taught me what
I should look for in setting up a practice
and gave me good information about things
like accounting and incorporation
I have worked with a couple of new doctors
including one doctor who shadowed me
for a few shifts at Island Sexual Health
I taught her how to insert IUDs but also
got her thinking about things like how to set
up locums finances accounting and what
to incorporate into her practice long-term
Experiences like this give me the satisfaction
of helping new doctors just like others helped
me and remind me of all the things I really like
about practicing medicine in Victoriardquo
mdash Dr Caitlin Harmon
Dr Caitlin Harmon Family PracticeGrow Health
MENTORS ARE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORTbull Medical students from Year 1 onwardbull Residents bull GPs new to Victoria bull GPs wanting to locum bull GPs planning to work or volunteer abroadbull GPs transitioning to a new specializationbull GPs planning a familybull GPs returning from maternity leavebull GPs returning after raising childrenbull GPs retiringbull and more
To find your mentor contact Helen Welch hwelchdivisionsbcca
ldquoThe Division was very helpful for me to learn how to work in Victoria what job opportunities there are and what opportunities there are for continuing medical educationrdquo mdash Dr Celeste Just
14
Making practice coverage a priorityWe know great doctors stay that way by scheduling their well-earned breaks We also know that
locums are often more free-spirited and adventurous
and are looking for freedom and options in their schedules
The Divisionrsquos innovative one-stop locum matching service
makes that possible by supporting member locums looking
for jobs and family physicians who need practice coverage
As a locum yoursquoll have access to the best jobs in Victoria
competitive remuneration rates mentoring and administrative
support for details like logistics contracts and billing
As a member seeking coverage yoursquoll learn how to prepare
and make your practice more attractive to locums Yoursquoll also
receive support and advice on crafting effective job postings
Finding the perfect match means combining
technology with networking and personal individual support
Our locum matching service asks physicians exactly what they
are looking for in a locum or practice coverage job to ensure
the most suitable arrangements can be found
ldquoI see a lot of need for locums My wife and I have each completed at least 20 locum positionsrdquo mdash Dr Bruce Rebner
ldquoTherersquos something to be said about the locum
lifestyle We donrsquot have kids yet
and we enjoy travelling so being
locums gives my wife and I some
freedom The longer-term idea
is to establish a practice but there
are definitely periods of your life
when locuming makes sense
I think itrsquos an attractive option
at both ends of the career when
yoursquore young and after yoursquove
worked for 20 or 30 years and
have given up your practice
Division events like the Dine
amp Learns are great platforms
to meet fellow doctors
And the locum coordinator
has been really easily accessible
Irsquove emailed a couple of times
for a specific ten days and she
has worked very hard to find
a matchrdquo
mdash Dr Bruce Rebner often locums
in Victoria elsewhere in BC NWT
and New Zealand
Unique options like cross-coverage long-term locums part-time associates and transition-to-retirement practice coverage are supported
LOCUMSlove FOR
MIND OVER MATTER
ldquoI believe we serve ourselves by
practicing what we preach and by
walking our talkrdquomdash Dr Mark Sherman Executive Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
17
The Victoria Division of Family Practice has teamed up with the BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm) to offer eight-week courses for family physicians in mindfulness-based meditation
Caring for our physiciansrsquo wellbeing ldquoWhen it comes to physician stress the CMA did a study in 2003 on physician burnout
and estimated that 47 per cent of us across the board in Canada are in the advanced stages of burnout
There is a stress epidemic for a variety of reasons As physiciansmdashpeople who are in the healthcare
and wellness professionmdashI think wersquore prone to stress because of our sincere will to help others
which is often what brings us into medicine in the first place Physicians have a tendency toward
perfectionism and other traits that make stress very common
For that reason tools like mindfulness cognitive
behaviour strategies meditation and positive
psychology are particularly useful for us
As physicians we all know intellectually about
the burdens of stress and how that can affect
our cardiovascular and mental health Yet by
managing our own stress by having embodied
presence and by having a meditation practice
when wersquore giving advice to our patients
and are speaking from a place of heart
as opposed to just from the head our message
comes through more clearly
Wersquove had quite a few physicians come into
the mindfulness program One of the exciting
things that the Division is facilitating is the
group specifically for physicians which focuses
on the unique challenges of being a physician
in Victoria
Through the Practice Support Program wersquove
also had a group for physicians to use some
mindfulness tools in their practice That was
quite popularrdquo mdash Dr Mark Sherman
BCalmrsquos referral-based mindfulness meditation courses are MSP-funded for both physicians and their patients
MIND OVER MATTER
18
ldquoThe physicians with whom we engage I have to admit are the cream of the crop because they are interested in continuing
education and in being on the forefront of how to be more effective in the care
of their patientsrdquomdash Esther Stevens Coordinator
Regional Practice Support Program Island Health
ldquoThe Dine and Learn sessions generally have one or more specialist physicians who come to talk about a particular topic Therersquos a presentation portion followed by a QampA They tend to be smaller groups so you can get more clinical questions answeredrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
Access to continuingmedical educationVictoriarsquos medical community benefits from an abundance
of local CME opportunities to keep you on the forefront
Medical Conferences As the capital city of British
Columbia and the largest city on Vancouver Island Victoria
attracts an impressive variety of annual medical conferences
Dine amp Learn Events The Divisionrsquos wildly popular
monthly Dine amp Learn events connect GPs with specialists
to exchange knowledge and to solidify strong relationships
in a social setting
Practice Support Program CME-accredited learning
modules and in-practice coaching help GPs to improve
clinical and practice management and patient care delivery
Provincial Academic Detailing Pharmacists provide
objective evidence-informed drug information to physicians
on best prescribing practices
Community Rounds Hospital-based CME events
on a rotating roster of specialized topics
LEARNING WITH YOUR
COLLEAGUES
nurturing GPndashSPECIALIST
RELATIONS
Pediatrician Dr Krystal Cullen delivers a talk at a Dine amp Learn event that brought five local pediatricians together with family practitioners for presentations and case discussions
21
ldquoIn my experience having worked here before and after implementation of the Divisions there used to be very little opportunity to get to know the specialists Now itrsquos quite straightforwardrdquomdash Dr Heera Bindra Tuscany Medical Clinic
Monthly Dine amp Learn events take place throughout Victoria and bring specialists together with family physicians to exchange knowledge network and strengthen relationships
Strong connections with specialists ldquoSpecialists are really an armrsquos length away
here We have all specialties and even some sub-specialties
within those Theyrsquore all approachable and you can
at any point call for help Given the population of Victoria
itrsquos relatively easy to see specialists even if itrsquos non-urgent
They are quite receptive to referrals in a timely manner
What I really appreciate is that therersquos good interaction
between the specialists and the family doctors The Dine
and Learn events that the Division offers allow us to interact
with specialists on a personal basis in a small group setting
and to get local input on a given topic I feel like this
relationship is relatively unique because a lot of places donrsquot
have full service specialists
As well the attitude of our specialists is very open
and approachable Our interactions and communication
between family doctors and specialists is very congenial
and thatrsquos more rewarding for both the patients and the
physicians in practicerdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoBeyond meeting with specialists the Dine amp Learns and other Division events are great for getting to know our general practice colleagues I am lucky to work in a group of four doctors but if I were in a solo practice without the Division I wouldnrsquot have had so much interactionrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
22
ldquoWersquore always putting out calls for interested tutors to come and participate in the programrdquomdash Dr Steve Martin Year 1amp2 Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program University of Victoria
Many opportunities to tutor amp teachThe Island Medical Program (IMP) at the University of Victoria is one of four provincial sites
of UBCrsquos distributed MD Undergraduate Program The program
accepts 32 medical students each year allowing many
opportunities for family doctors to get involved with tutoring
and direct mentorship
Within the Clinical Skills Program doctors act as tutors to small
groups of students for various modules delivered at a hospital
clinical site Students then spend dedicated time within a
family practice office for direct mentorship Depending on the
studentrsquos relationship with the physician they may see their
own patients or see them with the family practitionermentor
Through experience and role modelling about how they
work with patients tutors also offer a wealth of intangible
information that doesnrsquot appear in the curriculum Students
often remark on how important it is for them to learn how
to be doctors
These tutors and mentors are identified as teaching faculty
within the UBC program itself
ldquoItrsquos amazing how many tutors come back and say how the
experience has renewed their
interest in medicine and has
rejuvenated them in ways they
didnrsquot anticipate
Our family practice tutors
really find it engaging They
like the studentsrsquo questions
and it challenges them Some
come and stay for long periods
others come and go or take
breaks Irsquove had some tutors
for the last 11 years Overall
they really enjoy it and are
just very thankful
The students particularly
enjoy the variety of young
new tutors and some of the
older wiser more experienced
tutors They all bring different
elements to it and students
really appreciate bothrdquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin
share YOUR
WISDOM
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
FIND THAT
SWEET SPOT
Snow + Surf EscapesVictoria to Sombrio Beach 1h47mVictoria to Mount Washington 3h8mVictoria to Tofino 4h16m
5
Prioritizing your work-life balanceldquoI think here in Victoria we have a different idea of what
our lives should look like Between family
responsibilities work and play we need
to strike a balanced equation
The Victoria physicians I know do it brilliantly
There are so many doctors who are working
a few days in their family practice or in a group
practice doing youth clinic shifts doing Island
Sexual Health shifts sometimes working in the
hospital plus trying to have balance for their
personal and family commitments I myself
really honour the variety of work that I have
The location of Victoria and Vancouver Island
is one that just inspires work-life balance
because there is so much beauty and so much
recreational opportunity hererdquo
mdash Dr Mark Sherman Integrative Family Medicine
Physician James Bay Community Project Executive
Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
ldquoThe best thing about being in Victoria is having access to fresh air
ocean breeze and waves that crash downthey lead your mind
to a peaceful state I also really enjoy the sense of balance people
have in their lives between family work and the outdoors
The general attitude is a mix of productivity
and relaxation In some cities people walk
straight ahead as though nobody else exists
In Victoria people will talk to you in coffee shops
and acknowledge each other on the street
It gives the city a real feeling of communityrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young GP
MOST ADULTS WORK LESSTHAN 50 HOURS PER WEEK
J B lt25 25ndash34 35ndash49 50ndash59 60+
Best places to walk your dog Dallas Road Thetis Lake Elk Lake
Best urban escapes Beacon Hill Park Mount Doug Willowrsquos Beach
548178
163
62 48
Average number of hours worked in one week
6
Outdoor living in the warm westldquoI grew up in Montreal and loved the big
city environment When I came to BC I fell in love with
the outdoors the mountains the ocean the outdoor
opportunities surfing on the west coast rainforest walks
I had the world of choice of where to practice and once I had
visited a few times it seemed like the perfect place for my wife
and I to practice medicine and to live play and raise our kids
I really love surfing and spending time in the forests and on
the beaches with my kids I love exposing them to that raw
natural beauty of the West Coast We love skiing and Mount
Washington is just three hours up the island near Courtenay
We also love visiting the special subcultures of the Gulf Islandsrdquo
mdash Dr Mark Sherman
ldquoYou can do whatever
you want to do outside
all year round Thatrsquos probably
the one thing that allows
everyone to stay active
and to keep our really healthy
90-year-olds aroundrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoItrsquos January and the flowers are outrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
ldquoI feel like this is paradise everyday
Itrsquos such nice mild weather
because Irsquom used to such cold
and ice I donrsquot even wear
a jacket most days Itrsquos nice
not having to worry about
winter boots or mitts I think
the coldest itrsquos been since I got
here was in December when
it was minus one degree
So for me itrsquos just wonderfulrdquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
25
20
15
10
5
0
Average Annual Temperatures degC
EXPLORE WEST COAST
RAW+RUGGED NATURE
more than 27000 hectares
(11 of the land base ) under
park or protected area status
33 regional parks amp trails
788 km bikeway network
(the PIC or Primary
Inter-Community Network)
more than 25 completed
mildest winters in Canada
temperatures rarely below
0degC or above 30degC
lowest rainfall on British
Columbiarsquos west coast
Springtime marked by
blooming of the cherry
blossoms normally
in mid-February
71 per cent of locals spend their leisure time being active
KID-FRIENDLY Beach Life Downtown to
Dallas Road Gonzales Bay 10 minWillowrsquos Beach 12 minCadboro-Gyro Beach Park 16 minWhittyrsquos Lagoon 41 min
9
The best place to raise your familyldquoThere arenrsquot many places in Canada where kids can play outside without their
snowsuit all year long We walk to school walk to parks and wersquore a block away from the beach I can
get off of work pick up my kids within 15 minutes and get them to their lessons in another 15 minutes
The commute compared to many cities is incredible Quality private education is affordable which
means rather than being exclusive there are a lot of professional parents in the mixrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
ldquoIn terms of childcare there
are a lot of licensed family daycares and other
options Irsquove also noticed a wide variety
of schools for children of different age groups
from Montessori to very good public schools
to lots of private optionsrdquo ndash Dr Celeste Just
PARTIAL SCHOOL LIST
91 per cent of youth spend their leisure time being active
ldquoI donrsquot think therersquos any better place for families than Victoriardquo mdash Dr Janet Mak GPDoctorrsquos Medical Clinic
bull 27 PUBLIC ELEMENTARY
bull 10 PUBLIC MIDDLE
bull 7 PUBLIC SECONDARY
bull 14 MONTESSORI
bull GLENLYON NORFOLK SCHOOL
bull ST MICHAELrsquoS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL
bull ST MARGARETrsquoS SCHOOL
bull ARTSCALIBRE ACADEMY
bull OAK AND ORCA BIOREGIONAL SCHOOL
bull ST PATRICKrsquoS ELEMENTARY
bull ST ANDREWrsquoS REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
bull ST JOSEPHrsquoS ELEMENTARY
bull ELIZABETH BUCKLEY SCHOOL
bull PEARSON COLLEGE
Fun Stuff for Kidsbull Exploring nature trails
rainforests amp beachesbull Beacon Hill
Childrenrsquos Farmbull IMAX Victoria amp the
Royal BC Royal Museumbull Dolphin amp Whale Watchingbull Miniature Worldbull Bug Zoobull AdrenaLine Zipline
Adventuresbull Fort Rodd Hill
amp Fisgard Lighthousebull Maritime Museum of BCbull Harbour Ferry Toursbull Blenkinsop Valley
Adventure Golf Centrebull Western Speedway
bull All Fun Recreation Parkbull Wittyrsquos Lagoon Tide Pools
amp Skimboarding bull Butterfly Worldbull Butchart Gardens
Childrenrsquos Pavilion amp Rose Carousel
bull Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre
bull Annual Lego Exhibitbull Victoria Royals
Hockey Gamesbull Victoria Shamrocks
Lacrosse Gamesbull Victoria HarbourCats
Baseball Gamesbull Fishermanrsquos Wharfbull Ghostly Walks
10
Your Victoria Division of Family PracticeldquoThe Division is filling the void of socialization
peer support and practice improvement Since itrsquos inception
our community of family doctors has become more united
through a variety of projects such as securing locums and
practice coverage working on senior support in nursing homes
and increasing communication between patients caregivers
hospitals and GPs They offer many CME events and mentoring
for new and transitioning physicians to make it easier to settle
here or to transition into a different style of practice
The Divisionrsquos work has allowed community physicians
to come together and say lsquoThis is whatrsquos really important
to me Irsquom going to get involvedrsquo We have almost 400 member
physicians in Victoria and those who are getting involved are
really seeing the positive outcome and change they can have
That has a huge influence on creating change and allows
physicians to feel they are contributing to societyrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
Strength in numbersBenefit from the member-driven
work of your professional association
for local GPs in Victoria the Victoria
Division of Family Practice
Our members are empowered
to identify areas for change within
the local medical system and are
funded to join working groups that
reflect their passions Together
we devise and enable strategies
for real improvement
SOME DIVISION INITIATIVESbull A GP for Mebull Welcome amp Transitions Mentorshipbull Monthly Dine amp Learn Seriesbull Locum amp Practice Coverage Matchingbull Transitions in Care amp e-Notificationbull TORCH Toward Optimal Residential
Care Healthbull Emergency Response Planningbull Mental Health amp Substance Usebull Frail Seniors in the Communitybull Community Building amp Engagementbull Physician Resource Guidebull MOA Networkbull Mindfulness Meditation for GPs
ldquoI feel this group here is very forward-thinking so there are lots of opportunities to get involved
and to push forward initiatives that you believe inrdquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just
SUPPORTED BY AN awesomePROFESSIONALASSOCIATION
warm
WELCOME
GPs Dr Jessica Fry and Dr Caitlin Harmon have had great experiences with mentoring medical students and new doctors in Victoria
13
Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring ProgramBeing the new kid on the block can be tough
Thatrsquos why the Victoria Division pairs welcoming physician
mentors with doctors who are new to the area or who are shifting
their practice style Matches are made with the aim of connecting
people whose interests and availability align
Mentors sometimes meet their partners for a casual coffee or dinner or accompany them to Division
engagement events They can make introductions and offer important local or insider knowledge
supporting a physicianrsquos smooth transition to Victoria
or to a new type of practice
There are all sorts of reasons you might wish for a mentor
throughout your career The Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring
program supports physicians in all stages of their professional
lives whether you are a first year student a resident a doctor
new to the area or a GP practicing in Victoria The program also
matches mentors to those transitioning into a new area of practice
returning to work after having a baby or raising children or
preparing for retirement These personal connections can offer
a softer smoother transition to the next chapter of your life
ldquoI think it is important to support
new doctors whether they are new graduates
or have recently moved here from somewhere
else I think it definitely helps them to be more
successful and makes them more likely
to want to stay in Victoria
I myself did my residency in Victoria
and my main preceptor was Dr Darcy Nielsen
She was my mentor for all things medicine
and medicine-related She taught me what
I should look for in setting up a practice
and gave me good information about things
like accounting and incorporation
I have worked with a couple of new doctors
including one doctor who shadowed me
for a few shifts at Island Sexual Health
I taught her how to insert IUDs but also
got her thinking about things like how to set
up locums finances accounting and what
to incorporate into her practice long-term
Experiences like this give me the satisfaction
of helping new doctors just like others helped
me and remind me of all the things I really like
about practicing medicine in Victoriardquo
mdash Dr Caitlin Harmon
Dr Caitlin Harmon Family PracticeGrow Health
MENTORS ARE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORTbull Medical students from Year 1 onwardbull Residents bull GPs new to Victoria bull GPs wanting to locum bull GPs planning to work or volunteer abroadbull GPs transitioning to a new specializationbull GPs planning a familybull GPs returning from maternity leavebull GPs returning after raising childrenbull GPs retiringbull and more
To find your mentor contact Helen Welch hwelchdivisionsbcca
ldquoThe Division was very helpful for me to learn how to work in Victoria what job opportunities there are and what opportunities there are for continuing medical educationrdquo mdash Dr Celeste Just
14
Making practice coverage a priorityWe know great doctors stay that way by scheduling their well-earned breaks We also know that
locums are often more free-spirited and adventurous
and are looking for freedom and options in their schedules
The Divisionrsquos innovative one-stop locum matching service
makes that possible by supporting member locums looking
for jobs and family physicians who need practice coverage
As a locum yoursquoll have access to the best jobs in Victoria
competitive remuneration rates mentoring and administrative
support for details like logistics contracts and billing
As a member seeking coverage yoursquoll learn how to prepare
and make your practice more attractive to locums Yoursquoll also
receive support and advice on crafting effective job postings
Finding the perfect match means combining
technology with networking and personal individual support
Our locum matching service asks physicians exactly what they
are looking for in a locum or practice coverage job to ensure
the most suitable arrangements can be found
ldquoI see a lot of need for locums My wife and I have each completed at least 20 locum positionsrdquo mdash Dr Bruce Rebner
ldquoTherersquos something to be said about the locum
lifestyle We donrsquot have kids yet
and we enjoy travelling so being
locums gives my wife and I some
freedom The longer-term idea
is to establish a practice but there
are definitely periods of your life
when locuming makes sense
I think itrsquos an attractive option
at both ends of the career when
yoursquore young and after yoursquove
worked for 20 or 30 years and
have given up your practice
Division events like the Dine
amp Learns are great platforms
to meet fellow doctors
And the locum coordinator
has been really easily accessible
Irsquove emailed a couple of times
for a specific ten days and she
has worked very hard to find
a matchrdquo
mdash Dr Bruce Rebner often locums
in Victoria elsewhere in BC NWT
and New Zealand
Unique options like cross-coverage long-term locums part-time associates and transition-to-retirement practice coverage are supported
LOCUMSlove FOR
MIND OVER MATTER
ldquoI believe we serve ourselves by
practicing what we preach and by
walking our talkrdquomdash Dr Mark Sherman Executive Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
17
The Victoria Division of Family Practice has teamed up with the BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm) to offer eight-week courses for family physicians in mindfulness-based meditation
Caring for our physiciansrsquo wellbeing ldquoWhen it comes to physician stress the CMA did a study in 2003 on physician burnout
and estimated that 47 per cent of us across the board in Canada are in the advanced stages of burnout
There is a stress epidemic for a variety of reasons As physiciansmdashpeople who are in the healthcare
and wellness professionmdashI think wersquore prone to stress because of our sincere will to help others
which is often what brings us into medicine in the first place Physicians have a tendency toward
perfectionism and other traits that make stress very common
For that reason tools like mindfulness cognitive
behaviour strategies meditation and positive
psychology are particularly useful for us
As physicians we all know intellectually about
the burdens of stress and how that can affect
our cardiovascular and mental health Yet by
managing our own stress by having embodied
presence and by having a meditation practice
when wersquore giving advice to our patients
and are speaking from a place of heart
as opposed to just from the head our message
comes through more clearly
Wersquove had quite a few physicians come into
the mindfulness program One of the exciting
things that the Division is facilitating is the
group specifically for physicians which focuses
on the unique challenges of being a physician
in Victoria
Through the Practice Support Program wersquove
also had a group for physicians to use some
mindfulness tools in their practice That was
quite popularrdquo mdash Dr Mark Sherman
BCalmrsquos referral-based mindfulness meditation courses are MSP-funded for both physicians and their patients
MIND OVER MATTER
18
ldquoThe physicians with whom we engage I have to admit are the cream of the crop because they are interested in continuing
education and in being on the forefront of how to be more effective in the care
of their patientsrdquomdash Esther Stevens Coordinator
Regional Practice Support Program Island Health
ldquoThe Dine and Learn sessions generally have one or more specialist physicians who come to talk about a particular topic Therersquos a presentation portion followed by a QampA They tend to be smaller groups so you can get more clinical questions answeredrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
Access to continuingmedical educationVictoriarsquos medical community benefits from an abundance
of local CME opportunities to keep you on the forefront
Medical Conferences As the capital city of British
Columbia and the largest city on Vancouver Island Victoria
attracts an impressive variety of annual medical conferences
Dine amp Learn Events The Divisionrsquos wildly popular
monthly Dine amp Learn events connect GPs with specialists
to exchange knowledge and to solidify strong relationships
in a social setting
Practice Support Program CME-accredited learning
modules and in-practice coaching help GPs to improve
clinical and practice management and patient care delivery
Provincial Academic Detailing Pharmacists provide
objective evidence-informed drug information to physicians
on best prescribing practices
Community Rounds Hospital-based CME events
on a rotating roster of specialized topics
LEARNING WITH YOUR
COLLEAGUES
nurturing GPndashSPECIALIST
RELATIONS
Pediatrician Dr Krystal Cullen delivers a talk at a Dine amp Learn event that brought five local pediatricians together with family practitioners for presentations and case discussions
21
ldquoIn my experience having worked here before and after implementation of the Divisions there used to be very little opportunity to get to know the specialists Now itrsquos quite straightforwardrdquomdash Dr Heera Bindra Tuscany Medical Clinic
Monthly Dine amp Learn events take place throughout Victoria and bring specialists together with family physicians to exchange knowledge network and strengthen relationships
Strong connections with specialists ldquoSpecialists are really an armrsquos length away
here We have all specialties and even some sub-specialties
within those Theyrsquore all approachable and you can
at any point call for help Given the population of Victoria
itrsquos relatively easy to see specialists even if itrsquos non-urgent
They are quite receptive to referrals in a timely manner
What I really appreciate is that therersquos good interaction
between the specialists and the family doctors The Dine
and Learn events that the Division offers allow us to interact
with specialists on a personal basis in a small group setting
and to get local input on a given topic I feel like this
relationship is relatively unique because a lot of places donrsquot
have full service specialists
As well the attitude of our specialists is very open
and approachable Our interactions and communication
between family doctors and specialists is very congenial
and thatrsquos more rewarding for both the patients and the
physicians in practicerdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoBeyond meeting with specialists the Dine amp Learns and other Division events are great for getting to know our general practice colleagues I am lucky to work in a group of four doctors but if I were in a solo practice without the Division I wouldnrsquot have had so much interactionrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
22
ldquoWersquore always putting out calls for interested tutors to come and participate in the programrdquomdash Dr Steve Martin Year 1amp2 Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program University of Victoria
Many opportunities to tutor amp teachThe Island Medical Program (IMP) at the University of Victoria is one of four provincial sites
of UBCrsquos distributed MD Undergraduate Program The program
accepts 32 medical students each year allowing many
opportunities for family doctors to get involved with tutoring
and direct mentorship
Within the Clinical Skills Program doctors act as tutors to small
groups of students for various modules delivered at a hospital
clinical site Students then spend dedicated time within a
family practice office for direct mentorship Depending on the
studentrsquos relationship with the physician they may see their
own patients or see them with the family practitionermentor
Through experience and role modelling about how they
work with patients tutors also offer a wealth of intangible
information that doesnrsquot appear in the curriculum Students
often remark on how important it is for them to learn how
to be doctors
These tutors and mentors are identified as teaching faculty
within the UBC program itself
ldquoItrsquos amazing how many tutors come back and say how the
experience has renewed their
interest in medicine and has
rejuvenated them in ways they
didnrsquot anticipate
Our family practice tutors
really find it engaging They
like the studentsrsquo questions
and it challenges them Some
come and stay for long periods
others come and go or take
breaks Irsquove had some tutors
for the last 11 years Overall
they really enjoy it and are
just very thankful
The students particularly
enjoy the variety of young
new tutors and some of the
older wiser more experienced
tutors They all bring different
elements to it and students
really appreciate bothrdquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin
share YOUR
WISDOM
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
5
Prioritizing your work-life balanceldquoI think here in Victoria we have a different idea of what
our lives should look like Between family
responsibilities work and play we need
to strike a balanced equation
The Victoria physicians I know do it brilliantly
There are so many doctors who are working
a few days in their family practice or in a group
practice doing youth clinic shifts doing Island
Sexual Health shifts sometimes working in the
hospital plus trying to have balance for their
personal and family commitments I myself
really honour the variety of work that I have
The location of Victoria and Vancouver Island
is one that just inspires work-life balance
because there is so much beauty and so much
recreational opportunity hererdquo
mdash Dr Mark Sherman Integrative Family Medicine
Physician James Bay Community Project Executive
Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
ldquoThe best thing about being in Victoria is having access to fresh air
ocean breeze and waves that crash downthey lead your mind
to a peaceful state I also really enjoy the sense of balance people
have in their lives between family work and the outdoors
The general attitude is a mix of productivity
and relaxation In some cities people walk
straight ahead as though nobody else exists
In Victoria people will talk to you in coffee shops
and acknowledge each other on the street
It gives the city a real feeling of communityrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young GP
MOST ADULTS WORK LESSTHAN 50 HOURS PER WEEK
J B lt25 25ndash34 35ndash49 50ndash59 60+
Best places to walk your dog Dallas Road Thetis Lake Elk Lake
Best urban escapes Beacon Hill Park Mount Doug Willowrsquos Beach
548178
163
62 48
Average number of hours worked in one week
6
Outdoor living in the warm westldquoI grew up in Montreal and loved the big
city environment When I came to BC I fell in love with
the outdoors the mountains the ocean the outdoor
opportunities surfing on the west coast rainforest walks
I had the world of choice of where to practice and once I had
visited a few times it seemed like the perfect place for my wife
and I to practice medicine and to live play and raise our kids
I really love surfing and spending time in the forests and on
the beaches with my kids I love exposing them to that raw
natural beauty of the West Coast We love skiing and Mount
Washington is just three hours up the island near Courtenay
We also love visiting the special subcultures of the Gulf Islandsrdquo
mdash Dr Mark Sherman
ldquoYou can do whatever
you want to do outside
all year round Thatrsquos probably
the one thing that allows
everyone to stay active
and to keep our really healthy
90-year-olds aroundrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoItrsquos January and the flowers are outrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
ldquoI feel like this is paradise everyday
Itrsquos such nice mild weather
because Irsquom used to such cold
and ice I donrsquot even wear
a jacket most days Itrsquos nice
not having to worry about
winter boots or mitts I think
the coldest itrsquos been since I got
here was in December when
it was minus one degree
So for me itrsquos just wonderfulrdquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
25
20
15
10
5
0
Average Annual Temperatures degC
EXPLORE WEST COAST
RAW+RUGGED NATURE
more than 27000 hectares
(11 of the land base ) under
park or protected area status
33 regional parks amp trails
788 km bikeway network
(the PIC or Primary
Inter-Community Network)
more than 25 completed
mildest winters in Canada
temperatures rarely below
0degC or above 30degC
lowest rainfall on British
Columbiarsquos west coast
Springtime marked by
blooming of the cherry
blossoms normally
in mid-February
71 per cent of locals spend their leisure time being active
KID-FRIENDLY Beach Life Downtown to
Dallas Road Gonzales Bay 10 minWillowrsquos Beach 12 minCadboro-Gyro Beach Park 16 minWhittyrsquos Lagoon 41 min
9
The best place to raise your familyldquoThere arenrsquot many places in Canada where kids can play outside without their
snowsuit all year long We walk to school walk to parks and wersquore a block away from the beach I can
get off of work pick up my kids within 15 minutes and get them to their lessons in another 15 minutes
The commute compared to many cities is incredible Quality private education is affordable which
means rather than being exclusive there are a lot of professional parents in the mixrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
ldquoIn terms of childcare there
are a lot of licensed family daycares and other
options Irsquove also noticed a wide variety
of schools for children of different age groups
from Montessori to very good public schools
to lots of private optionsrdquo ndash Dr Celeste Just
PARTIAL SCHOOL LIST
91 per cent of youth spend their leisure time being active
ldquoI donrsquot think therersquos any better place for families than Victoriardquo mdash Dr Janet Mak GPDoctorrsquos Medical Clinic
bull 27 PUBLIC ELEMENTARY
bull 10 PUBLIC MIDDLE
bull 7 PUBLIC SECONDARY
bull 14 MONTESSORI
bull GLENLYON NORFOLK SCHOOL
bull ST MICHAELrsquoS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL
bull ST MARGARETrsquoS SCHOOL
bull ARTSCALIBRE ACADEMY
bull OAK AND ORCA BIOREGIONAL SCHOOL
bull ST PATRICKrsquoS ELEMENTARY
bull ST ANDREWrsquoS REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
bull ST JOSEPHrsquoS ELEMENTARY
bull ELIZABETH BUCKLEY SCHOOL
bull PEARSON COLLEGE
Fun Stuff for Kidsbull Exploring nature trails
rainforests amp beachesbull Beacon Hill
Childrenrsquos Farmbull IMAX Victoria amp the
Royal BC Royal Museumbull Dolphin amp Whale Watchingbull Miniature Worldbull Bug Zoobull AdrenaLine Zipline
Adventuresbull Fort Rodd Hill
amp Fisgard Lighthousebull Maritime Museum of BCbull Harbour Ferry Toursbull Blenkinsop Valley
Adventure Golf Centrebull Western Speedway
bull All Fun Recreation Parkbull Wittyrsquos Lagoon Tide Pools
amp Skimboarding bull Butterfly Worldbull Butchart Gardens
Childrenrsquos Pavilion amp Rose Carousel
bull Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre
bull Annual Lego Exhibitbull Victoria Royals
Hockey Gamesbull Victoria Shamrocks
Lacrosse Gamesbull Victoria HarbourCats
Baseball Gamesbull Fishermanrsquos Wharfbull Ghostly Walks
10
Your Victoria Division of Family PracticeldquoThe Division is filling the void of socialization
peer support and practice improvement Since itrsquos inception
our community of family doctors has become more united
through a variety of projects such as securing locums and
practice coverage working on senior support in nursing homes
and increasing communication between patients caregivers
hospitals and GPs They offer many CME events and mentoring
for new and transitioning physicians to make it easier to settle
here or to transition into a different style of practice
The Divisionrsquos work has allowed community physicians
to come together and say lsquoThis is whatrsquos really important
to me Irsquom going to get involvedrsquo We have almost 400 member
physicians in Victoria and those who are getting involved are
really seeing the positive outcome and change they can have
That has a huge influence on creating change and allows
physicians to feel they are contributing to societyrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
Strength in numbersBenefit from the member-driven
work of your professional association
for local GPs in Victoria the Victoria
Division of Family Practice
Our members are empowered
to identify areas for change within
the local medical system and are
funded to join working groups that
reflect their passions Together
we devise and enable strategies
for real improvement
SOME DIVISION INITIATIVESbull A GP for Mebull Welcome amp Transitions Mentorshipbull Monthly Dine amp Learn Seriesbull Locum amp Practice Coverage Matchingbull Transitions in Care amp e-Notificationbull TORCH Toward Optimal Residential
Care Healthbull Emergency Response Planningbull Mental Health amp Substance Usebull Frail Seniors in the Communitybull Community Building amp Engagementbull Physician Resource Guidebull MOA Networkbull Mindfulness Meditation for GPs
ldquoI feel this group here is very forward-thinking so there are lots of opportunities to get involved
and to push forward initiatives that you believe inrdquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just
SUPPORTED BY AN awesomePROFESSIONALASSOCIATION
warm
WELCOME
GPs Dr Jessica Fry and Dr Caitlin Harmon have had great experiences with mentoring medical students and new doctors in Victoria
13
Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring ProgramBeing the new kid on the block can be tough
Thatrsquos why the Victoria Division pairs welcoming physician
mentors with doctors who are new to the area or who are shifting
their practice style Matches are made with the aim of connecting
people whose interests and availability align
Mentors sometimes meet their partners for a casual coffee or dinner or accompany them to Division
engagement events They can make introductions and offer important local or insider knowledge
supporting a physicianrsquos smooth transition to Victoria
or to a new type of practice
There are all sorts of reasons you might wish for a mentor
throughout your career The Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring
program supports physicians in all stages of their professional
lives whether you are a first year student a resident a doctor
new to the area or a GP practicing in Victoria The program also
matches mentors to those transitioning into a new area of practice
returning to work after having a baby or raising children or
preparing for retirement These personal connections can offer
a softer smoother transition to the next chapter of your life
ldquoI think it is important to support
new doctors whether they are new graduates
or have recently moved here from somewhere
else I think it definitely helps them to be more
successful and makes them more likely
to want to stay in Victoria
I myself did my residency in Victoria
and my main preceptor was Dr Darcy Nielsen
She was my mentor for all things medicine
and medicine-related She taught me what
I should look for in setting up a practice
and gave me good information about things
like accounting and incorporation
I have worked with a couple of new doctors
including one doctor who shadowed me
for a few shifts at Island Sexual Health
I taught her how to insert IUDs but also
got her thinking about things like how to set
up locums finances accounting and what
to incorporate into her practice long-term
Experiences like this give me the satisfaction
of helping new doctors just like others helped
me and remind me of all the things I really like
about practicing medicine in Victoriardquo
mdash Dr Caitlin Harmon
Dr Caitlin Harmon Family PracticeGrow Health
MENTORS ARE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORTbull Medical students from Year 1 onwardbull Residents bull GPs new to Victoria bull GPs wanting to locum bull GPs planning to work or volunteer abroadbull GPs transitioning to a new specializationbull GPs planning a familybull GPs returning from maternity leavebull GPs returning after raising childrenbull GPs retiringbull and more
To find your mentor contact Helen Welch hwelchdivisionsbcca
ldquoThe Division was very helpful for me to learn how to work in Victoria what job opportunities there are and what opportunities there are for continuing medical educationrdquo mdash Dr Celeste Just
14
Making practice coverage a priorityWe know great doctors stay that way by scheduling their well-earned breaks We also know that
locums are often more free-spirited and adventurous
and are looking for freedom and options in their schedules
The Divisionrsquos innovative one-stop locum matching service
makes that possible by supporting member locums looking
for jobs and family physicians who need practice coverage
As a locum yoursquoll have access to the best jobs in Victoria
competitive remuneration rates mentoring and administrative
support for details like logistics contracts and billing
As a member seeking coverage yoursquoll learn how to prepare
and make your practice more attractive to locums Yoursquoll also
receive support and advice on crafting effective job postings
Finding the perfect match means combining
technology with networking and personal individual support
Our locum matching service asks physicians exactly what they
are looking for in a locum or practice coverage job to ensure
the most suitable arrangements can be found
ldquoI see a lot of need for locums My wife and I have each completed at least 20 locum positionsrdquo mdash Dr Bruce Rebner
ldquoTherersquos something to be said about the locum
lifestyle We donrsquot have kids yet
and we enjoy travelling so being
locums gives my wife and I some
freedom The longer-term idea
is to establish a practice but there
are definitely periods of your life
when locuming makes sense
I think itrsquos an attractive option
at both ends of the career when
yoursquore young and after yoursquove
worked for 20 or 30 years and
have given up your practice
Division events like the Dine
amp Learns are great platforms
to meet fellow doctors
And the locum coordinator
has been really easily accessible
Irsquove emailed a couple of times
for a specific ten days and she
has worked very hard to find
a matchrdquo
mdash Dr Bruce Rebner often locums
in Victoria elsewhere in BC NWT
and New Zealand
Unique options like cross-coverage long-term locums part-time associates and transition-to-retirement practice coverage are supported
LOCUMSlove FOR
MIND OVER MATTER
ldquoI believe we serve ourselves by
practicing what we preach and by
walking our talkrdquomdash Dr Mark Sherman Executive Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
17
The Victoria Division of Family Practice has teamed up with the BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm) to offer eight-week courses for family physicians in mindfulness-based meditation
Caring for our physiciansrsquo wellbeing ldquoWhen it comes to physician stress the CMA did a study in 2003 on physician burnout
and estimated that 47 per cent of us across the board in Canada are in the advanced stages of burnout
There is a stress epidemic for a variety of reasons As physiciansmdashpeople who are in the healthcare
and wellness professionmdashI think wersquore prone to stress because of our sincere will to help others
which is often what brings us into medicine in the first place Physicians have a tendency toward
perfectionism and other traits that make stress very common
For that reason tools like mindfulness cognitive
behaviour strategies meditation and positive
psychology are particularly useful for us
As physicians we all know intellectually about
the burdens of stress and how that can affect
our cardiovascular and mental health Yet by
managing our own stress by having embodied
presence and by having a meditation practice
when wersquore giving advice to our patients
and are speaking from a place of heart
as opposed to just from the head our message
comes through more clearly
Wersquove had quite a few physicians come into
the mindfulness program One of the exciting
things that the Division is facilitating is the
group specifically for physicians which focuses
on the unique challenges of being a physician
in Victoria
Through the Practice Support Program wersquove
also had a group for physicians to use some
mindfulness tools in their practice That was
quite popularrdquo mdash Dr Mark Sherman
BCalmrsquos referral-based mindfulness meditation courses are MSP-funded for both physicians and their patients
MIND OVER MATTER
18
ldquoThe physicians with whom we engage I have to admit are the cream of the crop because they are interested in continuing
education and in being on the forefront of how to be more effective in the care
of their patientsrdquomdash Esther Stevens Coordinator
Regional Practice Support Program Island Health
ldquoThe Dine and Learn sessions generally have one or more specialist physicians who come to talk about a particular topic Therersquos a presentation portion followed by a QampA They tend to be smaller groups so you can get more clinical questions answeredrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
Access to continuingmedical educationVictoriarsquos medical community benefits from an abundance
of local CME opportunities to keep you on the forefront
Medical Conferences As the capital city of British
Columbia and the largest city on Vancouver Island Victoria
attracts an impressive variety of annual medical conferences
Dine amp Learn Events The Divisionrsquos wildly popular
monthly Dine amp Learn events connect GPs with specialists
to exchange knowledge and to solidify strong relationships
in a social setting
Practice Support Program CME-accredited learning
modules and in-practice coaching help GPs to improve
clinical and practice management and patient care delivery
Provincial Academic Detailing Pharmacists provide
objective evidence-informed drug information to physicians
on best prescribing practices
Community Rounds Hospital-based CME events
on a rotating roster of specialized topics
LEARNING WITH YOUR
COLLEAGUES
nurturing GPndashSPECIALIST
RELATIONS
Pediatrician Dr Krystal Cullen delivers a talk at a Dine amp Learn event that brought five local pediatricians together with family practitioners for presentations and case discussions
21
ldquoIn my experience having worked here before and after implementation of the Divisions there used to be very little opportunity to get to know the specialists Now itrsquos quite straightforwardrdquomdash Dr Heera Bindra Tuscany Medical Clinic
Monthly Dine amp Learn events take place throughout Victoria and bring specialists together with family physicians to exchange knowledge network and strengthen relationships
Strong connections with specialists ldquoSpecialists are really an armrsquos length away
here We have all specialties and even some sub-specialties
within those Theyrsquore all approachable and you can
at any point call for help Given the population of Victoria
itrsquos relatively easy to see specialists even if itrsquos non-urgent
They are quite receptive to referrals in a timely manner
What I really appreciate is that therersquos good interaction
between the specialists and the family doctors The Dine
and Learn events that the Division offers allow us to interact
with specialists on a personal basis in a small group setting
and to get local input on a given topic I feel like this
relationship is relatively unique because a lot of places donrsquot
have full service specialists
As well the attitude of our specialists is very open
and approachable Our interactions and communication
between family doctors and specialists is very congenial
and thatrsquos more rewarding for both the patients and the
physicians in practicerdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoBeyond meeting with specialists the Dine amp Learns and other Division events are great for getting to know our general practice colleagues I am lucky to work in a group of four doctors but if I were in a solo practice without the Division I wouldnrsquot have had so much interactionrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
22
ldquoWersquore always putting out calls for interested tutors to come and participate in the programrdquomdash Dr Steve Martin Year 1amp2 Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program University of Victoria
Many opportunities to tutor amp teachThe Island Medical Program (IMP) at the University of Victoria is one of four provincial sites
of UBCrsquos distributed MD Undergraduate Program The program
accepts 32 medical students each year allowing many
opportunities for family doctors to get involved with tutoring
and direct mentorship
Within the Clinical Skills Program doctors act as tutors to small
groups of students for various modules delivered at a hospital
clinical site Students then spend dedicated time within a
family practice office for direct mentorship Depending on the
studentrsquos relationship with the physician they may see their
own patients or see them with the family practitionermentor
Through experience and role modelling about how they
work with patients tutors also offer a wealth of intangible
information that doesnrsquot appear in the curriculum Students
often remark on how important it is for them to learn how
to be doctors
These tutors and mentors are identified as teaching faculty
within the UBC program itself
ldquoItrsquos amazing how many tutors come back and say how the
experience has renewed their
interest in medicine and has
rejuvenated them in ways they
didnrsquot anticipate
Our family practice tutors
really find it engaging They
like the studentsrsquo questions
and it challenges them Some
come and stay for long periods
others come and go or take
breaks Irsquove had some tutors
for the last 11 years Overall
they really enjoy it and are
just very thankful
The students particularly
enjoy the variety of young
new tutors and some of the
older wiser more experienced
tutors They all bring different
elements to it and students
really appreciate bothrdquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin
share YOUR
WISDOM
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
6
Outdoor living in the warm westldquoI grew up in Montreal and loved the big
city environment When I came to BC I fell in love with
the outdoors the mountains the ocean the outdoor
opportunities surfing on the west coast rainforest walks
I had the world of choice of where to practice and once I had
visited a few times it seemed like the perfect place for my wife
and I to practice medicine and to live play and raise our kids
I really love surfing and spending time in the forests and on
the beaches with my kids I love exposing them to that raw
natural beauty of the West Coast We love skiing and Mount
Washington is just three hours up the island near Courtenay
We also love visiting the special subcultures of the Gulf Islandsrdquo
mdash Dr Mark Sherman
ldquoYou can do whatever
you want to do outside
all year round Thatrsquos probably
the one thing that allows
everyone to stay active
and to keep our really healthy
90-year-olds aroundrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoItrsquos January and the flowers are outrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
ldquoI feel like this is paradise everyday
Itrsquos such nice mild weather
because Irsquom used to such cold
and ice I donrsquot even wear
a jacket most days Itrsquos nice
not having to worry about
winter boots or mitts I think
the coldest itrsquos been since I got
here was in December when
it was minus one degree
So for me itrsquos just wonderfulrdquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
25
20
15
10
5
0
Average Annual Temperatures degC
EXPLORE WEST COAST
RAW+RUGGED NATURE
more than 27000 hectares
(11 of the land base ) under
park or protected area status
33 regional parks amp trails
788 km bikeway network
(the PIC or Primary
Inter-Community Network)
more than 25 completed
mildest winters in Canada
temperatures rarely below
0degC or above 30degC
lowest rainfall on British
Columbiarsquos west coast
Springtime marked by
blooming of the cherry
blossoms normally
in mid-February
71 per cent of locals spend their leisure time being active
KID-FRIENDLY Beach Life Downtown to
Dallas Road Gonzales Bay 10 minWillowrsquos Beach 12 minCadboro-Gyro Beach Park 16 minWhittyrsquos Lagoon 41 min
9
The best place to raise your familyldquoThere arenrsquot many places in Canada where kids can play outside without their
snowsuit all year long We walk to school walk to parks and wersquore a block away from the beach I can
get off of work pick up my kids within 15 minutes and get them to their lessons in another 15 minutes
The commute compared to many cities is incredible Quality private education is affordable which
means rather than being exclusive there are a lot of professional parents in the mixrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
ldquoIn terms of childcare there
are a lot of licensed family daycares and other
options Irsquove also noticed a wide variety
of schools for children of different age groups
from Montessori to very good public schools
to lots of private optionsrdquo ndash Dr Celeste Just
PARTIAL SCHOOL LIST
91 per cent of youth spend their leisure time being active
ldquoI donrsquot think therersquos any better place for families than Victoriardquo mdash Dr Janet Mak GPDoctorrsquos Medical Clinic
bull 27 PUBLIC ELEMENTARY
bull 10 PUBLIC MIDDLE
bull 7 PUBLIC SECONDARY
bull 14 MONTESSORI
bull GLENLYON NORFOLK SCHOOL
bull ST MICHAELrsquoS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL
bull ST MARGARETrsquoS SCHOOL
bull ARTSCALIBRE ACADEMY
bull OAK AND ORCA BIOREGIONAL SCHOOL
bull ST PATRICKrsquoS ELEMENTARY
bull ST ANDREWrsquoS REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
bull ST JOSEPHrsquoS ELEMENTARY
bull ELIZABETH BUCKLEY SCHOOL
bull PEARSON COLLEGE
Fun Stuff for Kidsbull Exploring nature trails
rainforests amp beachesbull Beacon Hill
Childrenrsquos Farmbull IMAX Victoria amp the
Royal BC Royal Museumbull Dolphin amp Whale Watchingbull Miniature Worldbull Bug Zoobull AdrenaLine Zipline
Adventuresbull Fort Rodd Hill
amp Fisgard Lighthousebull Maritime Museum of BCbull Harbour Ferry Toursbull Blenkinsop Valley
Adventure Golf Centrebull Western Speedway
bull All Fun Recreation Parkbull Wittyrsquos Lagoon Tide Pools
amp Skimboarding bull Butterfly Worldbull Butchart Gardens
Childrenrsquos Pavilion amp Rose Carousel
bull Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre
bull Annual Lego Exhibitbull Victoria Royals
Hockey Gamesbull Victoria Shamrocks
Lacrosse Gamesbull Victoria HarbourCats
Baseball Gamesbull Fishermanrsquos Wharfbull Ghostly Walks
10
Your Victoria Division of Family PracticeldquoThe Division is filling the void of socialization
peer support and practice improvement Since itrsquos inception
our community of family doctors has become more united
through a variety of projects such as securing locums and
practice coverage working on senior support in nursing homes
and increasing communication between patients caregivers
hospitals and GPs They offer many CME events and mentoring
for new and transitioning physicians to make it easier to settle
here or to transition into a different style of practice
The Divisionrsquos work has allowed community physicians
to come together and say lsquoThis is whatrsquos really important
to me Irsquom going to get involvedrsquo We have almost 400 member
physicians in Victoria and those who are getting involved are
really seeing the positive outcome and change they can have
That has a huge influence on creating change and allows
physicians to feel they are contributing to societyrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
Strength in numbersBenefit from the member-driven
work of your professional association
for local GPs in Victoria the Victoria
Division of Family Practice
Our members are empowered
to identify areas for change within
the local medical system and are
funded to join working groups that
reflect their passions Together
we devise and enable strategies
for real improvement
SOME DIVISION INITIATIVESbull A GP for Mebull Welcome amp Transitions Mentorshipbull Monthly Dine amp Learn Seriesbull Locum amp Practice Coverage Matchingbull Transitions in Care amp e-Notificationbull TORCH Toward Optimal Residential
Care Healthbull Emergency Response Planningbull Mental Health amp Substance Usebull Frail Seniors in the Communitybull Community Building amp Engagementbull Physician Resource Guidebull MOA Networkbull Mindfulness Meditation for GPs
ldquoI feel this group here is very forward-thinking so there are lots of opportunities to get involved
and to push forward initiatives that you believe inrdquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just
SUPPORTED BY AN awesomePROFESSIONALASSOCIATION
warm
WELCOME
GPs Dr Jessica Fry and Dr Caitlin Harmon have had great experiences with mentoring medical students and new doctors in Victoria
13
Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring ProgramBeing the new kid on the block can be tough
Thatrsquos why the Victoria Division pairs welcoming physician
mentors with doctors who are new to the area or who are shifting
their practice style Matches are made with the aim of connecting
people whose interests and availability align
Mentors sometimes meet their partners for a casual coffee or dinner or accompany them to Division
engagement events They can make introductions and offer important local or insider knowledge
supporting a physicianrsquos smooth transition to Victoria
or to a new type of practice
There are all sorts of reasons you might wish for a mentor
throughout your career The Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring
program supports physicians in all stages of their professional
lives whether you are a first year student a resident a doctor
new to the area or a GP practicing in Victoria The program also
matches mentors to those transitioning into a new area of practice
returning to work after having a baby or raising children or
preparing for retirement These personal connections can offer
a softer smoother transition to the next chapter of your life
ldquoI think it is important to support
new doctors whether they are new graduates
or have recently moved here from somewhere
else I think it definitely helps them to be more
successful and makes them more likely
to want to stay in Victoria
I myself did my residency in Victoria
and my main preceptor was Dr Darcy Nielsen
She was my mentor for all things medicine
and medicine-related She taught me what
I should look for in setting up a practice
and gave me good information about things
like accounting and incorporation
I have worked with a couple of new doctors
including one doctor who shadowed me
for a few shifts at Island Sexual Health
I taught her how to insert IUDs but also
got her thinking about things like how to set
up locums finances accounting and what
to incorporate into her practice long-term
Experiences like this give me the satisfaction
of helping new doctors just like others helped
me and remind me of all the things I really like
about practicing medicine in Victoriardquo
mdash Dr Caitlin Harmon
Dr Caitlin Harmon Family PracticeGrow Health
MENTORS ARE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORTbull Medical students from Year 1 onwardbull Residents bull GPs new to Victoria bull GPs wanting to locum bull GPs planning to work or volunteer abroadbull GPs transitioning to a new specializationbull GPs planning a familybull GPs returning from maternity leavebull GPs returning after raising childrenbull GPs retiringbull and more
To find your mentor contact Helen Welch hwelchdivisionsbcca
ldquoThe Division was very helpful for me to learn how to work in Victoria what job opportunities there are and what opportunities there are for continuing medical educationrdquo mdash Dr Celeste Just
14
Making practice coverage a priorityWe know great doctors stay that way by scheduling their well-earned breaks We also know that
locums are often more free-spirited and adventurous
and are looking for freedom and options in their schedules
The Divisionrsquos innovative one-stop locum matching service
makes that possible by supporting member locums looking
for jobs and family physicians who need practice coverage
As a locum yoursquoll have access to the best jobs in Victoria
competitive remuneration rates mentoring and administrative
support for details like logistics contracts and billing
As a member seeking coverage yoursquoll learn how to prepare
and make your practice more attractive to locums Yoursquoll also
receive support and advice on crafting effective job postings
Finding the perfect match means combining
technology with networking and personal individual support
Our locum matching service asks physicians exactly what they
are looking for in a locum or practice coverage job to ensure
the most suitable arrangements can be found
ldquoI see a lot of need for locums My wife and I have each completed at least 20 locum positionsrdquo mdash Dr Bruce Rebner
ldquoTherersquos something to be said about the locum
lifestyle We donrsquot have kids yet
and we enjoy travelling so being
locums gives my wife and I some
freedom The longer-term idea
is to establish a practice but there
are definitely periods of your life
when locuming makes sense
I think itrsquos an attractive option
at both ends of the career when
yoursquore young and after yoursquove
worked for 20 or 30 years and
have given up your practice
Division events like the Dine
amp Learns are great platforms
to meet fellow doctors
And the locum coordinator
has been really easily accessible
Irsquove emailed a couple of times
for a specific ten days and she
has worked very hard to find
a matchrdquo
mdash Dr Bruce Rebner often locums
in Victoria elsewhere in BC NWT
and New Zealand
Unique options like cross-coverage long-term locums part-time associates and transition-to-retirement practice coverage are supported
LOCUMSlove FOR
MIND OVER MATTER
ldquoI believe we serve ourselves by
practicing what we preach and by
walking our talkrdquomdash Dr Mark Sherman Executive Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
17
The Victoria Division of Family Practice has teamed up with the BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm) to offer eight-week courses for family physicians in mindfulness-based meditation
Caring for our physiciansrsquo wellbeing ldquoWhen it comes to physician stress the CMA did a study in 2003 on physician burnout
and estimated that 47 per cent of us across the board in Canada are in the advanced stages of burnout
There is a stress epidemic for a variety of reasons As physiciansmdashpeople who are in the healthcare
and wellness professionmdashI think wersquore prone to stress because of our sincere will to help others
which is often what brings us into medicine in the first place Physicians have a tendency toward
perfectionism and other traits that make stress very common
For that reason tools like mindfulness cognitive
behaviour strategies meditation and positive
psychology are particularly useful for us
As physicians we all know intellectually about
the burdens of stress and how that can affect
our cardiovascular and mental health Yet by
managing our own stress by having embodied
presence and by having a meditation practice
when wersquore giving advice to our patients
and are speaking from a place of heart
as opposed to just from the head our message
comes through more clearly
Wersquove had quite a few physicians come into
the mindfulness program One of the exciting
things that the Division is facilitating is the
group specifically for physicians which focuses
on the unique challenges of being a physician
in Victoria
Through the Practice Support Program wersquove
also had a group for physicians to use some
mindfulness tools in their practice That was
quite popularrdquo mdash Dr Mark Sherman
BCalmrsquos referral-based mindfulness meditation courses are MSP-funded for both physicians and their patients
MIND OVER MATTER
18
ldquoThe physicians with whom we engage I have to admit are the cream of the crop because they are interested in continuing
education and in being on the forefront of how to be more effective in the care
of their patientsrdquomdash Esther Stevens Coordinator
Regional Practice Support Program Island Health
ldquoThe Dine and Learn sessions generally have one or more specialist physicians who come to talk about a particular topic Therersquos a presentation portion followed by a QampA They tend to be smaller groups so you can get more clinical questions answeredrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
Access to continuingmedical educationVictoriarsquos medical community benefits from an abundance
of local CME opportunities to keep you on the forefront
Medical Conferences As the capital city of British
Columbia and the largest city on Vancouver Island Victoria
attracts an impressive variety of annual medical conferences
Dine amp Learn Events The Divisionrsquos wildly popular
monthly Dine amp Learn events connect GPs with specialists
to exchange knowledge and to solidify strong relationships
in a social setting
Practice Support Program CME-accredited learning
modules and in-practice coaching help GPs to improve
clinical and practice management and patient care delivery
Provincial Academic Detailing Pharmacists provide
objective evidence-informed drug information to physicians
on best prescribing practices
Community Rounds Hospital-based CME events
on a rotating roster of specialized topics
LEARNING WITH YOUR
COLLEAGUES
nurturing GPndashSPECIALIST
RELATIONS
Pediatrician Dr Krystal Cullen delivers a talk at a Dine amp Learn event that brought five local pediatricians together with family practitioners for presentations and case discussions
21
ldquoIn my experience having worked here before and after implementation of the Divisions there used to be very little opportunity to get to know the specialists Now itrsquos quite straightforwardrdquomdash Dr Heera Bindra Tuscany Medical Clinic
Monthly Dine amp Learn events take place throughout Victoria and bring specialists together with family physicians to exchange knowledge network and strengthen relationships
Strong connections with specialists ldquoSpecialists are really an armrsquos length away
here We have all specialties and even some sub-specialties
within those Theyrsquore all approachable and you can
at any point call for help Given the population of Victoria
itrsquos relatively easy to see specialists even if itrsquos non-urgent
They are quite receptive to referrals in a timely manner
What I really appreciate is that therersquos good interaction
between the specialists and the family doctors The Dine
and Learn events that the Division offers allow us to interact
with specialists on a personal basis in a small group setting
and to get local input on a given topic I feel like this
relationship is relatively unique because a lot of places donrsquot
have full service specialists
As well the attitude of our specialists is very open
and approachable Our interactions and communication
between family doctors and specialists is very congenial
and thatrsquos more rewarding for both the patients and the
physicians in practicerdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoBeyond meeting with specialists the Dine amp Learns and other Division events are great for getting to know our general practice colleagues I am lucky to work in a group of four doctors but if I were in a solo practice without the Division I wouldnrsquot have had so much interactionrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
22
ldquoWersquore always putting out calls for interested tutors to come and participate in the programrdquomdash Dr Steve Martin Year 1amp2 Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program University of Victoria
Many opportunities to tutor amp teachThe Island Medical Program (IMP) at the University of Victoria is one of four provincial sites
of UBCrsquos distributed MD Undergraduate Program The program
accepts 32 medical students each year allowing many
opportunities for family doctors to get involved with tutoring
and direct mentorship
Within the Clinical Skills Program doctors act as tutors to small
groups of students for various modules delivered at a hospital
clinical site Students then spend dedicated time within a
family practice office for direct mentorship Depending on the
studentrsquos relationship with the physician they may see their
own patients or see them with the family practitionermentor
Through experience and role modelling about how they
work with patients tutors also offer a wealth of intangible
information that doesnrsquot appear in the curriculum Students
often remark on how important it is for them to learn how
to be doctors
These tutors and mentors are identified as teaching faculty
within the UBC program itself
ldquoItrsquos amazing how many tutors come back and say how the
experience has renewed their
interest in medicine and has
rejuvenated them in ways they
didnrsquot anticipate
Our family practice tutors
really find it engaging They
like the studentsrsquo questions
and it challenges them Some
come and stay for long periods
others come and go or take
breaks Irsquove had some tutors
for the last 11 years Overall
they really enjoy it and are
just very thankful
The students particularly
enjoy the variety of young
new tutors and some of the
older wiser more experienced
tutors They all bring different
elements to it and students
really appreciate bothrdquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin
share YOUR
WISDOM
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
EXPLORE WEST COAST
RAW+RUGGED NATURE
more than 27000 hectares
(11 of the land base ) under
park or protected area status
33 regional parks amp trails
788 km bikeway network
(the PIC or Primary
Inter-Community Network)
more than 25 completed
mildest winters in Canada
temperatures rarely below
0degC or above 30degC
lowest rainfall on British
Columbiarsquos west coast
Springtime marked by
blooming of the cherry
blossoms normally
in mid-February
71 per cent of locals spend their leisure time being active
KID-FRIENDLY Beach Life Downtown to
Dallas Road Gonzales Bay 10 minWillowrsquos Beach 12 minCadboro-Gyro Beach Park 16 minWhittyrsquos Lagoon 41 min
9
The best place to raise your familyldquoThere arenrsquot many places in Canada where kids can play outside without their
snowsuit all year long We walk to school walk to parks and wersquore a block away from the beach I can
get off of work pick up my kids within 15 minutes and get them to their lessons in another 15 minutes
The commute compared to many cities is incredible Quality private education is affordable which
means rather than being exclusive there are a lot of professional parents in the mixrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
ldquoIn terms of childcare there
are a lot of licensed family daycares and other
options Irsquove also noticed a wide variety
of schools for children of different age groups
from Montessori to very good public schools
to lots of private optionsrdquo ndash Dr Celeste Just
PARTIAL SCHOOL LIST
91 per cent of youth spend their leisure time being active
ldquoI donrsquot think therersquos any better place for families than Victoriardquo mdash Dr Janet Mak GPDoctorrsquos Medical Clinic
bull 27 PUBLIC ELEMENTARY
bull 10 PUBLIC MIDDLE
bull 7 PUBLIC SECONDARY
bull 14 MONTESSORI
bull GLENLYON NORFOLK SCHOOL
bull ST MICHAELrsquoS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL
bull ST MARGARETrsquoS SCHOOL
bull ARTSCALIBRE ACADEMY
bull OAK AND ORCA BIOREGIONAL SCHOOL
bull ST PATRICKrsquoS ELEMENTARY
bull ST ANDREWrsquoS REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
bull ST JOSEPHrsquoS ELEMENTARY
bull ELIZABETH BUCKLEY SCHOOL
bull PEARSON COLLEGE
Fun Stuff for Kidsbull Exploring nature trails
rainforests amp beachesbull Beacon Hill
Childrenrsquos Farmbull IMAX Victoria amp the
Royal BC Royal Museumbull Dolphin amp Whale Watchingbull Miniature Worldbull Bug Zoobull AdrenaLine Zipline
Adventuresbull Fort Rodd Hill
amp Fisgard Lighthousebull Maritime Museum of BCbull Harbour Ferry Toursbull Blenkinsop Valley
Adventure Golf Centrebull Western Speedway
bull All Fun Recreation Parkbull Wittyrsquos Lagoon Tide Pools
amp Skimboarding bull Butterfly Worldbull Butchart Gardens
Childrenrsquos Pavilion amp Rose Carousel
bull Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre
bull Annual Lego Exhibitbull Victoria Royals
Hockey Gamesbull Victoria Shamrocks
Lacrosse Gamesbull Victoria HarbourCats
Baseball Gamesbull Fishermanrsquos Wharfbull Ghostly Walks
10
Your Victoria Division of Family PracticeldquoThe Division is filling the void of socialization
peer support and practice improvement Since itrsquos inception
our community of family doctors has become more united
through a variety of projects such as securing locums and
practice coverage working on senior support in nursing homes
and increasing communication between patients caregivers
hospitals and GPs They offer many CME events and mentoring
for new and transitioning physicians to make it easier to settle
here or to transition into a different style of practice
The Divisionrsquos work has allowed community physicians
to come together and say lsquoThis is whatrsquos really important
to me Irsquom going to get involvedrsquo We have almost 400 member
physicians in Victoria and those who are getting involved are
really seeing the positive outcome and change they can have
That has a huge influence on creating change and allows
physicians to feel they are contributing to societyrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
Strength in numbersBenefit from the member-driven
work of your professional association
for local GPs in Victoria the Victoria
Division of Family Practice
Our members are empowered
to identify areas for change within
the local medical system and are
funded to join working groups that
reflect their passions Together
we devise and enable strategies
for real improvement
SOME DIVISION INITIATIVESbull A GP for Mebull Welcome amp Transitions Mentorshipbull Monthly Dine amp Learn Seriesbull Locum amp Practice Coverage Matchingbull Transitions in Care amp e-Notificationbull TORCH Toward Optimal Residential
Care Healthbull Emergency Response Planningbull Mental Health amp Substance Usebull Frail Seniors in the Communitybull Community Building amp Engagementbull Physician Resource Guidebull MOA Networkbull Mindfulness Meditation for GPs
ldquoI feel this group here is very forward-thinking so there are lots of opportunities to get involved
and to push forward initiatives that you believe inrdquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just
SUPPORTED BY AN awesomePROFESSIONALASSOCIATION
warm
WELCOME
GPs Dr Jessica Fry and Dr Caitlin Harmon have had great experiences with mentoring medical students and new doctors in Victoria
13
Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring ProgramBeing the new kid on the block can be tough
Thatrsquos why the Victoria Division pairs welcoming physician
mentors with doctors who are new to the area or who are shifting
their practice style Matches are made with the aim of connecting
people whose interests and availability align
Mentors sometimes meet their partners for a casual coffee or dinner or accompany them to Division
engagement events They can make introductions and offer important local or insider knowledge
supporting a physicianrsquos smooth transition to Victoria
or to a new type of practice
There are all sorts of reasons you might wish for a mentor
throughout your career The Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring
program supports physicians in all stages of their professional
lives whether you are a first year student a resident a doctor
new to the area or a GP practicing in Victoria The program also
matches mentors to those transitioning into a new area of practice
returning to work after having a baby or raising children or
preparing for retirement These personal connections can offer
a softer smoother transition to the next chapter of your life
ldquoI think it is important to support
new doctors whether they are new graduates
or have recently moved here from somewhere
else I think it definitely helps them to be more
successful and makes them more likely
to want to stay in Victoria
I myself did my residency in Victoria
and my main preceptor was Dr Darcy Nielsen
She was my mentor for all things medicine
and medicine-related She taught me what
I should look for in setting up a practice
and gave me good information about things
like accounting and incorporation
I have worked with a couple of new doctors
including one doctor who shadowed me
for a few shifts at Island Sexual Health
I taught her how to insert IUDs but also
got her thinking about things like how to set
up locums finances accounting and what
to incorporate into her practice long-term
Experiences like this give me the satisfaction
of helping new doctors just like others helped
me and remind me of all the things I really like
about practicing medicine in Victoriardquo
mdash Dr Caitlin Harmon
Dr Caitlin Harmon Family PracticeGrow Health
MENTORS ARE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORTbull Medical students from Year 1 onwardbull Residents bull GPs new to Victoria bull GPs wanting to locum bull GPs planning to work or volunteer abroadbull GPs transitioning to a new specializationbull GPs planning a familybull GPs returning from maternity leavebull GPs returning after raising childrenbull GPs retiringbull and more
To find your mentor contact Helen Welch hwelchdivisionsbcca
ldquoThe Division was very helpful for me to learn how to work in Victoria what job opportunities there are and what opportunities there are for continuing medical educationrdquo mdash Dr Celeste Just
14
Making practice coverage a priorityWe know great doctors stay that way by scheduling their well-earned breaks We also know that
locums are often more free-spirited and adventurous
and are looking for freedom and options in their schedules
The Divisionrsquos innovative one-stop locum matching service
makes that possible by supporting member locums looking
for jobs and family physicians who need practice coverage
As a locum yoursquoll have access to the best jobs in Victoria
competitive remuneration rates mentoring and administrative
support for details like logistics contracts and billing
As a member seeking coverage yoursquoll learn how to prepare
and make your practice more attractive to locums Yoursquoll also
receive support and advice on crafting effective job postings
Finding the perfect match means combining
technology with networking and personal individual support
Our locum matching service asks physicians exactly what they
are looking for in a locum or practice coverage job to ensure
the most suitable arrangements can be found
ldquoI see a lot of need for locums My wife and I have each completed at least 20 locum positionsrdquo mdash Dr Bruce Rebner
ldquoTherersquos something to be said about the locum
lifestyle We donrsquot have kids yet
and we enjoy travelling so being
locums gives my wife and I some
freedom The longer-term idea
is to establish a practice but there
are definitely periods of your life
when locuming makes sense
I think itrsquos an attractive option
at both ends of the career when
yoursquore young and after yoursquove
worked for 20 or 30 years and
have given up your practice
Division events like the Dine
amp Learns are great platforms
to meet fellow doctors
And the locum coordinator
has been really easily accessible
Irsquove emailed a couple of times
for a specific ten days and she
has worked very hard to find
a matchrdquo
mdash Dr Bruce Rebner often locums
in Victoria elsewhere in BC NWT
and New Zealand
Unique options like cross-coverage long-term locums part-time associates and transition-to-retirement practice coverage are supported
LOCUMSlove FOR
MIND OVER MATTER
ldquoI believe we serve ourselves by
practicing what we preach and by
walking our talkrdquomdash Dr Mark Sherman Executive Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
17
The Victoria Division of Family Practice has teamed up with the BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm) to offer eight-week courses for family physicians in mindfulness-based meditation
Caring for our physiciansrsquo wellbeing ldquoWhen it comes to physician stress the CMA did a study in 2003 on physician burnout
and estimated that 47 per cent of us across the board in Canada are in the advanced stages of burnout
There is a stress epidemic for a variety of reasons As physiciansmdashpeople who are in the healthcare
and wellness professionmdashI think wersquore prone to stress because of our sincere will to help others
which is often what brings us into medicine in the first place Physicians have a tendency toward
perfectionism and other traits that make stress very common
For that reason tools like mindfulness cognitive
behaviour strategies meditation and positive
psychology are particularly useful for us
As physicians we all know intellectually about
the burdens of stress and how that can affect
our cardiovascular and mental health Yet by
managing our own stress by having embodied
presence and by having a meditation practice
when wersquore giving advice to our patients
and are speaking from a place of heart
as opposed to just from the head our message
comes through more clearly
Wersquove had quite a few physicians come into
the mindfulness program One of the exciting
things that the Division is facilitating is the
group specifically for physicians which focuses
on the unique challenges of being a physician
in Victoria
Through the Practice Support Program wersquove
also had a group for physicians to use some
mindfulness tools in their practice That was
quite popularrdquo mdash Dr Mark Sherman
BCalmrsquos referral-based mindfulness meditation courses are MSP-funded for both physicians and their patients
MIND OVER MATTER
18
ldquoThe physicians with whom we engage I have to admit are the cream of the crop because they are interested in continuing
education and in being on the forefront of how to be more effective in the care
of their patientsrdquomdash Esther Stevens Coordinator
Regional Practice Support Program Island Health
ldquoThe Dine and Learn sessions generally have one or more specialist physicians who come to talk about a particular topic Therersquos a presentation portion followed by a QampA They tend to be smaller groups so you can get more clinical questions answeredrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
Access to continuingmedical educationVictoriarsquos medical community benefits from an abundance
of local CME opportunities to keep you on the forefront
Medical Conferences As the capital city of British
Columbia and the largest city on Vancouver Island Victoria
attracts an impressive variety of annual medical conferences
Dine amp Learn Events The Divisionrsquos wildly popular
monthly Dine amp Learn events connect GPs with specialists
to exchange knowledge and to solidify strong relationships
in a social setting
Practice Support Program CME-accredited learning
modules and in-practice coaching help GPs to improve
clinical and practice management and patient care delivery
Provincial Academic Detailing Pharmacists provide
objective evidence-informed drug information to physicians
on best prescribing practices
Community Rounds Hospital-based CME events
on a rotating roster of specialized topics
LEARNING WITH YOUR
COLLEAGUES
nurturing GPndashSPECIALIST
RELATIONS
Pediatrician Dr Krystal Cullen delivers a talk at a Dine amp Learn event that brought five local pediatricians together with family practitioners for presentations and case discussions
21
ldquoIn my experience having worked here before and after implementation of the Divisions there used to be very little opportunity to get to know the specialists Now itrsquos quite straightforwardrdquomdash Dr Heera Bindra Tuscany Medical Clinic
Monthly Dine amp Learn events take place throughout Victoria and bring specialists together with family physicians to exchange knowledge network and strengthen relationships
Strong connections with specialists ldquoSpecialists are really an armrsquos length away
here We have all specialties and even some sub-specialties
within those Theyrsquore all approachable and you can
at any point call for help Given the population of Victoria
itrsquos relatively easy to see specialists even if itrsquos non-urgent
They are quite receptive to referrals in a timely manner
What I really appreciate is that therersquos good interaction
between the specialists and the family doctors The Dine
and Learn events that the Division offers allow us to interact
with specialists on a personal basis in a small group setting
and to get local input on a given topic I feel like this
relationship is relatively unique because a lot of places donrsquot
have full service specialists
As well the attitude of our specialists is very open
and approachable Our interactions and communication
between family doctors and specialists is very congenial
and thatrsquos more rewarding for both the patients and the
physicians in practicerdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoBeyond meeting with specialists the Dine amp Learns and other Division events are great for getting to know our general practice colleagues I am lucky to work in a group of four doctors but if I were in a solo practice without the Division I wouldnrsquot have had so much interactionrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
22
ldquoWersquore always putting out calls for interested tutors to come and participate in the programrdquomdash Dr Steve Martin Year 1amp2 Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program University of Victoria
Many opportunities to tutor amp teachThe Island Medical Program (IMP) at the University of Victoria is one of four provincial sites
of UBCrsquos distributed MD Undergraduate Program The program
accepts 32 medical students each year allowing many
opportunities for family doctors to get involved with tutoring
and direct mentorship
Within the Clinical Skills Program doctors act as tutors to small
groups of students for various modules delivered at a hospital
clinical site Students then spend dedicated time within a
family practice office for direct mentorship Depending on the
studentrsquos relationship with the physician they may see their
own patients or see them with the family practitionermentor
Through experience and role modelling about how they
work with patients tutors also offer a wealth of intangible
information that doesnrsquot appear in the curriculum Students
often remark on how important it is for them to learn how
to be doctors
These tutors and mentors are identified as teaching faculty
within the UBC program itself
ldquoItrsquos amazing how many tutors come back and say how the
experience has renewed their
interest in medicine and has
rejuvenated them in ways they
didnrsquot anticipate
Our family practice tutors
really find it engaging They
like the studentsrsquo questions
and it challenges them Some
come and stay for long periods
others come and go or take
breaks Irsquove had some tutors
for the last 11 years Overall
they really enjoy it and are
just very thankful
The students particularly
enjoy the variety of young
new tutors and some of the
older wiser more experienced
tutors They all bring different
elements to it and students
really appreciate bothrdquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin
share YOUR
WISDOM
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
KID-FRIENDLY Beach Life Downtown to
Dallas Road Gonzales Bay 10 minWillowrsquos Beach 12 minCadboro-Gyro Beach Park 16 minWhittyrsquos Lagoon 41 min
9
The best place to raise your familyldquoThere arenrsquot many places in Canada where kids can play outside without their
snowsuit all year long We walk to school walk to parks and wersquore a block away from the beach I can
get off of work pick up my kids within 15 minutes and get them to their lessons in another 15 minutes
The commute compared to many cities is incredible Quality private education is affordable which
means rather than being exclusive there are a lot of professional parents in the mixrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
ldquoIn terms of childcare there
are a lot of licensed family daycares and other
options Irsquove also noticed a wide variety
of schools for children of different age groups
from Montessori to very good public schools
to lots of private optionsrdquo ndash Dr Celeste Just
PARTIAL SCHOOL LIST
91 per cent of youth spend their leisure time being active
ldquoI donrsquot think therersquos any better place for families than Victoriardquo mdash Dr Janet Mak GPDoctorrsquos Medical Clinic
bull 27 PUBLIC ELEMENTARY
bull 10 PUBLIC MIDDLE
bull 7 PUBLIC SECONDARY
bull 14 MONTESSORI
bull GLENLYON NORFOLK SCHOOL
bull ST MICHAELrsquoS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL
bull ST MARGARETrsquoS SCHOOL
bull ARTSCALIBRE ACADEMY
bull OAK AND ORCA BIOREGIONAL SCHOOL
bull ST PATRICKrsquoS ELEMENTARY
bull ST ANDREWrsquoS REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
bull ST JOSEPHrsquoS ELEMENTARY
bull ELIZABETH BUCKLEY SCHOOL
bull PEARSON COLLEGE
Fun Stuff for Kidsbull Exploring nature trails
rainforests amp beachesbull Beacon Hill
Childrenrsquos Farmbull IMAX Victoria amp the
Royal BC Royal Museumbull Dolphin amp Whale Watchingbull Miniature Worldbull Bug Zoobull AdrenaLine Zipline
Adventuresbull Fort Rodd Hill
amp Fisgard Lighthousebull Maritime Museum of BCbull Harbour Ferry Toursbull Blenkinsop Valley
Adventure Golf Centrebull Western Speedway
bull All Fun Recreation Parkbull Wittyrsquos Lagoon Tide Pools
amp Skimboarding bull Butterfly Worldbull Butchart Gardens
Childrenrsquos Pavilion amp Rose Carousel
bull Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre
bull Annual Lego Exhibitbull Victoria Royals
Hockey Gamesbull Victoria Shamrocks
Lacrosse Gamesbull Victoria HarbourCats
Baseball Gamesbull Fishermanrsquos Wharfbull Ghostly Walks
10
Your Victoria Division of Family PracticeldquoThe Division is filling the void of socialization
peer support and practice improvement Since itrsquos inception
our community of family doctors has become more united
through a variety of projects such as securing locums and
practice coverage working on senior support in nursing homes
and increasing communication between patients caregivers
hospitals and GPs They offer many CME events and mentoring
for new and transitioning physicians to make it easier to settle
here or to transition into a different style of practice
The Divisionrsquos work has allowed community physicians
to come together and say lsquoThis is whatrsquos really important
to me Irsquom going to get involvedrsquo We have almost 400 member
physicians in Victoria and those who are getting involved are
really seeing the positive outcome and change they can have
That has a huge influence on creating change and allows
physicians to feel they are contributing to societyrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
Strength in numbersBenefit from the member-driven
work of your professional association
for local GPs in Victoria the Victoria
Division of Family Practice
Our members are empowered
to identify areas for change within
the local medical system and are
funded to join working groups that
reflect their passions Together
we devise and enable strategies
for real improvement
SOME DIVISION INITIATIVESbull A GP for Mebull Welcome amp Transitions Mentorshipbull Monthly Dine amp Learn Seriesbull Locum amp Practice Coverage Matchingbull Transitions in Care amp e-Notificationbull TORCH Toward Optimal Residential
Care Healthbull Emergency Response Planningbull Mental Health amp Substance Usebull Frail Seniors in the Communitybull Community Building amp Engagementbull Physician Resource Guidebull MOA Networkbull Mindfulness Meditation for GPs
ldquoI feel this group here is very forward-thinking so there are lots of opportunities to get involved
and to push forward initiatives that you believe inrdquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just
SUPPORTED BY AN awesomePROFESSIONALASSOCIATION
warm
WELCOME
GPs Dr Jessica Fry and Dr Caitlin Harmon have had great experiences with mentoring medical students and new doctors in Victoria
13
Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring ProgramBeing the new kid on the block can be tough
Thatrsquos why the Victoria Division pairs welcoming physician
mentors with doctors who are new to the area or who are shifting
their practice style Matches are made with the aim of connecting
people whose interests and availability align
Mentors sometimes meet their partners for a casual coffee or dinner or accompany them to Division
engagement events They can make introductions and offer important local or insider knowledge
supporting a physicianrsquos smooth transition to Victoria
or to a new type of practice
There are all sorts of reasons you might wish for a mentor
throughout your career The Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring
program supports physicians in all stages of their professional
lives whether you are a first year student a resident a doctor
new to the area or a GP practicing in Victoria The program also
matches mentors to those transitioning into a new area of practice
returning to work after having a baby or raising children or
preparing for retirement These personal connections can offer
a softer smoother transition to the next chapter of your life
ldquoI think it is important to support
new doctors whether they are new graduates
or have recently moved here from somewhere
else I think it definitely helps them to be more
successful and makes them more likely
to want to stay in Victoria
I myself did my residency in Victoria
and my main preceptor was Dr Darcy Nielsen
She was my mentor for all things medicine
and medicine-related She taught me what
I should look for in setting up a practice
and gave me good information about things
like accounting and incorporation
I have worked with a couple of new doctors
including one doctor who shadowed me
for a few shifts at Island Sexual Health
I taught her how to insert IUDs but also
got her thinking about things like how to set
up locums finances accounting and what
to incorporate into her practice long-term
Experiences like this give me the satisfaction
of helping new doctors just like others helped
me and remind me of all the things I really like
about practicing medicine in Victoriardquo
mdash Dr Caitlin Harmon
Dr Caitlin Harmon Family PracticeGrow Health
MENTORS ARE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORTbull Medical students from Year 1 onwardbull Residents bull GPs new to Victoria bull GPs wanting to locum bull GPs planning to work or volunteer abroadbull GPs transitioning to a new specializationbull GPs planning a familybull GPs returning from maternity leavebull GPs returning after raising childrenbull GPs retiringbull and more
To find your mentor contact Helen Welch hwelchdivisionsbcca
ldquoThe Division was very helpful for me to learn how to work in Victoria what job opportunities there are and what opportunities there are for continuing medical educationrdquo mdash Dr Celeste Just
14
Making practice coverage a priorityWe know great doctors stay that way by scheduling their well-earned breaks We also know that
locums are often more free-spirited and adventurous
and are looking for freedom and options in their schedules
The Divisionrsquos innovative one-stop locum matching service
makes that possible by supporting member locums looking
for jobs and family physicians who need practice coverage
As a locum yoursquoll have access to the best jobs in Victoria
competitive remuneration rates mentoring and administrative
support for details like logistics contracts and billing
As a member seeking coverage yoursquoll learn how to prepare
and make your practice more attractive to locums Yoursquoll also
receive support and advice on crafting effective job postings
Finding the perfect match means combining
technology with networking and personal individual support
Our locum matching service asks physicians exactly what they
are looking for in a locum or practice coverage job to ensure
the most suitable arrangements can be found
ldquoI see a lot of need for locums My wife and I have each completed at least 20 locum positionsrdquo mdash Dr Bruce Rebner
ldquoTherersquos something to be said about the locum
lifestyle We donrsquot have kids yet
and we enjoy travelling so being
locums gives my wife and I some
freedom The longer-term idea
is to establish a practice but there
are definitely periods of your life
when locuming makes sense
I think itrsquos an attractive option
at both ends of the career when
yoursquore young and after yoursquove
worked for 20 or 30 years and
have given up your practice
Division events like the Dine
amp Learns are great platforms
to meet fellow doctors
And the locum coordinator
has been really easily accessible
Irsquove emailed a couple of times
for a specific ten days and she
has worked very hard to find
a matchrdquo
mdash Dr Bruce Rebner often locums
in Victoria elsewhere in BC NWT
and New Zealand
Unique options like cross-coverage long-term locums part-time associates and transition-to-retirement practice coverage are supported
LOCUMSlove FOR
MIND OVER MATTER
ldquoI believe we serve ourselves by
practicing what we preach and by
walking our talkrdquomdash Dr Mark Sherman Executive Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
17
The Victoria Division of Family Practice has teamed up with the BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm) to offer eight-week courses for family physicians in mindfulness-based meditation
Caring for our physiciansrsquo wellbeing ldquoWhen it comes to physician stress the CMA did a study in 2003 on physician burnout
and estimated that 47 per cent of us across the board in Canada are in the advanced stages of burnout
There is a stress epidemic for a variety of reasons As physiciansmdashpeople who are in the healthcare
and wellness professionmdashI think wersquore prone to stress because of our sincere will to help others
which is often what brings us into medicine in the first place Physicians have a tendency toward
perfectionism and other traits that make stress very common
For that reason tools like mindfulness cognitive
behaviour strategies meditation and positive
psychology are particularly useful for us
As physicians we all know intellectually about
the burdens of stress and how that can affect
our cardiovascular and mental health Yet by
managing our own stress by having embodied
presence and by having a meditation practice
when wersquore giving advice to our patients
and are speaking from a place of heart
as opposed to just from the head our message
comes through more clearly
Wersquove had quite a few physicians come into
the mindfulness program One of the exciting
things that the Division is facilitating is the
group specifically for physicians which focuses
on the unique challenges of being a physician
in Victoria
Through the Practice Support Program wersquove
also had a group for physicians to use some
mindfulness tools in their practice That was
quite popularrdquo mdash Dr Mark Sherman
BCalmrsquos referral-based mindfulness meditation courses are MSP-funded for both physicians and their patients
MIND OVER MATTER
18
ldquoThe physicians with whom we engage I have to admit are the cream of the crop because they are interested in continuing
education and in being on the forefront of how to be more effective in the care
of their patientsrdquomdash Esther Stevens Coordinator
Regional Practice Support Program Island Health
ldquoThe Dine and Learn sessions generally have one or more specialist physicians who come to talk about a particular topic Therersquos a presentation portion followed by a QampA They tend to be smaller groups so you can get more clinical questions answeredrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
Access to continuingmedical educationVictoriarsquos medical community benefits from an abundance
of local CME opportunities to keep you on the forefront
Medical Conferences As the capital city of British
Columbia and the largest city on Vancouver Island Victoria
attracts an impressive variety of annual medical conferences
Dine amp Learn Events The Divisionrsquos wildly popular
monthly Dine amp Learn events connect GPs with specialists
to exchange knowledge and to solidify strong relationships
in a social setting
Practice Support Program CME-accredited learning
modules and in-practice coaching help GPs to improve
clinical and practice management and patient care delivery
Provincial Academic Detailing Pharmacists provide
objective evidence-informed drug information to physicians
on best prescribing practices
Community Rounds Hospital-based CME events
on a rotating roster of specialized topics
LEARNING WITH YOUR
COLLEAGUES
nurturing GPndashSPECIALIST
RELATIONS
Pediatrician Dr Krystal Cullen delivers a talk at a Dine amp Learn event that brought five local pediatricians together with family practitioners for presentations and case discussions
21
ldquoIn my experience having worked here before and after implementation of the Divisions there used to be very little opportunity to get to know the specialists Now itrsquos quite straightforwardrdquomdash Dr Heera Bindra Tuscany Medical Clinic
Monthly Dine amp Learn events take place throughout Victoria and bring specialists together with family physicians to exchange knowledge network and strengthen relationships
Strong connections with specialists ldquoSpecialists are really an armrsquos length away
here We have all specialties and even some sub-specialties
within those Theyrsquore all approachable and you can
at any point call for help Given the population of Victoria
itrsquos relatively easy to see specialists even if itrsquos non-urgent
They are quite receptive to referrals in a timely manner
What I really appreciate is that therersquos good interaction
between the specialists and the family doctors The Dine
and Learn events that the Division offers allow us to interact
with specialists on a personal basis in a small group setting
and to get local input on a given topic I feel like this
relationship is relatively unique because a lot of places donrsquot
have full service specialists
As well the attitude of our specialists is very open
and approachable Our interactions and communication
between family doctors and specialists is very congenial
and thatrsquos more rewarding for both the patients and the
physicians in practicerdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoBeyond meeting with specialists the Dine amp Learns and other Division events are great for getting to know our general practice colleagues I am lucky to work in a group of four doctors but if I were in a solo practice without the Division I wouldnrsquot have had so much interactionrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
22
ldquoWersquore always putting out calls for interested tutors to come and participate in the programrdquomdash Dr Steve Martin Year 1amp2 Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program University of Victoria
Many opportunities to tutor amp teachThe Island Medical Program (IMP) at the University of Victoria is one of four provincial sites
of UBCrsquos distributed MD Undergraduate Program The program
accepts 32 medical students each year allowing many
opportunities for family doctors to get involved with tutoring
and direct mentorship
Within the Clinical Skills Program doctors act as tutors to small
groups of students for various modules delivered at a hospital
clinical site Students then spend dedicated time within a
family practice office for direct mentorship Depending on the
studentrsquos relationship with the physician they may see their
own patients or see them with the family practitionermentor
Through experience and role modelling about how they
work with patients tutors also offer a wealth of intangible
information that doesnrsquot appear in the curriculum Students
often remark on how important it is for them to learn how
to be doctors
These tutors and mentors are identified as teaching faculty
within the UBC program itself
ldquoItrsquos amazing how many tutors come back and say how the
experience has renewed their
interest in medicine and has
rejuvenated them in ways they
didnrsquot anticipate
Our family practice tutors
really find it engaging They
like the studentsrsquo questions
and it challenges them Some
come and stay for long periods
others come and go or take
breaks Irsquove had some tutors
for the last 11 years Overall
they really enjoy it and are
just very thankful
The students particularly
enjoy the variety of young
new tutors and some of the
older wiser more experienced
tutors They all bring different
elements to it and students
really appreciate bothrdquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin
share YOUR
WISDOM
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
9
The best place to raise your familyldquoThere arenrsquot many places in Canada where kids can play outside without their
snowsuit all year long We walk to school walk to parks and wersquore a block away from the beach I can
get off of work pick up my kids within 15 minutes and get them to their lessons in another 15 minutes
The commute compared to many cities is incredible Quality private education is affordable which
means rather than being exclusive there are a lot of professional parents in the mixrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
ldquoIn terms of childcare there
are a lot of licensed family daycares and other
options Irsquove also noticed a wide variety
of schools for children of different age groups
from Montessori to very good public schools
to lots of private optionsrdquo ndash Dr Celeste Just
PARTIAL SCHOOL LIST
91 per cent of youth spend their leisure time being active
ldquoI donrsquot think therersquos any better place for families than Victoriardquo mdash Dr Janet Mak GPDoctorrsquos Medical Clinic
bull 27 PUBLIC ELEMENTARY
bull 10 PUBLIC MIDDLE
bull 7 PUBLIC SECONDARY
bull 14 MONTESSORI
bull GLENLYON NORFOLK SCHOOL
bull ST MICHAELrsquoS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL
bull ST MARGARETrsquoS SCHOOL
bull ARTSCALIBRE ACADEMY
bull OAK AND ORCA BIOREGIONAL SCHOOL
bull ST PATRICKrsquoS ELEMENTARY
bull ST ANDREWrsquoS REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
bull ST JOSEPHrsquoS ELEMENTARY
bull ELIZABETH BUCKLEY SCHOOL
bull PEARSON COLLEGE
Fun Stuff for Kidsbull Exploring nature trails
rainforests amp beachesbull Beacon Hill
Childrenrsquos Farmbull IMAX Victoria amp the
Royal BC Royal Museumbull Dolphin amp Whale Watchingbull Miniature Worldbull Bug Zoobull AdrenaLine Zipline
Adventuresbull Fort Rodd Hill
amp Fisgard Lighthousebull Maritime Museum of BCbull Harbour Ferry Toursbull Blenkinsop Valley
Adventure Golf Centrebull Western Speedway
bull All Fun Recreation Parkbull Wittyrsquos Lagoon Tide Pools
amp Skimboarding bull Butterfly Worldbull Butchart Gardens
Childrenrsquos Pavilion amp Rose Carousel
bull Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre
bull Annual Lego Exhibitbull Victoria Royals
Hockey Gamesbull Victoria Shamrocks
Lacrosse Gamesbull Victoria HarbourCats
Baseball Gamesbull Fishermanrsquos Wharfbull Ghostly Walks
10
Your Victoria Division of Family PracticeldquoThe Division is filling the void of socialization
peer support and practice improvement Since itrsquos inception
our community of family doctors has become more united
through a variety of projects such as securing locums and
practice coverage working on senior support in nursing homes
and increasing communication between patients caregivers
hospitals and GPs They offer many CME events and mentoring
for new and transitioning physicians to make it easier to settle
here or to transition into a different style of practice
The Divisionrsquos work has allowed community physicians
to come together and say lsquoThis is whatrsquos really important
to me Irsquom going to get involvedrsquo We have almost 400 member
physicians in Victoria and those who are getting involved are
really seeing the positive outcome and change they can have
That has a huge influence on creating change and allows
physicians to feel they are contributing to societyrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
Strength in numbersBenefit from the member-driven
work of your professional association
for local GPs in Victoria the Victoria
Division of Family Practice
Our members are empowered
to identify areas for change within
the local medical system and are
funded to join working groups that
reflect their passions Together
we devise and enable strategies
for real improvement
SOME DIVISION INITIATIVESbull A GP for Mebull Welcome amp Transitions Mentorshipbull Monthly Dine amp Learn Seriesbull Locum amp Practice Coverage Matchingbull Transitions in Care amp e-Notificationbull TORCH Toward Optimal Residential
Care Healthbull Emergency Response Planningbull Mental Health amp Substance Usebull Frail Seniors in the Communitybull Community Building amp Engagementbull Physician Resource Guidebull MOA Networkbull Mindfulness Meditation for GPs
ldquoI feel this group here is very forward-thinking so there are lots of opportunities to get involved
and to push forward initiatives that you believe inrdquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just
SUPPORTED BY AN awesomePROFESSIONALASSOCIATION
warm
WELCOME
GPs Dr Jessica Fry and Dr Caitlin Harmon have had great experiences with mentoring medical students and new doctors in Victoria
13
Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring ProgramBeing the new kid on the block can be tough
Thatrsquos why the Victoria Division pairs welcoming physician
mentors with doctors who are new to the area or who are shifting
their practice style Matches are made with the aim of connecting
people whose interests and availability align
Mentors sometimes meet their partners for a casual coffee or dinner or accompany them to Division
engagement events They can make introductions and offer important local or insider knowledge
supporting a physicianrsquos smooth transition to Victoria
or to a new type of practice
There are all sorts of reasons you might wish for a mentor
throughout your career The Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring
program supports physicians in all stages of their professional
lives whether you are a first year student a resident a doctor
new to the area or a GP practicing in Victoria The program also
matches mentors to those transitioning into a new area of practice
returning to work after having a baby or raising children or
preparing for retirement These personal connections can offer
a softer smoother transition to the next chapter of your life
ldquoI think it is important to support
new doctors whether they are new graduates
or have recently moved here from somewhere
else I think it definitely helps them to be more
successful and makes them more likely
to want to stay in Victoria
I myself did my residency in Victoria
and my main preceptor was Dr Darcy Nielsen
She was my mentor for all things medicine
and medicine-related She taught me what
I should look for in setting up a practice
and gave me good information about things
like accounting and incorporation
I have worked with a couple of new doctors
including one doctor who shadowed me
for a few shifts at Island Sexual Health
I taught her how to insert IUDs but also
got her thinking about things like how to set
up locums finances accounting and what
to incorporate into her practice long-term
Experiences like this give me the satisfaction
of helping new doctors just like others helped
me and remind me of all the things I really like
about practicing medicine in Victoriardquo
mdash Dr Caitlin Harmon
Dr Caitlin Harmon Family PracticeGrow Health
MENTORS ARE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORTbull Medical students from Year 1 onwardbull Residents bull GPs new to Victoria bull GPs wanting to locum bull GPs planning to work or volunteer abroadbull GPs transitioning to a new specializationbull GPs planning a familybull GPs returning from maternity leavebull GPs returning after raising childrenbull GPs retiringbull and more
To find your mentor contact Helen Welch hwelchdivisionsbcca
ldquoThe Division was very helpful for me to learn how to work in Victoria what job opportunities there are and what opportunities there are for continuing medical educationrdquo mdash Dr Celeste Just
14
Making practice coverage a priorityWe know great doctors stay that way by scheduling their well-earned breaks We also know that
locums are often more free-spirited and adventurous
and are looking for freedom and options in their schedules
The Divisionrsquos innovative one-stop locum matching service
makes that possible by supporting member locums looking
for jobs and family physicians who need practice coverage
As a locum yoursquoll have access to the best jobs in Victoria
competitive remuneration rates mentoring and administrative
support for details like logistics contracts and billing
As a member seeking coverage yoursquoll learn how to prepare
and make your practice more attractive to locums Yoursquoll also
receive support and advice on crafting effective job postings
Finding the perfect match means combining
technology with networking and personal individual support
Our locum matching service asks physicians exactly what they
are looking for in a locum or practice coverage job to ensure
the most suitable arrangements can be found
ldquoI see a lot of need for locums My wife and I have each completed at least 20 locum positionsrdquo mdash Dr Bruce Rebner
ldquoTherersquos something to be said about the locum
lifestyle We donrsquot have kids yet
and we enjoy travelling so being
locums gives my wife and I some
freedom The longer-term idea
is to establish a practice but there
are definitely periods of your life
when locuming makes sense
I think itrsquos an attractive option
at both ends of the career when
yoursquore young and after yoursquove
worked for 20 or 30 years and
have given up your practice
Division events like the Dine
amp Learns are great platforms
to meet fellow doctors
And the locum coordinator
has been really easily accessible
Irsquove emailed a couple of times
for a specific ten days and she
has worked very hard to find
a matchrdquo
mdash Dr Bruce Rebner often locums
in Victoria elsewhere in BC NWT
and New Zealand
Unique options like cross-coverage long-term locums part-time associates and transition-to-retirement practice coverage are supported
LOCUMSlove FOR
MIND OVER MATTER
ldquoI believe we serve ourselves by
practicing what we preach and by
walking our talkrdquomdash Dr Mark Sherman Executive Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
17
The Victoria Division of Family Practice has teamed up with the BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm) to offer eight-week courses for family physicians in mindfulness-based meditation
Caring for our physiciansrsquo wellbeing ldquoWhen it comes to physician stress the CMA did a study in 2003 on physician burnout
and estimated that 47 per cent of us across the board in Canada are in the advanced stages of burnout
There is a stress epidemic for a variety of reasons As physiciansmdashpeople who are in the healthcare
and wellness professionmdashI think wersquore prone to stress because of our sincere will to help others
which is often what brings us into medicine in the first place Physicians have a tendency toward
perfectionism and other traits that make stress very common
For that reason tools like mindfulness cognitive
behaviour strategies meditation and positive
psychology are particularly useful for us
As physicians we all know intellectually about
the burdens of stress and how that can affect
our cardiovascular and mental health Yet by
managing our own stress by having embodied
presence and by having a meditation practice
when wersquore giving advice to our patients
and are speaking from a place of heart
as opposed to just from the head our message
comes through more clearly
Wersquove had quite a few physicians come into
the mindfulness program One of the exciting
things that the Division is facilitating is the
group specifically for physicians which focuses
on the unique challenges of being a physician
in Victoria
Through the Practice Support Program wersquove
also had a group for physicians to use some
mindfulness tools in their practice That was
quite popularrdquo mdash Dr Mark Sherman
BCalmrsquos referral-based mindfulness meditation courses are MSP-funded for both physicians and their patients
MIND OVER MATTER
18
ldquoThe physicians with whom we engage I have to admit are the cream of the crop because they are interested in continuing
education and in being on the forefront of how to be more effective in the care
of their patientsrdquomdash Esther Stevens Coordinator
Regional Practice Support Program Island Health
ldquoThe Dine and Learn sessions generally have one or more specialist physicians who come to talk about a particular topic Therersquos a presentation portion followed by a QampA They tend to be smaller groups so you can get more clinical questions answeredrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
Access to continuingmedical educationVictoriarsquos medical community benefits from an abundance
of local CME opportunities to keep you on the forefront
Medical Conferences As the capital city of British
Columbia and the largest city on Vancouver Island Victoria
attracts an impressive variety of annual medical conferences
Dine amp Learn Events The Divisionrsquos wildly popular
monthly Dine amp Learn events connect GPs with specialists
to exchange knowledge and to solidify strong relationships
in a social setting
Practice Support Program CME-accredited learning
modules and in-practice coaching help GPs to improve
clinical and practice management and patient care delivery
Provincial Academic Detailing Pharmacists provide
objective evidence-informed drug information to physicians
on best prescribing practices
Community Rounds Hospital-based CME events
on a rotating roster of specialized topics
LEARNING WITH YOUR
COLLEAGUES
nurturing GPndashSPECIALIST
RELATIONS
Pediatrician Dr Krystal Cullen delivers a talk at a Dine amp Learn event that brought five local pediatricians together with family practitioners for presentations and case discussions
21
ldquoIn my experience having worked here before and after implementation of the Divisions there used to be very little opportunity to get to know the specialists Now itrsquos quite straightforwardrdquomdash Dr Heera Bindra Tuscany Medical Clinic
Monthly Dine amp Learn events take place throughout Victoria and bring specialists together with family physicians to exchange knowledge network and strengthen relationships
Strong connections with specialists ldquoSpecialists are really an armrsquos length away
here We have all specialties and even some sub-specialties
within those Theyrsquore all approachable and you can
at any point call for help Given the population of Victoria
itrsquos relatively easy to see specialists even if itrsquos non-urgent
They are quite receptive to referrals in a timely manner
What I really appreciate is that therersquos good interaction
between the specialists and the family doctors The Dine
and Learn events that the Division offers allow us to interact
with specialists on a personal basis in a small group setting
and to get local input on a given topic I feel like this
relationship is relatively unique because a lot of places donrsquot
have full service specialists
As well the attitude of our specialists is very open
and approachable Our interactions and communication
between family doctors and specialists is very congenial
and thatrsquos more rewarding for both the patients and the
physicians in practicerdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoBeyond meeting with specialists the Dine amp Learns and other Division events are great for getting to know our general practice colleagues I am lucky to work in a group of four doctors but if I were in a solo practice without the Division I wouldnrsquot have had so much interactionrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
22
ldquoWersquore always putting out calls for interested tutors to come and participate in the programrdquomdash Dr Steve Martin Year 1amp2 Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program University of Victoria
Many opportunities to tutor amp teachThe Island Medical Program (IMP) at the University of Victoria is one of four provincial sites
of UBCrsquos distributed MD Undergraduate Program The program
accepts 32 medical students each year allowing many
opportunities for family doctors to get involved with tutoring
and direct mentorship
Within the Clinical Skills Program doctors act as tutors to small
groups of students for various modules delivered at a hospital
clinical site Students then spend dedicated time within a
family practice office for direct mentorship Depending on the
studentrsquos relationship with the physician they may see their
own patients or see them with the family practitionermentor
Through experience and role modelling about how they
work with patients tutors also offer a wealth of intangible
information that doesnrsquot appear in the curriculum Students
often remark on how important it is for them to learn how
to be doctors
These tutors and mentors are identified as teaching faculty
within the UBC program itself
ldquoItrsquos amazing how many tutors come back and say how the
experience has renewed their
interest in medicine and has
rejuvenated them in ways they
didnrsquot anticipate
Our family practice tutors
really find it engaging They
like the studentsrsquo questions
and it challenges them Some
come and stay for long periods
others come and go or take
breaks Irsquove had some tutors
for the last 11 years Overall
they really enjoy it and are
just very thankful
The students particularly
enjoy the variety of young
new tutors and some of the
older wiser more experienced
tutors They all bring different
elements to it and students
really appreciate bothrdquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin
share YOUR
WISDOM
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
10
Your Victoria Division of Family PracticeldquoThe Division is filling the void of socialization
peer support and practice improvement Since itrsquos inception
our community of family doctors has become more united
through a variety of projects such as securing locums and
practice coverage working on senior support in nursing homes
and increasing communication between patients caregivers
hospitals and GPs They offer many CME events and mentoring
for new and transitioning physicians to make it easier to settle
here or to transition into a different style of practice
The Divisionrsquos work has allowed community physicians
to come together and say lsquoThis is whatrsquos really important
to me Irsquom going to get involvedrsquo We have almost 400 member
physicians in Victoria and those who are getting involved are
really seeing the positive outcome and change they can have
That has a huge influence on creating change and allows
physicians to feel they are contributing to societyrdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
Strength in numbersBenefit from the member-driven
work of your professional association
for local GPs in Victoria the Victoria
Division of Family Practice
Our members are empowered
to identify areas for change within
the local medical system and are
funded to join working groups that
reflect their passions Together
we devise and enable strategies
for real improvement
SOME DIVISION INITIATIVESbull A GP for Mebull Welcome amp Transitions Mentorshipbull Monthly Dine amp Learn Seriesbull Locum amp Practice Coverage Matchingbull Transitions in Care amp e-Notificationbull TORCH Toward Optimal Residential
Care Healthbull Emergency Response Planningbull Mental Health amp Substance Usebull Frail Seniors in the Communitybull Community Building amp Engagementbull Physician Resource Guidebull MOA Networkbull Mindfulness Meditation for GPs
ldquoI feel this group here is very forward-thinking so there are lots of opportunities to get involved
and to push forward initiatives that you believe inrdquo
mdash Dr Celeste Just
SUPPORTED BY AN awesomePROFESSIONALASSOCIATION
warm
WELCOME
GPs Dr Jessica Fry and Dr Caitlin Harmon have had great experiences with mentoring medical students and new doctors in Victoria
13
Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring ProgramBeing the new kid on the block can be tough
Thatrsquos why the Victoria Division pairs welcoming physician
mentors with doctors who are new to the area or who are shifting
their practice style Matches are made with the aim of connecting
people whose interests and availability align
Mentors sometimes meet their partners for a casual coffee or dinner or accompany them to Division
engagement events They can make introductions and offer important local or insider knowledge
supporting a physicianrsquos smooth transition to Victoria
or to a new type of practice
There are all sorts of reasons you might wish for a mentor
throughout your career The Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring
program supports physicians in all stages of their professional
lives whether you are a first year student a resident a doctor
new to the area or a GP practicing in Victoria The program also
matches mentors to those transitioning into a new area of practice
returning to work after having a baby or raising children or
preparing for retirement These personal connections can offer
a softer smoother transition to the next chapter of your life
ldquoI think it is important to support
new doctors whether they are new graduates
or have recently moved here from somewhere
else I think it definitely helps them to be more
successful and makes them more likely
to want to stay in Victoria
I myself did my residency in Victoria
and my main preceptor was Dr Darcy Nielsen
She was my mentor for all things medicine
and medicine-related She taught me what
I should look for in setting up a practice
and gave me good information about things
like accounting and incorporation
I have worked with a couple of new doctors
including one doctor who shadowed me
for a few shifts at Island Sexual Health
I taught her how to insert IUDs but also
got her thinking about things like how to set
up locums finances accounting and what
to incorporate into her practice long-term
Experiences like this give me the satisfaction
of helping new doctors just like others helped
me and remind me of all the things I really like
about practicing medicine in Victoriardquo
mdash Dr Caitlin Harmon
Dr Caitlin Harmon Family PracticeGrow Health
MENTORS ARE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORTbull Medical students from Year 1 onwardbull Residents bull GPs new to Victoria bull GPs wanting to locum bull GPs planning to work or volunteer abroadbull GPs transitioning to a new specializationbull GPs planning a familybull GPs returning from maternity leavebull GPs returning after raising childrenbull GPs retiringbull and more
To find your mentor contact Helen Welch hwelchdivisionsbcca
ldquoThe Division was very helpful for me to learn how to work in Victoria what job opportunities there are and what opportunities there are for continuing medical educationrdquo mdash Dr Celeste Just
14
Making practice coverage a priorityWe know great doctors stay that way by scheduling their well-earned breaks We also know that
locums are often more free-spirited and adventurous
and are looking for freedom and options in their schedules
The Divisionrsquos innovative one-stop locum matching service
makes that possible by supporting member locums looking
for jobs and family physicians who need practice coverage
As a locum yoursquoll have access to the best jobs in Victoria
competitive remuneration rates mentoring and administrative
support for details like logistics contracts and billing
As a member seeking coverage yoursquoll learn how to prepare
and make your practice more attractive to locums Yoursquoll also
receive support and advice on crafting effective job postings
Finding the perfect match means combining
technology with networking and personal individual support
Our locum matching service asks physicians exactly what they
are looking for in a locum or practice coverage job to ensure
the most suitable arrangements can be found
ldquoI see a lot of need for locums My wife and I have each completed at least 20 locum positionsrdquo mdash Dr Bruce Rebner
ldquoTherersquos something to be said about the locum
lifestyle We donrsquot have kids yet
and we enjoy travelling so being
locums gives my wife and I some
freedom The longer-term idea
is to establish a practice but there
are definitely periods of your life
when locuming makes sense
I think itrsquos an attractive option
at both ends of the career when
yoursquore young and after yoursquove
worked for 20 or 30 years and
have given up your practice
Division events like the Dine
amp Learns are great platforms
to meet fellow doctors
And the locum coordinator
has been really easily accessible
Irsquove emailed a couple of times
for a specific ten days and she
has worked very hard to find
a matchrdquo
mdash Dr Bruce Rebner often locums
in Victoria elsewhere in BC NWT
and New Zealand
Unique options like cross-coverage long-term locums part-time associates and transition-to-retirement practice coverage are supported
LOCUMSlove FOR
MIND OVER MATTER
ldquoI believe we serve ourselves by
practicing what we preach and by
walking our talkrdquomdash Dr Mark Sherman Executive Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
17
The Victoria Division of Family Practice has teamed up with the BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm) to offer eight-week courses for family physicians in mindfulness-based meditation
Caring for our physiciansrsquo wellbeing ldquoWhen it comes to physician stress the CMA did a study in 2003 on physician burnout
and estimated that 47 per cent of us across the board in Canada are in the advanced stages of burnout
There is a stress epidemic for a variety of reasons As physiciansmdashpeople who are in the healthcare
and wellness professionmdashI think wersquore prone to stress because of our sincere will to help others
which is often what brings us into medicine in the first place Physicians have a tendency toward
perfectionism and other traits that make stress very common
For that reason tools like mindfulness cognitive
behaviour strategies meditation and positive
psychology are particularly useful for us
As physicians we all know intellectually about
the burdens of stress and how that can affect
our cardiovascular and mental health Yet by
managing our own stress by having embodied
presence and by having a meditation practice
when wersquore giving advice to our patients
and are speaking from a place of heart
as opposed to just from the head our message
comes through more clearly
Wersquove had quite a few physicians come into
the mindfulness program One of the exciting
things that the Division is facilitating is the
group specifically for physicians which focuses
on the unique challenges of being a physician
in Victoria
Through the Practice Support Program wersquove
also had a group for physicians to use some
mindfulness tools in their practice That was
quite popularrdquo mdash Dr Mark Sherman
BCalmrsquos referral-based mindfulness meditation courses are MSP-funded for both physicians and their patients
MIND OVER MATTER
18
ldquoThe physicians with whom we engage I have to admit are the cream of the crop because they are interested in continuing
education and in being on the forefront of how to be more effective in the care
of their patientsrdquomdash Esther Stevens Coordinator
Regional Practice Support Program Island Health
ldquoThe Dine and Learn sessions generally have one or more specialist physicians who come to talk about a particular topic Therersquos a presentation portion followed by a QampA They tend to be smaller groups so you can get more clinical questions answeredrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
Access to continuingmedical educationVictoriarsquos medical community benefits from an abundance
of local CME opportunities to keep you on the forefront
Medical Conferences As the capital city of British
Columbia and the largest city on Vancouver Island Victoria
attracts an impressive variety of annual medical conferences
Dine amp Learn Events The Divisionrsquos wildly popular
monthly Dine amp Learn events connect GPs with specialists
to exchange knowledge and to solidify strong relationships
in a social setting
Practice Support Program CME-accredited learning
modules and in-practice coaching help GPs to improve
clinical and practice management and patient care delivery
Provincial Academic Detailing Pharmacists provide
objective evidence-informed drug information to physicians
on best prescribing practices
Community Rounds Hospital-based CME events
on a rotating roster of specialized topics
LEARNING WITH YOUR
COLLEAGUES
nurturing GPndashSPECIALIST
RELATIONS
Pediatrician Dr Krystal Cullen delivers a talk at a Dine amp Learn event that brought five local pediatricians together with family practitioners for presentations and case discussions
21
ldquoIn my experience having worked here before and after implementation of the Divisions there used to be very little opportunity to get to know the specialists Now itrsquos quite straightforwardrdquomdash Dr Heera Bindra Tuscany Medical Clinic
Monthly Dine amp Learn events take place throughout Victoria and bring specialists together with family physicians to exchange knowledge network and strengthen relationships
Strong connections with specialists ldquoSpecialists are really an armrsquos length away
here We have all specialties and even some sub-specialties
within those Theyrsquore all approachable and you can
at any point call for help Given the population of Victoria
itrsquos relatively easy to see specialists even if itrsquos non-urgent
They are quite receptive to referrals in a timely manner
What I really appreciate is that therersquos good interaction
between the specialists and the family doctors The Dine
and Learn events that the Division offers allow us to interact
with specialists on a personal basis in a small group setting
and to get local input on a given topic I feel like this
relationship is relatively unique because a lot of places donrsquot
have full service specialists
As well the attitude of our specialists is very open
and approachable Our interactions and communication
between family doctors and specialists is very congenial
and thatrsquos more rewarding for both the patients and the
physicians in practicerdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoBeyond meeting with specialists the Dine amp Learns and other Division events are great for getting to know our general practice colleagues I am lucky to work in a group of four doctors but if I were in a solo practice without the Division I wouldnrsquot have had so much interactionrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
22
ldquoWersquore always putting out calls for interested tutors to come and participate in the programrdquomdash Dr Steve Martin Year 1amp2 Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program University of Victoria
Many opportunities to tutor amp teachThe Island Medical Program (IMP) at the University of Victoria is one of four provincial sites
of UBCrsquos distributed MD Undergraduate Program The program
accepts 32 medical students each year allowing many
opportunities for family doctors to get involved with tutoring
and direct mentorship
Within the Clinical Skills Program doctors act as tutors to small
groups of students for various modules delivered at a hospital
clinical site Students then spend dedicated time within a
family practice office for direct mentorship Depending on the
studentrsquos relationship with the physician they may see their
own patients or see them with the family practitionermentor
Through experience and role modelling about how they
work with patients tutors also offer a wealth of intangible
information that doesnrsquot appear in the curriculum Students
often remark on how important it is for them to learn how
to be doctors
These tutors and mentors are identified as teaching faculty
within the UBC program itself
ldquoItrsquos amazing how many tutors come back and say how the
experience has renewed their
interest in medicine and has
rejuvenated them in ways they
didnrsquot anticipate
Our family practice tutors
really find it engaging They
like the studentsrsquo questions
and it challenges them Some
come and stay for long periods
others come and go or take
breaks Irsquove had some tutors
for the last 11 years Overall
they really enjoy it and are
just very thankful
The students particularly
enjoy the variety of young
new tutors and some of the
older wiser more experienced
tutors They all bring different
elements to it and students
really appreciate bothrdquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin
share YOUR
WISDOM
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
SUPPORTED BY AN awesomePROFESSIONALASSOCIATION
warm
WELCOME
GPs Dr Jessica Fry and Dr Caitlin Harmon have had great experiences with mentoring medical students and new doctors in Victoria
13
Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring ProgramBeing the new kid on the block can be tough
Thatrsquos why the Victoria Division pairs welcoming physician
mentors with doctors who are new to the area or who are shifting
their practice style Matches are made with the aim of connecting
people whose interests and availability align
Mentors sometimes meet their partners for a casual coffee or dinner or accompany them to Division
engagement events They can make introductions and offer important local or insider knowledge
supporting a physicianrsquos smooth transition to Victoria
or to a new type of practice
There are all sorts of reasons you might wish for a mentor
throughout your career The Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring
program supports physicians in all stages of their professional
lives whether you are a first year student a resident a doctor
new to the area or a GP practicing in Victoria The program also
matches mentors to those transitioning into a new area of practice
returning to work after having a baby or raising children or
preparing for retirement These personal connections can offer
a softer smoother transition to the next chapter of your life
ldquoI think it is important to support
new doctors whether they are new graduates
or have recently moved here from somewhere
else I think it definitely helps them to be more
successful and makes them more likely
to want to stay in Victoria
I myself did my residency in Victoria
and my main preceptor was Dr Darcy Nielsen
She was my mentor for all things medicine
and medicine-related She taught me what
I should look for in setting up a practice
and gave me good information about things
like accounting and incorporation
I have worked with a couple of new doctors
including one doctor who shadowed me
for a few shifts at Island Sexual Health
I taught her how to insert IUDs but also
got her thinking about things like how to set
up locums finances accounting and what
to incorporate into her practice long-term
Experiences like this give me the satisfaction
of helping new doctors just like others helped
me and remind me of all the things I really like
about practicing medicine in Victoriardquo
mdash Dr Caitlin Harmon
Dr Caitlin Harmon Family PracticeGrow Health
MENTORS ARE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORTbull Medical students from Year 1 onwardbull Residents bull GPs new to Victoria bull GPs wanting to locum bull GPs planning to work or volunteer abroadbull GPs transitioning to a new specializationbull GPs planning a familybull GPs returning from maternity leavebull GPs returning after raising childrenbull GPs retiringbull and more
To find your mentor contact Helen Welch hwelchdivisionsbcca
ldquoThe Division was very helpful for me to learn how to work in Victoria what job opportunities there are and what opportunities there are for continuing medical educationrdquo mdash Dr Celeste Just
14
Making practice coverage a priorityWe know great doctors stay that way by scheduling their well-earned breaks We also know that
locums are often more free-spirited and adventurous
and are looking for freedom and options in their schedules
The Divisionrsquos innovative one-stop locum matching service
makes that possible by supporting member locums looking
for jobs and family physicians who need practice coverage
As a locum yoursquoll have access to the best jobs in Victoria
competitive remuneration rates mentoring and administrative
support for details like logistics contracts and billing
As a member seeking coverage yoursquoll learn how to prepare
and make your practice more attractive to locums Yoursquoll also
receive support and advice on crafting effective job postings
Finding the perfect match means combining
technology with networking and personal individual support
Our locum matching service asks physicians exactly what they
are looking for in a locum or practice coverage job to ensure
the most suitable arrangements can be found
ldquoI see a lot of need for locums My wife and I have each completed at least 20 locum positionsrdquo mdash Dr Bruce Rebner
ldquoTherersquos something to be said about the locum
lifestyle We donrsquot have kids yet
and we enjoy travelling so being
locums gives my wife and I some
freedom The longer-term idea
is to establish a practice but there
are definitely periods of your life
when locuming makes sense
I think itrsquos an attractive option
at both ends of the career when
yoursquore young and after yoursquove
worked for 20 or 30 years and
have given up your practice
Division events like the Dine
amp Learns are great platforms
to meet fellow doctors
And the locum coordinator
has been really easily accessible
Irsquove emailed a couple of times
for a specific ten days and she
has worked very hard to find
a matchrdquo
mdash Dr Bruce Rebner often locums
in Victoria elsewhere in BC NWT
and New Zealand
Unique options like cross-coverage long-term locums part-time associates and transition-to-retirement practice coverage are supported
LOCUMSlove FOR
MIND OVER MATTER
ldquoI believe we serve ourselves by
practicing what we preach and by
walking our talkrdquomdash Dr Mark Sherman Executive Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
17
The Victoria Division of Family Practice has teamed up with the BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm) to offer eight-week courses for family physicians in mindfulness-based meditation
Caring for our physiciansrsquo wellbeing ldquoWhen it comes to physician stress the CMA did a study in 2003 on physician burnout
and estimated that 47 per cent of us across the board in Canada are in the advanced stages of burnout
There is a stress epidemic for a variety of reasons As physiciansmdashpeople who are in the healthcare
and wellness professionmdashI think wersquore prone to stress because of our sincere will to help others
which is often what brings us into medicine in the first place Physicians have a tendency toward
perfectionism and other traits that make stress very common
For that reason tools like mindfulness cognitive
behaviour strategies meditation and positive
psychology are particularly useful for us
As physicians we all know intellectually about
the burdens of stress and how that can affect
our cardiovascular and mental health Yet by
managing our own stress by having embodied
presence and by having a meditation practice
when wersquore giving advice to our patients
and are speaking from a place of heart
as opposed to just from the head our message
comes through more clearly
Wersquove had quite a few physicians come into
the mindfulness program One of the exciting
things that the Division is facilitating is the
group specifically for physicians which focuses
on the unique challenges of being a physician
in Victoria
Through the Practice Support Program wersquove
also had a group for physicians to use some
mindfulness tools in their practice That was
quite popularrdquo mdash Dr Mark Sherman
BCalmrsquos referral-based mindfulness meditation courses are MSP-funded for both physicians and their patients
MIND OVER MATTER
18
ldquoThe physicians with whom we engage I have to admit are the cream of the crop because they are interested in continuing
education and in being on the forefront of how to be more effective in the care
of their patientsrdquomdash Esther Stevens Coordinator
Regional Practice Support Program Island Health
ldquoThe Dine and Learn sessions generally have one or more specialist physicians who come to talk about a particular topic Therersquos a presentation portion followed by a QampA They tend to be smaller groups so you can get more clinical questions answeredrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
Access to continuingmedical educationVictoriarsquos medical community benefits from an abundance
of local CME opportunities to keep you on the forefront
Medical Conferences As the capital city of British
Columbia and the largest city on Vancouver Island Victoria
attracts an impressive variety of annual medical conferences
Dine amp Learn Events The Divisionrsquos wildly popular
monthly Dine amp Learn events connect GPs with specialists
to exchange knowledge and to solidify strong relationships
in a social setting
Practice Support Program CME-accredited learning
modules and in-practice coaching help GPs to improve
clinical and practice management and patient care delivery
Provincial Academic Detailing Pharmacists provide
objective evidence-informed drug information to physicians
on best prescribing practices
Community Rounds Hospital-based CME events
on a rotating roster of specialized topics
LEARNING WITH YOUR
COLLEAGUES
nurturing GPndashSPECIALIST
RELATIONS
Pediatrician Dr Krystal Cullen delivers a talk at a Dine amp Learn event that brought five local pediatricians together with family practitioners for presentations and case discussions
21
ldquoIn my experience having worked here before and after implementation of the Divisions there used to be very little opportunity to get to know the specialists Now itrsquos quite straightforwardrdquomdash Dr Heera Bindra Tuscany Medical Clinic
Monthly Dine amp Learn events take place throughout Victoria and bring specialists together with family physicians to exchange knowledge network and strengthen relationships
Strong connections with specialists ldquoSpecialists are really an armrsquos length away
here We have all specialties and even some sub-specialties
within those Theyrsquore all approachable and you can
at any point call for help Given the population of Victoria
itrsquos relatively easy to see specialists even if itrsquos non-urgent
They are quite receptive to referrals in a timely manner
What I really appreciate is that therersquos good interaction
between the specialists and the family doctors The Dine
and Learn events that the Division offers allow us to interact
with specialists on a personal basis in a small group setting
and to get local input on a given topic I feel like this
relationship is relatively unique because a lot of places donrsquot
have full service specialists
As well the attitude of our specialists is very open
and approachable Our interactions and communication
between family doctors and specialists is very congenial
and thatrsquos more rewarding for both the patients and the
physicians in practicerdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoBeyond meeting with specialists the Dine amp Learns and other Division events are great for getting to know our general practice colleagues I am lucky to work in a group of four doctors but if I were in a solo practice without the Division I wouldnrsquot have had so much interactionrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
22
ldquoWersquore always putting out calls for interested tutors to come and participate in the programrdquomdash Dr Steve Martin Year 1amp2 Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program University of Victoria
Many opportunities to tutor amp teachThe Island Medical Program (IMP) at the University of Victoria is one of four provincial sites
of UBCrsquos distributed MD Undergraduate Program The program
accepts 32 medical students each year allowing many
opportunities for family doctors to get involved with tutoring
and direct mentorship
Within the Clinical Skills Program doctors act as tutors to small
groups of students for various modules delivered at a hospital
clinical site Students then spend dedicated time within a
family practice office for direct mentorship Depending on the
studentrsquos relationship with the physician they may see their
own patients or see them with the family practitionermentor
Through experience and role modelling about how they
work with patients tutors also offer a wealth of intangible
information that doesnrsquot appear in the curriculum Students
often remark on how important it is for them to learn how
to be doctors
These tutors and mentors are identified as teaching faculty
within the UBC program itself
ldquoItrsquos amazing how many tutors come back and say how the
experience has renewed their
interest in medicine and has
rejuvenated them in ways they
didnrsquot anticipate
Our family practice tutors
really find it engaging They
like the studentsrsquo questions
and it challenges them Some
come and stay for long periods
others come and go or take
breaks Irsquove had some tutors
for the last 11 years Overall
they really enjoy it and are
just very thankful
The students particularly
enjoy the variety of young
new tutors and some of the
older wiser more experienced
tutors They all bring different
elements to it and students
really appreciate bothrdquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin
share YOUR
WISDOM
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
warm
WELCOME
GPs Dr Jessica Fry and Dr Caitlin Harmon have had great experiences with mentoring medical students and new doctors in Victoria
13
Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring ProgramBeing the new kid on the block can be tough
Thatrsquos why the Victoria Division pairs welcoming physician
mentors with doctors who are new to the area or who are shifting
their practice style Matches are made with the aim of connecting
people whose interests and availability align
Mentors sometimes meet their partners for a casual coffee or dinner or accompany them to Division
engagement events They can make introductions and offer important local or insider knowledge
supporting a physicianrsquos smooth transition to Victoria
or to a new type of practice
There are all sorts of reasons you might wish for a mentor
throughout your career The Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring
program supports physicians in all stages of their professional
lives whether you are a first year student a resident a doctor
new to the area or a GP practicing in Victoria The program also
matches mentors to those transitioning into a new area of practice
returning to work after having a baby or raising children or
preparing for retirement These personal connections can offer
a softer smoother transition to the next chapter of your life
ldquoI think it is important to support
new doctors whether they are new graduates
or have recently moved here from somewhere
else I think it definitely helps them to be more
successful and makes them more likely
to want to stay in Victoria
I myself did my residency in Victoria
and my main preceptor was Dr Darcy Nielsen
She was my mentor for all things medicine
and medicine-related She taught me what
I should look for in setting up a practice
and gave me good information about things
like accounting and incorporation
I have worked with a couple of new doctors
including one doctor who shadowed me
for a few shifts at Island Sexual Health
I taught her how to insert IUDs but also
got her thinking about things like how to set
up locums finances accounting and what
to incorporate into her practice long-term
Experiences like this give me the satisfaction
of helping new doctors just like others helped
me and remind me of all the things I really like
about practicing medicine in Victoriardquo
mdash Dr Caitlin Harmon
Dr Caitlin Harmon Family PracticeGrow Health
MENTORS ARE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORTbull Medical students from Year 1 onwardbull Residents bull GPs new to Victoria bull GPs wanting to locum bull GPs planning to work or volunteer abroadbull GPs transitioning to a new specializationbull GPs planning a familybull GPs returning from maternity leavebull GPs returning after raising childrenbull GPs retiringbull and more
To find your mentor contact Helen Welch hwelchdivisionsbcca
ldquoThe Division was very helpful for me to learn how to work in Victoria what job opportunities there are and what opportunities there are for continuing medical educationrdquo mdash Dr Celeste Just
14
Making practice coverage a priorityWe know great doctors stay that way by scheduling their well-earned breaks We also know that
locums are often more free-spirited and adventurous
and are looking for freedom and options in their schedules
The Divisionrsquos innovative one-stop locum matching service
makes that possible by supporting member locums looking
for jobs and family physicians who need practice coverage
As a locum yoursquoll have access to the best jobs in Victoria
competitive remuneration rates mentoring and administrative
support for details like logistics contracts and billing
As a member seeking coverage yoursquoll learn how to prepare
and make your practice more attractive to locums Yoursquoll also
receive support and advice on crafting effective job postings
Finding the perfect match means combining
technology with networking and personal individual support
Our locum matching service asks physicians exactly what they
are looking for in a locum or practice coverage job to ensure
the most suitable arrangements can be found
ldquoI see a lot of need for locums My wife and I have each completed at least 20 locum positionsrdquo mdash Dr Bruce Rebner
ldquoTherersquos something to be said about the locum
lifestyle We donrsquot have kids yet
and we enjoy travelling so being
locums gives my wife and I some
freedom The longer-term idea
is to establish a practice but there
are definitely periods of your life
when locuming makes sense
I think itrsquos an attractive option
at both ends of the career when
yoursquore young and after yoursquove
worked for 20 or 30 years and
have given up your practice
Division events like the Dine
amp Learns are great platforms
to meet fellow doctors
And the locum coordinator
has been really easily accessible
Irsquove emailed a couple of times
for a specific ten days and she
has worked very hard to find
a matchrdquo
mdash Dr Bruce Rebner often locums
in Victoria elsewhere in BC NWT
and New Zealand
Unique options like cross-coverage long-term locums part-time associates and transition-to-retirement practice coverage are supported
LOCUMSlove FOR
MIND OVER MATTER
ldquoI believe we serve ourselves by
practicing what we preach and by
walking our talkrdquomdash Dr Mark Sherman Executive Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
17
The Victoria Division of Family Practice has teamed up with the BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm) to offer eight-week courses for family physicians in mindfulness-based meditation
Caring for our physiciansrsquo wellbeing ldquoWhen it comes to physician stress the CMA did a study in 2003 on physician burnout
and estimated that 47 per cent of us across the board in Canada are in the advanced stages of burnout
There is a stress epidemic for a variety of reasons As physiciansmdashpeople who are in the healthcare
and wellness professionmdashI think wersquore prone to stress because of our sincere will to help others
which is often what brings us into medicine in the first place Physicians have a tendency toward
perfectionism and other traits that make stress very common
For that reason tools like mindfulness cognitive
behaviour strategies meditation and positive
psychology are particularly useful for us
As physicians we all know intellectually about
the burdens of stress and how that can affect
our cardiovascular and mental health Yet by
managing our own stress by having embodied
presence and by having a meditation practice
when wersquore giving advice to our patients
and are speaking from a place of heart
as opposed to just from the head our message
comes through more clearly
Wersquove had quite a few physicians come into
the mindfulness program One of the exciting
things that the Division is facilitating is the
group specifically for physicians which focuses
on the unique challenges of being a physician
in Victoria
Through the Practice Support Program wersquove
also had a group for physicians to use some
mindfulness tools in their practice That was
quite popularrdquo mdash Dr Mark Sherman
BCalmrsquos referral-based mindfulness meditation courses are MSP-funded for both physicians and their patients
MIND OVER MATTER
18
ldquoThe physicians with whom we engage I have to admit are the cream of the crop because they are interested in continuing
education and in being on the forefront of how to be more effective in the care
of their patientsrdquomdash Esther Stevens Coordinator
Regional Practice Support Program Island Health
ldquoThe Dine and Learn sessions generally have one or more specialist physicians who come to talk about a particular topic Therersquos a presentation portion followed by a QampA They tend to be smaller groups so you can get more clinical questions answeredrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
Access to continuingmedical educationVictoriarsquos medical community benefits from an abundance
of local CME opportunities to keep you on the forefront
Medical Conferences As the capital city of British
Columbia and the largest city on Vancouver Island Victoria
attracts an impressive variety of annual medical conferences
Dine amp Learn Events The Divisionrsquos wildly popular
monthly Dine amp Learn events connect GPs with specialists
to exchange knowledge and to solidify strong relationships
in a social setting
Practice Support Program CME-accredited learning
modules and in-practice coaching help GPs to improve
clinical and practice management and patient care delivery
Provincial Academic Detailing Pharmacists provide
objective evidence-informed drug information to physicians
on best prescribing practices
Community Rounds Hospital-based CME events
on a rotating roster of specialized topics
LEARNING WITH YOUR
COLLEAGUES
nurturing GPndashSPECIALIST
RELATIONS
Pediatrician Dr Krystal Cullen delivers a talk at a Dine amp Learn event that brought five local pediatricians together with family practitioners for presentations and case discussions
21
ldquoIn my experience having worked here before and after implementation of the Divisions there used to be very little opportunity to get to know the specialists Now itrsquos quite straightforwardrdquomdash Dr Heera Bindra Tuscany Medical Clinic
Monthly Dine amp Learn events take place throughout Victoria and bring specialists together with family physicians to exchange knowledge network and strengthen relationships
Strong connections with specialists ldquoSpecialists are really an armrsquos length away
here We have all specialties and even some sub-specialties
within those Theyrsquore all approachable and you can
at any point call for help Given the population of Victoria
itrsquos relatively easy to see specialists even if itrsquos non-urgent
They are quite receptive to referrals in a timely manner
What I really appreciate is that therersquos good interaction
between the specialists and the family doctors The Dine
and Learn events that the Division offers allow us to interact
with specialists on a personal basis in a small group setting
and to get local input on a given topic I feel like this
relationship is relatively unique because a lot of places donrsquot
have full service specialists
As well the attitude of our specialists is very open
and approachable Our interactions and communication
between family doctors and specialists is very congenial
and thatrsquos more rewarding for both the patients and the
physicians in practicerdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoBeyond meeting with specialists the Dine amp Learns and other Division events are great for getting to know our general practice colleagues I am lucky to work in a group of four doctors but if I were in a solo practice without the Division I wouldnrsquot have had so much interactionrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
22
ldquoWersquore always putting out calls for interested tutors to come and participate in the programrdquomdash Dr Steve Martin Year 1amp2 Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program University of Victoria
Many opportunities to tutor amp teachThe Island Medical Program (IMP) at the University of Victoria is one of four provincial sites
of UBCrsquos distributed MD Undergraduate Program The program
accepts 32 medical students each year allowing many
opportunities for family doctors to get involved with tutoring
and direct mentorship
Within the Clinical Skills Program doctors act as tutors to small
groups of students for various modules delivered at a hospital
clinical site Students then spend dedicated time within a
family practice office for direct mentorship Depending on the
studentrsquos relationship with the physician they may see their
own patients or see them with the family practitionermentor
Through experience and role modelling about how they
work with patients tutors also offer a wealth of intangible
information that doesnrsquot appear in the curriculum Students
often remark on how important it is for them to learn how
to be doctors
These tutors and mentors are identified as teaching faculty
within the UBC program itself
ldquoItrsquos amazing how many tutors come back and say how the
experience has renewed their
interest in medicine and has
rejuvenated them in ways they
didnrsquot anticipate
Our family practice tutors
really find it engaging They
like the studentsrsquo questions
and it challenges them Some
come and stay for long periods
others come and go or take
breaks Irsquove had some tutors
for the last 11 years Overall
they really enjoy it and are
just very thankful
The students particularly
enjoy the variety of young
new tutors and some of the
older wiser more experienced
tutors They all bring different
elements to it and students
really appreciate bothrdquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin
share YOUR
WISDOM
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
13
Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring ProgramBeing the new kid on the block can be tough
Thatrsquos why the Victoria Division pairs welcoming physician
mentors with doctors who are new to the area or who are shifting
their practice style Matches are made with the aim of connecting
people whose interests and availability align
Mentors sometimes meet their partners for a casual coffee or dinner or accompany them to Division
engagement events They can make introductions and offer important local or insider knowledge
supporting a physicianrsquos smooth transition to Victoria
or to a new type of practice
There are all sorts of reasons you might wish for a mentor
throughout your career The Welcome amp Transitions Mentoring
program supports physicians in all stages of their professional
lives whether you are a first year student a resident a doctor
new to the area or a GP practicing in Victoria The program also
matches mentors to those transitioning into a new area of practice
returning to work after having a baby or raising children or
preparing for retirement These personal connections can offer
a softer smoother transition to the next chapter of your life
ldquoI think it is important to support
new doctors whether they are new graduates
or have recently moved here from somewhere
else I think it definitely helps them to be more
successful and makes them more likely
to want to stay in Victoria
I myself did my residency in Victoria
and my main preceptor was Dr Darcy Nielsen
She was my mentor for all things medicine
and medicine-related She taught me what
I should look for in setting up a practice
and gave me good information about things
like accounting and incorporation
I have worked with a couple of new doctors
including one doctor who shadowed me
for a few shifts at Island Sexual Health
I taught her how to insert IUDs but also
got her thinking about things like how to set
up locums finances accounting and what
to incorporate into her practice long-term
Experiences like this give me the satisfaction
of helping new doctors just like others helped
me and remind me of all the things I really like
about practicing medicine in Victoriardquo
mdash Dr Caitlin Harmon
Dr Caitlin Harmon Family PracticeGrow Health
MENTORS ARE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORTbull Medical students from Year 1 onwardbull Residents bull GPs new to Victoria bull GPs wanting to locum bull GPs planning to work or volunteer abroadbull GPs transitioning to a new specializationbull GPs planning a familybull GPs returning from maternity leavebull GPs returning after raising childrenbull GPs retiringbull and more
To find your mentor contact Helen Welch hwelchdivisionsbcca
ldquoThe Division was very helpful for me to learn how to work in Victoria what job opportunities there are and what opportunities there are for continuing medical educationrdquo mdash Dr Celeste Just
14
Making practice coverage a priorityWe know great doctors stay that way by scheduling their well-earned breaks We also know that
locums are often more free-spirited and adventurous
and are looking for freedom and options in their schedules
The Divisionrsquos innovative one-stop locum matching service
makes that possible by supporting member locums looking
for jobs and family physicians who need practice coverage
As a locum yoursquoll have access to the best jobs in Victoria
competitive remuneration rates mentoring and administrative
support for details like logistics contracts and billing
As a member seeking coverage yoursquoll learn how to prepare
and make your practice more attractive to locums Yoursquoll also
receive support and advice on crafting effective job postings
Finding the perfect match means combining
technology with networking and personal individual support
Our locum matching service asks physicians exactly what they
are looking for in a locum or practice coverage job to ensure
the most suitable arrangements can be found
ldquoI see a lot of need for locums My wife and I have each completed at least 20 locum positionsrdquo mdash Dr Bruce Rebner
ldquoTherersquos something to be said about the locum
lifestyle We donrsquot have kids yet
and we enjoy travelling so being
locums gives my wife and I some
freedom The longer-term idea
is to establish a practice but there
are definitely periods of your life
when locuming makes sense
I think itrsquos an attractive option
at both ends of the career when
yoursquore young and after yoursquove
worked for 20 or 30 years and
have given up your practice
Division events like the Dine
amp Learns are great platforms
to meet fellow doctors
And the locum coordinator
has been really easily accessible
Irsquove emailed a couple of times
for a specific ten days and she
has worked very hard to find
a matchrdquo
mdash Dr Bruce Rebner often locums
in Victoria elsewhere in BC NWT
and New Zealand
Unique options like cross-coverage long-term locums part-time associates and transition-to-retirement practice coverage are supported
LOCUMSlove FOR
MIND OVER MATTER
ldquoI believe we serve ourselves by
practicing what we preach and by
walking our talkrdquomdash Dr Mark Sherman Executive Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
17
The Victoria Division of Family Practice has teamed up with the BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm) to offer eight-week courses for family physicians in mindfulness-based meditation
Caring for our physiciansrsquo wellbeing ldquoWhen it comes to physician stress the CMA did a study in 2003 on physician burnout
and estimated that 47 per cent of us across the board in Canada are in the advanced stages of burnout
There is a stress epidemic for a variety of reasons As physiciansmdashpeople who are in the healthcare
and wellness professionmdashI think wersquore prone to stress because of our sincere will to help others
which is often what brings us into medicine in the first place Physicians have a tendency toward
perfectionism and other traits that make stress very common
For that reason tools like mindfulness cognitive
behaviour strategies meditation and positive
psychology are particularly useful for us
As physicians we all know intellectually about
the burdens of stress and how that can affect
our cardiovascular and mental health Yet by
managing our own stress by having embodied
presence and by having a meditation practice
when wersquore giving advice to our patients
and are speaking from a place of heart
as opposed to just from the head our message
comes through more clearly
Wersquove had quite a few physicians come into
the mindfulness program One of the exciting
things that the Division is facilitating is the
group specifically for physicians which focuses
on the unique challenges of being a physician
in Victoria
Through the Practice Support Program wersquove
also had a group for physicians to use some
mindfulness tools in their practice That was
quite popularrdquo mdash Dr Mark Sherman
BCalmrsquos referral-based mindfulness meditation courses are MSP-funded for both physicians and their patients
MIND OVER MATTER
18
ldquoThe physicians with whom we engage I have to admit are the cream of the crop because they are interested in continuing
education and in being on the forefront of how to be more effective in the care
of their patientsrdquomdash Esther Stevens Coordinator
Regional Practice Support Program Island Health
ldquoThe Dine and Learn sessions generally have one or more specialist physicians who come to talk about a particular topic Therersquos a presentation portion followed by a QampA They tend to be smaller groups so you can get more clinical questions answeredrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
Access to continuingmedical educationVictoriarsquos medical community benefits from an abundance
of local CME opportunities to keep you on the forefront
Medical Conferences As the capital city of British
Columbia and the largest city on Vancouver Island Victoria
attracts an impressive variety of annual medical conferences
Dine amp Learn Events The Divisionrsquos wildly popular
monthly Dine amp Learn events connect GPs with specialists
to exchange knowledge and to solidify strong relationships
in a social setting
Practice Support Program CME-accredited learning
modules and in-practice coaching help GPs to improve
clinical and practice management and patient care delivery
Provincial Academic Detailing Pharmacists provide
objective evidence-informed drug information to physicians
on best prescribing practices
Community Rounds Hospital-based CME events
on a rotating roster of specialized topics
LEARNING WITH YOUR
COLLEAGUES
nurturing GPndashSPECIALIST
RELATIONS
Pediatrician Dr Krystal Cullen delivers a talk at a Dine amp Learn event that brought five local pediatricians together with family practitioners for presentations and case discussions
21
ldquoIn my experience having worked here before and after implementation of the Divisions there used to be very little opportunity to get to know the specialists Now itrsquos quite straightforwardrdquomdash Dr Heera Bindra Tuscany Medical Clinic
Monthly Dine amp Learn events take place throughout Victoria and bring specialists together with family physicians to exchange knowledge network and strengthen relationships
Strong connections with specialists ldquoSpecialists are really an armrsquos length away
here We have all specialties and even some sub-specialties
within those Theyrsquore all approachable and you can
at any point call for help Given the population of Victoria
itrsquos relatively easy to see specialists even if itrsquos non-urgent
They are quite receptive to referrals in a timely manner
What I really appreciate is that therersquos good interaction
between the specialists and the family doctors The Dine
and Learn events that the Division offers allow us to interact
with specialists on a personal basis in a small group setting
and to get local input on a given topic I feel like this
relationship is relatively unique because a lot of places donrsquot
have full service specialists
As well the attitude of our specialists is very open
and approachable Our interactions and communication
between family doctors and specialists is very congenial
and thatrsquos more rewarding for both the patients and the
physicians in practicerdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoBeyond meeting with specialists the Dine amp Learns and other Division events are great for getting to know our general practice colleagues I am lucky to work in a group of four doctors but if I were in a solo practice without the Division I wouldnrsquot have had so much interactionrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
22
ldquoWersquore always putting out calls for interested tutors to come and participate in the programrdquomdash Dr Steve Martin Year 1amp2 Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program University of Victoria
Many opportunities to tutor amp teachThe Island Medical Program (IMP) at the University of Victoria is one of four provincial sites
of UBCrsquos distributed MD Undergraduate Program The program
accepts 32 medical students each year allowing many
opportunities for family doctors to get involved with tutoring
and direct mentorship
Within the Clinical Skills Program doctors act as tutors to small
groups of students for various modules delivered at a hospital
clinical site Students then spend dedicated time within a
family practice office for direct mentorship Depending on the
studentrsquos relationship with the physician they may see their
own patients or see them with the family practitionermentor
Through experience and role modelling about how they
work with patients tutors also offer a wealth of intangible
information that doesnrsquot appear in the curriculum Students
often remark on how important it is for them to learn how
to be doctors
These tutors and mentors are identified as teaching faculty
within the UBC program itself
ldquoItrsquos amazing how many tutors come back and say how the
experience has renewed their
interest in medicine and has
rejuvenated them in ways they
didnrsquot anticipate
Our family practice tutors
really find it engaging They
like the studentsrsquo questions
and it challenges them Some
come and stay for long periods
others come and go or take
breaks Irsquove had some tutors
for the last 11 years Overall
they really enjoy it and are
just very thankful
The students particularly
enjoy the variety of young
new tutors and some of the
older wiser more experienced
tutors They all bring different
elements to it and students
really appreciate bothrdquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin
share YOUR
WISDOM
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
14
Making practice coverage a priorityWe know great doctors stay that way by scheduling their well-earned breaks We also know that
locums are often more free-spirited and adventurous
and are looking for freedom and options in their schedules
The Divisionrsquos innovative one-stop locum matching service
makes that possible by supporting member locums looking
for jobs and family physicians who need practice coverage
As a locum yoursquoll have access to the best jobs in Victoria
competitive remuneration rates mentoring and administrative
support for details like logistics contracts and billing
As a member seeking coverage yoursquoll learn how to prepare
and make your practice more attractive to locums Yoursquoll also
receive support and advice on crafting effective job postings
Finding the perfect match means combining
technology with networking and personal individual support
Our locum matching service asks physicians exactly what they
are looking for in a locum or practice coverage job to ensure
the most suitable arrangements can be found
ldquoI see a lot of need for locums My wife and I have each completed at least 20 locum positionsrdquo mdash Dr Bruce Rebner
ldquoTherersquos something to be said about the locum
lifestyle We donrsquot have kids yet
and we enjoy travelling so being
locums gives my wife and I some
freedom The longer-term idea
is to establish a practice but there
are definitely periods of your life
when locuming makes sense
I think itrsquos an attractive option
at both ends of the career when
yoursquore young and after yoursquove
worked for 20 or 30 years and
have given up your practice
Division events like the Dine
amp Learns are great platforms
to meet fellow doctors
And the locum coordinator
has been really easily accessible
Irsquove emailed a couple of times
for a specific ten days and she
has worked very hard to find
a matchrdquo
mdash Dr Bruce Rebner often locums
in Victoria elsewhere in BC NWT
and New Zealand
Unique options like cross-coverage long-term locums part-time associates and transition-to-retirement practice coverage are supported
LOCUMSlove FOR
MIND OVER MATTER
ldquoI believe we serve ourselves by
practicing what we preach and by
walking our talkrdquomdash Dr Mark Sherman Executive Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
17
The Victoria Division of Family Practice has teamed up with the BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm) to offer eight-week courses for family physicians in mindfulness-based meditation
Caring for our physiciansrsquo wellbeing ldquoWhen it comes to physician stress the CMA did a study in 2003 on physician burnout
and estimated that 47 per cent of us across the board in Canada are in the advanced stages of burnout
There is a stress epidemic for a variety of reasons As physiciansmdashpeople who are in the healthcare
and wellness professionmdashI think wersquore prone to stress because of our sincere will to help others
which is often what brings us into medicine in the first place Physicians have a tendency toward
perfectionism and other traits that make stress very common
For that reason tools like mindfulness cognitive
behaviour strategies meditation and positive
psychology are particularly useful for us
As physicians we all know intellectually about
the burdens of stress and how that can affect
our cardiovascular and mental health Yet by
managing our own stress by having embodied
presence and by having a meditation practice
when wersquore giving advice to our patients
and are speaking from a place of heart
as opposed to just from the head our message
comes through more clearly
Wersquove had quite a few physicians come into
the mindfulness program One of the exciting
things that the Division is facilitating is the
group specifically for physicians which focuses
on the unique challenges of being a physician
in Victoria
Through the Practice Support Program wersquove
also had a group for physicians to use some
mindfulness tools in their practice That was
quite popularrdquo mdash Dr Mark Sherman
BCalmrsquos referral-based mindfulness meditation courses are MSP-funded for both physicians and their patients
MIND OVER MATTER
18
ldquoThe physicians with whom we engage I have to admit are the cream of the crop because they are interested in continuing
education and in being on the forefront of how to be more effective in the care
of their patientsrdquomdash Esther Stevens Coordinator
Regional Practice Support Program Island Health
ldquoThe Dine and Learn sessions generally have one or more specialist physicians who come to talk about a particular topic Therersquos a presentation portion followed by a QampA They tend to be smaller groups so you can get more clinical questions answeredrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
Access to continuingmedical educationVictoriarsquos medical community benefits from an abundance
of local CME opportunities to keep you on the forefront
Medical Conferences As the capital city of British
Columbia and the largest city on Vancouver Island Victoria
attracts an impressive variety of annual medical conferences
Dine amp Learn Events The Divisionrsquos wildly popular
monthly Dine amp Learn events connect GPs with specialists
to exchange knowledge and to solidify strong relationships
in a social setting
Practice Support Program CME-accredited learning
modules and in-practice coaching help GPs to improve
clinical and practice management and patient care delivery
Provincial Academic Detailing Pharmacists provide
objective evidence-informed drug information to physicians
on best prescribing practices
Community Rounds Hospital-based CME events
on a rotating roster of specialized topics
LEARNING WITH YOUR
COLLEAGUES
nurturing GPndashSPECIALIST
RELATIONS
Pediatrician Dr Krystal Cullen delivers a talk at a Dine amp Learn event that brought five local pediatricians together with family practitioners for presentations and case discussions
21
ldquoIn my experience having worked here before and after implementation of the Divisions there used to be very little opportunity to get to know the specialists Now itrsquos quite straightforwardrdquomdash Dr Heera Bindra Tuscany Medical Clinic
Monthly Dine amp Learn events take place throughout Victoria and bring specialists together with family physicians to exchange knowledge network and strengthen relationships
Strong connections with specialists ldquoSpecialists are really an armrsquos length away
here We have all specialties and even some sub-specialties
within those Theyrsquore all approachable and you can
at any point call for help Given the population of Victoria
itrsquos relatively easy to see specialists even if itrsquos non-urgent
They are quite receptive to referrals in a timely manner
What I really appreciate is that therersquos good interaction
between the specialists and the family doctors The Dine
and Learn events that the Division offers allow us to interact
with specialists on a personal basis in a small group setting
and to get local input on a given topic I feel like this
relationship is relatively unique because a lot of places donrsquot
have full service specialists
As well the attitude of our specialists is very open
and approachable Our interactions and communication
between family doctors and specialists is very congenial
and thatrsquos more rewarding for both the patients and the
physicians in practicerdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoBeyond meeting with specialists the Dine amp Learns and other Division events are great for getting to know our general practice colleagues I am lucky to work in a group of four doctors but if I were in a solo practice without the Division I wouldnrsquot have had so much interactionrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
22
ldquoWersquore always putting out calls for interested tutors to come and participate in the programrdquomdash Dr Steve Martin Year 1amp2 Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program University of Victoria
Many opportunities to tutor amp teachThe Island Medical Program (IMP) at the University of Victoria is one of four provincial sites
of UBCrsquos distributed MD Undergraduate Program The program
accepts 32 medical students each year allowing many
opportunities for family doctors to get involved with tutoring
and direct mentorship
Within the Clinical Skills Program doctors act as tutors to small
groups of students for various modules delivered at a hospital
clinical site Students then spend dedicated time within a
family practice office for direct mentorship Depending on the
studentrsquos relationship with the physician they may see their
own patients or see them with the family practitionermentor
Through experience and role modelling about how they
work with patients tutors also offer a wealth of intangible
information that doesnrsquot appear in the curriculum Students
often remark on how important it is for them to learn how
to be doctors
These tutors and mentors are identified as teaching faculty
within the UBC program itself
ldquoItrsquos amazing how many tutors come back and say how the
experience has renewed their
interest in medicine and has
rejuvenated them in ways they
didnrsquot anticipate
Our family practice tutors
really find it engaging They
like the studentsrsquo questions
and it challenges them Some
come and stay for long periods
others come and go or take
breaks Irsquove had some tutors
for the last 11 years Overall
they really enjoy it and are
just very thankful
The students particularly
enjoy the variety of young
new tutors and some of the
older wiser more experienced
tutors They all bring different
elements to it and students
really appreciate bothrdquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin
share YOUR
WISDOM
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
LOCUMSlove FOR
MIND OVER MATTER
ldquoI believe we serve ourselves by
practicing what we preach and by
walking our talkrdquomdash Dr Mark Sherman Executive Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
17
The Victoria Division of Family Practice has teamed up with the BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm) to offer eight-week courses for family physicians in mindfulness-based meditation
Caring for our physiciansrsquo wellbeing ldquoWhen it comes to physician stress the CMA did a study in 2003 on physician burnout
and estimated that 47 per cent of us across the board in Canada are in the advanced stages of burnout
There is a stress epidemic for a variety of reasons As physiciansmdashpeople who are in the healthcare
and wellness professionmdashI think wersquore prone to stress because of our sincere will to help others
which is often what brings us into medicine in the first place Physicians have a tendency toward
perfectionism and other traits that make stress very common
For that reason tools like mindfulness cognitive
behaviour strategies meditation and positive
psychology are particularly useful for us
As physicians we all know intellectually about
the burdens of stress and how that can affect
our cardiovascular and mental health Yet by
managing our own stress by having embodied
presence and by having a meditation practice
when wersquore giving advice to our patients
and are speaking from a place of heart
as opposed to just from the head our message
comes through more clearly
Wersquove had quite a few physicians come into
the mindfulness program One of the exciting
things that the Division is facilitating is the
group specifically for physicians which focuses
on the unique challenges of being a physician
in Victoria
Through the Practice Support Program wersquove
also had a group for physicians to use some
mindfulness tools in their practice That was
quite popularrdquo mdash Dr Mark Sherman
BCalmrsquos referral-based mindfulness meditation courses are MSP-funded for both physicians and their patients
MIND OVER MATTER
18
ldquoThe physicians with whom we engage I have to admit are the cream of the crop because they are interested in continuing
education and in being on the forefront of how to be more effective in the care
of their patientsrdquomdash Esther Stevens Coordinator
Regional Practice Support Program Island Health
ldquoThe Dine and Learn sessions generally have one or more specialist physicians who come to talk about a particular topic Therersquos a presentation portion followed by a QampA They tend to be smaller groups so you can get more clinical questions answeredrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
Access to continuingmedical educationVictoriarsquos medical community benefits from an abundance
of local CME opportunities to keep you on the forefront
Medical Conferences As the capital city of British
Columbia and the largest city on Vancouver Island Victoria
attracts an impressive variety of annual medical conferences
Dine amp Learn Events The Divisionrsquos wildly popular
monthly Dine amp Learn events connect GPs with specialists
to exchange knowledge and to solidify strong relationships
in a social setting
Practice Support Program CME-accredited learning
modules and in-practice coaching help GPs to improve
clinical and practice management and patient care delivery
Provincial Academic Detailing Pharmacists provide
objective evidence-informed drug information to physicians
on best prescribing practices
Community Rounds Hospital-based CME events
on a rotating roster of specialized topics
LEARNING WITH YOUR
COLLEAGUES
nurturing GPndashSPECIALIST
RELATIONS
Pediatrician Dr Krystal Cullen delivers a talk at a Dine amp Learn event that brought five local pediatricians together with family practitioners for presentations and case discussions
21
ldquoIn my experience having worked here before and after implementation of the Divisions there used to be very little opportunity to get to know the specialists Now itrsquos quite straightforwardrdquomdash Dr Heera Bindra Tuscany Medical Clinic
Monthly Dine amp Learn events take place throughout Victoria and bring specialists together with family physicians to exchange knowledge network and strengthen relationships
Strong connections with specialists ldquoSpecialists are really an armrsquos length away
here We have all specialties and even some sub-specialties
within those Theyrsquore all approachable and you can
at any point call for help Given the population of Victoria
itrsquos relatively easy to see specialists even if itrsquos non-urgent
They are quite receptive to referrals in a timely manner
What I really appreciate is that therersquos good interaction
between the specialists and the family doctors The Dine
and Learn events that the Division offers allow us to interact
with specialists on a personal basis in a small group setting
and to get local input on a given topic I feel like this
relationship is relatively unique because a lot of places donrsquot
have full service specialists
As well the attitude of our specialists is very open
and approachable Our interactions and communication
between family doctors and specialists is very congenial
and thatrsquos more rewarding for both the patients and the
physicians in practicerdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoBeyond meeting with specialists the Dine amp Learns and other Division events are great for getting to know our general practice colleagues I am lucky to work in a group of four doctors but if I were in a solo practice without the Division I wouldnrsquot have had so much interactionrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
22
ldquoWersquore always putting out calls for interested tutors to come and participate in the programrdquomdash Dr Steve Martin Year 1amp2 Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program University of Victoria
Many opportunities to tutor amp teachThe Island Medical Program (IMP) at the University of Victoria is one of four provincial sites
of UBCrsquos distributed MD Undergraduate Program The program
accepts 32 medical students each year allowing many
opportunities for family doctors to get involved with tutoring
and direct mentorship
Within the Clinical Skills Program doctors act as tutors to small
groups of students for various modules delivered at a hospital
clinical site Students then spend dedicated time within a
family practice office for direct mentorship Depending on the
studentrsquos relationship with the physician they may see their
own patients or see them with the family practitionermentor
Through experience and role modelling about how they
work with patients tutors also offer a wealth of intangible
information that doesnrsquot appear in the curriculum Students
often remark on how important it is for them to learn how
to be doctors
These tutors and mentors are identified as teaching faculty
within the UBC program itself
ldquoItrsquos amazing how many tutors come back and say how the
experience has renewed their
interest in medicine and has
rejuvenated them in ways they
didnrsquot anticipate
Our family practice tutors
really find it engaging They
like the studentsrsquo questions
and it challenges them Some
come and stay for long periods
others come and go or take
breaks Irsquove had some tutors
for the last 11 years Overall
they really enjoy it and are
just very thankful
The students particularly
enjoy the variety of young
new tutors and some of the
older wiser more experienced
tutors They all bring different
elements to it and students
really appreciate bothrdquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin
share YOUR
WISDOM
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
MIND OVER MATTER
ldquoI believe we serve ourselves by
practicing what we preach and by
walking our talkrdquomdash Dr Mark Sherman Executive Director BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm)
17
The Victoria Division of Family Practice has teamed up with the BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm) to offer eight-week courses for family physicians in mindfulness-based meditation
Caring for our physiciansrsquo wellbeing ldquoWhen it comes to physician stress the CMA did a study in 2003 on physician burnout
and estimated that 47 per cent of us across the board in Canada are in the advanced stages of burnout
There is a stress epidemic for a variety of reasons As physiciansmdashpeople who are in the healthcare
and wellness professionmdashI think wersquore prone to stress because of our sincere will to help others
which is often what brings us into medicine in the first place Physicians have a tendency toward
perfectionism and other traits that make stress very common
For that reason tools like mindfulness cognitive
behaviour strategies meditation and positive
psychology are particularly useful for us
As physicians we all know intellectually about
the burdens of stress and how that can affect
our cardiovascular and mental health Yet by
managing our own stress by having embodied
presence and by having a meditation practice
when wersquore giving advice to our patients
and are speaking from a place of heart
as opposed to just from the head our message
comes through more clearly
Wersquove had quite a few physicians come into
the mindfulness program One of the exciting
things that the Division is facilitating is the
group specifically for physicians which focuses
on the unique challenges of being a physician
in Victoria
Through the Practice Support Program wersquove
also had a group for physicians to use some
mindfulness tools in their practice That was
quite popularrdquo mdash Dr Mark Sherman
BCalmrsquos referral-based mindfulness meditation courses are MSP-funded for both physicians and their patients
MIND OVER MATTER
18
ldquoThe physicians with whom we engage I have to admit are the cream of the crop because they are interested in continuing
education and in being on the forefront of how to be more effective in the care
of their patientsrdquomdash Esther Stevens Coordinator
Regional Practice Support Program Island Health
ldquoThe Dine and Learn sessions generally have one or more specialist physicians who come to talk about a particular topic Therersquos a presentation portion followed by a QampA They tend to be smaller groups so you can get more clinical questions answeredrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
Access to continuingmedical educationVictoriarsquos medical community benefits from an abundance
of local CME opportunities to keep you on the forefront
Medical Conferences As the capital city of British
Columbia and the largest city on Vancouver Island Victoria
attracts an impressive variety of annual medical conferences
Dine amp Learn Events The Divisionrsquos wildly popular
monthly Dine amp Learn events connect GPs with specialists
to exchange knowledge and to solidify strong relationships
in a social setting
Practice Support Program CME-accredited learning
modules and in-practice coaching help GPs to improve
clinical and practice management and patient care delivery
Provincial Academic Detailing Pharmacists provide
objective evidence-informed drug information to physicians
on best prescribing practices
Community Rounds Hospital-based CME events
on a rotating roster of specialized topics
LEARNING WITH YOUR
COLLEAGUES
nurturing GPndashSPECIALIST
RELATIONS
Pediatrician Dr Krystal Cullen delivers a talk at a Dine amp Learn event that brought five local pediatricians together with family practitioners for presentations and case discussions
21
ldquoIn my experience having worked here before and after implementation of the Divisions there used to be very little opportunity to get to know the specialists Now itrsquos quite straightforwardrdquomdash Dr Heera Bindra Tuscany Medical Clinic
Monthly Dine amp Learn events take place throughout Victoria and bring specialists together with family physicians to exchange knowledge network and strengthen relationships
Strong connections with specialists ldquoSpecialists are really an armrsquos length away
here We have all specialties and even some sub-specialties
within those Theyrsquore all approachable and you can
at any point call for help Given the population of Victoria
itrsquos relatively easy to see specialists even if itrsquos non-urgent
They are quite receptive to referrals in a timely manner
What I really appreciate is that therersquos good interaction
between the specialists and the family doctors The Dine
and Learn events that the Division offers allow us to interact
with specialists on a personal basis in a small group setting
and to get local input on a given topic I feel like this
relationship is relatively unique because a lot of places donrsquot
have full service specialists
As well the attitude of our specialists is very open
and approachable Our interactions and communication
between family doctors and specialists is very congenial
and thatrsquos more rewarding for both the patients and the
physicians in practicerdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoBeyond meeting with specialists the Dine amp Learns and other Division events are great for getting to know our general practice colleagues I am lucky to work in a group of four doctors but if I were in a solo practice without the Division I wouldnrsquot have had so much interactionrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
22
ldquoWersquore always putting out calls for interested tutors to come and participate in the programrdquomdash Dr Steve Martin Year 1amp2 Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program University of Victoria
Many opportunities to tutor amp teachThe Island Medical Program (IMP) at the University of Victoria is one of four provincial sites
of UBCrsquos distributed MD Undergraduate Program The program
accepts 32 medical students each year allowing many
opportunities for family doctors to get involved with tutoring
and direct mentorship
Within the Clinical Skills Program doctors act as tutors to small
groups of students for various modules delivered at a hospital
clinical site Students then spend dedicated time within a
family practice office for direct mentorship Depending on the
studentrsquos relationship with the physician they may see their
own patients or see them with the family practitionermentor
Through experience and role modelling about how they
work with patients tutors also offer a wealth of intangible
information that doesnrsquot appear in the curriculum Students
often remark on how important it is for them to learn how
to be doctors
These tutors and mentors are identified as teaching faculty
within the UBC program itself
ldquoItrsquos amazing how many tutors come back and say how the
experience has renewed their
interest in medicine and has
rejuvenated them in ways they
didnrsquot anticipate
Our family practice tutors
really find it engaging They
like the studentsrsquo questions
and it challenges them Some
come and stay for long periods
others come and go or take
breaks Irsquove had some tutors
for the last 11 years Overall
they really enjoy it and are
just very thankful
The students particularly
enjoy the variety of young
new tutors and some of the
older wiser more experienced
tutors They all bring different
elements to it and students
really appreciate bothrdquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin
share YOUR
WISDOM
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
17
The Victoria Division of Family Practice has teamed up with the BC Association for Living Mindfully (BCalm) to offer eight-week courses for family physicians in mindfulness-based meditation
Caring for our physiciansrsquo wellbeing ldquoWhen it comes to physician stress the CMA did a study in 2003 on physician burnout
and estimated that 47 per cent of us across the board in Canada are in the advanced stages of burnout
There is a stress epidemic for a variety of reasons As physiciansmdashpeople who are in the healthcare
and wellness professionmdashI think wersquore prone to stress because of our sincere will to help others
which is often what brings us into medicine in the first place Physicians have a tendency toward
perfectionism and other traits that make stress very common
For that reason tools like mindfulness cognitive
behaviour strategies meditation and positive
psychology are particularly useful for us
As physicians we all know intellectually about
the burdens of stress and how that can affect
our cardiovascular and mental health Yet by
managing our own stress by having embodied
presence and by having a meditation practice
when wersquore giving advice to our patients
and are speaking from a place of heart
as opposed to just from the head our message
comes through more clearly
Wersquove had quite a few physicians come into
the mindfulness program One of the exciting
things that the Division is facilitating is the
group specifically for physicians which focuses
on the unique challenges of being a physician
in Victoria
Through the Practice Support Program wersquove
also had a group for physicians to use some
mindfulness tools in their practice That was
quite popularrdquo mdash Dr Mark Sherman
BCalmrsquos referral-based mindfulness meditation courses are MSP-funded for both physicians and their patients
MIND OVER MATTER
18
ldquoThe physicians with whom we engage I have to admit are the cream of the crop because they are interested in continuing
education and in being on the forefront of how to be more effective in the care
of their patientsrdquomdash Esther Stevens Coordinator
Regional Practice Support Program Island Health
ldquoThe Dine and Learn sessions generally have one or more specialist physicians who come to talk about a particular topic Therersquos a presentation portion followed by a QampA They tend to be smaller groups so you can get more clinical questions answeredrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
Access to continuingmedical educationVictoriarsquos medical community benefits from an abundance
of local CME opportunities to keep you on the forefront
Medical Conferences As the capital city of British
Columbia and the largest city on Vancouver Island Victoria
attracts an impressive variety of annual medical conferences
Dine amp Learn Events The Divisionrsquos wildly popular
monthly Dine amp Learn events connect GPs with specialists
to exchange knowledge and to solidify strong relationships
in a social setting
Practice Support Program CME-accredited learning
modules and in-practice coaching help GPs to improve
clinical and practice management and patient care delivery
Provincial Academic Detailing Pharmacists provide
objective evidence-informed drug information to physicians
on best prescribing practices
Community Rounds Hospital-based CME events
on a rotating roster of specialized topics
LEARNING WITH YOUR
COLLEAGUES
nurturing GPndashSPECIALIST
RELATIONS
Pediatrician Dr Krystal Cullen delivers a talk at a Dine amp Learn event that brought five local pediatricians together with family practitioners for presentations and case discussions
21
ldquoIn my experience having worked here before and after implementation of the Divisions there used to be very little opportunity to get to know the specialists Now itrsquos quite straightforwardrdquomdash Dr Heera Bindra Tuscany Medical Clinic
Monthly Dine amp Learn events take place throughout Victoria and bring specialists together with family physicians to exchange knowledge network and strengthen relationships
Strong connections with specialists ldquoSpecialists are really an armrsquos length away
here We have all specialties and even some sub-specialties
within those Theyrsquore all approachable and you can
at any point call for help Given the population of Victoria
itrsquos relatively easy to see specialists even if itrsquos non-urgent
They are quite receptive to referrals in a timely manner
What I really appreciate is that therersquos good interaction
between the specialists and the family doctors The Dine
and Learn events that the Division offers allow us to interact
with specialists on a personal basis in a small group setting
and to get local input on a given topic I feel like this
relationship is relatively unique because a lot of places donrsquot
have full service specialists
As well the attitude of our specialists is very open
and approachable Our interactions and communication
between family doctors and specialists is very congenial
and thatrsquos more rewarding for both the patients and the
physicians in practicerdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoBeyond meeting with specialists the Dine amp Learns and other Division events are great for getting to know our general practice colleagues I am lucky to work in a group of four doctors but if I were in a solo practice without the Division I wouldnrsquot have had so much interactionrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
22
ldquoWersquore always putting out calls for interested tutors to come and participate in the programrdquomdash Dr Steve Martin Year 1amp2 Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program University of Victoria
Many opportunities to tutor amp teachThe Island Medical Program (IMP) at the University of Victoria is one of four provincial sites
of UBCrsquos distributed MD Undergraduate Program The program
accepts 32 medical students each year allowing many
opportunities for family doctors to get involved with tutoring
and direct mentorship
Within the Clinical Skills Program doctors act as tutors to small
groups of students for various modules delivered at a hospital
clinical site Students then spend dedicated time within a
family practice office for direct mentorship Depending on the
studentrsquos relationship with the physician they may see their
own patients or see them with the family practitionermentor
Through experience and role modelling about how they
work with patients tutors also offer a wealth of intangible
information that doesnrsquot appear in the curriculum Students
often remark on how important it is for them to learn how
to be doctors
These tutors and mentors are identified as teaching faculty
within the UBC program itself
ldquoItrsquos amazing how many tutors come back and say how the
experience has renewed their
interest in medicine and has
rejuvenated them in ways they
didnrsquot anticipate
Our family practice tutors
really find it engaging They
like the studentsrsquo questions
and it challenges them Some
come and stay for long periods
others come and go or take
breaks Irsquove had some tutors
for the last 11 years Overall
they really enjoy it and are
just very thankful
The students particularly
enjoy the variety of young
new tutors and some of the
older wiser more experienced
tutors They all bring different
elements to it and students
really appreciate bothrdquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin
share YOUR
WISDOM
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
18
ldquoThe physicians with whom we engage I have to admit are the cream of the crop because they are interested in continuing
education and in being on the forefront of how to be more effective in the care
of their patientsrdquomdash Esther Stevens Coordinator
Regional Practice Support Program Island Health
ldquoThe Dine and Learn sessions generally have one or more specialist physicians who come to talk about a particular topic Therersquos a presentation portion followed by a QampA They tend to be smaller groups so you can get more clinical questions answeredrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
Access to continuingmedical educationVictoriarsquos medical community benefits from an abundance
of local CME opportunities to keep you on the forefront
Medical Conferences As the capital city of British
Columbia and the largest city on Vancouver Island Victoria
attracts an impressive variety of annual medical conferences
Dine amp Learn Events The Divisionrsquos wildly popular
monthly Dine amp Learn events connect GPs with specialists
to exchange knowledge and to solidify strong relationships
in a social setting
Practice Support Program CME-accredited learning
modules and in-practice coaching help GPs to improve
clinical and practice management and patient care delivery
Provincial Academic Detailing Pharmacists provide
objective evidence-informed drug information to physicians
on best prescribing practices
Community Rounds Hospital-based CME events
on a rotating roster of specialized topics
LEARNING WITH YOUR
COLLEAGUES
nurturing GPndashSPECIALIST
RELATIONS
Pediatrician Dr Krystal Cullen delivers a talk at a Dine amp Learn event that brought five local pediatricians together with family practitioners for presentations and case discussions
21
ldquoIn my experience having worked here before and after implementation of the Divisions there used to be very little opportunity to get to know the specialists Now itrsquos quite straightforwardrdquomdash Dr Heera Bindra Tuscany Medical Clinic
Monthly Dine amp Learn events take place throughout Victoria and bring specialists together with family physicians to exchange knowledge network and strengthen relationships
Strong connections with specialists ldquoSpecialists are really an armrsquos length away
here We have all specialties and even some sub-specialties
within those Theyrsquore all approachable and you can
at any point call for help Given the population of Victoria
itrsquos relatively easy to see specialists even if itrsquos non-urgent
They are quite receptive to referrals in a timely manner
What I really appreciate is that therersquos good interaction
between the specialists and the family doctors The Dine
and Learn events that the Division offers allow us to interact
with specialists on a personal basis in a small group setting
and to get local input on a given topic I feel like this
relationship is relatively unique because a lot of places donrsquot
have full service specialists
As well the attitude of our specialists is very open
and approachable Our interactions and communication
between family doctors and specialists is very congenial
and thatrsquos more rewarding for both the patients and the
physicians in practicerdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoBeyond meeting with specialists the Dine amp Learns and other Division events are great for getting to know our general practice colleagues I am lucky to work in a group of four doctors but if I were in a solo practice without the Division I wouldnrsquot have had so much interactionrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
22
ldquoWersquore always putting out calls for interested tutors to come and participate in the programrdquomdash Dr Steve Martin Year 1amp2 Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program University of Victoria
Many opportunities to tutor amp teachThe Island Medical Program (IMP) at the University of Victoria is one of four provincial sites
of UBCrsquos distributed MD Undergraduate Program The program
accepts 32 medical students each year allowing many
opportunities for family doctors to get involved with tutoring
and direct mentorship
Within the Clinical Skills Program doctors act as tutors to small
groups of students for various modules delivered at a hospital
clinical site Students then spend dedicated time within a
family practice office for direct mentorship Depending on the
studentrsquos relationship with the physician they may see their
own patients or see them with the family practitionermentor
Through experience and role modelling about how they
work with patients tutors also offer a wealth of intangible
information that doesnrsquot appear in the curriculum Students
often remark on how important it is for them to learn how
to be doctors
These tutors and mentors are identified as teaching faculty
within the UBC program itself
ldquoItrsquos amazing how many tutors come back and say how the
experience has renewed their
interest in medicine and has
rejuvenated them in ways they
didnrsquot anticipate
Our family practice tutors
really find it engaging They
like the studentsrsquo questions
and it challenges them Some
come and stay for long periods
others come and go or take
breaks Irsquove had some tutors
for the last 11 years Overall
they really enjoy it and are
just very thankful
The students particularly
enjoy the variety of young
new tutors and some of the
older wiser more experienced
tutors They all bring different
elements to it and students
really appreciate bothrdquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin
share YOUR
WISDOM
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
LEARNING WITH YOUR
COLLEAGUES
nurturing GPndashSPECIALIST
RELATIONS
Pediatrician Dr Krystal Cullen delivers a talk at a Dine amp Learn event that brought five local pediatricians together with family practitioners for presentations and case discussions
21
ldquoIn my experience having worked here before and after implementation of the Divisions there used to be very little opportunity to get to know the specialists Now itrsquos quite straightforwardrdquomdash Dr Heera Bindra Tuscany Medical Clinic
Monthly Dine amp Learn events take place throughout Victoria and bring specialists together with family physicians to exchange knowledge network and strengthen relationships
Strong connections with specialists ldquoSpecialists are really an armrsquos length away
here We have all specialties and even some sub-specialties
within those Theyrsquore all approachable and you can
at any point call for help Given the population of Victoria
itrsquos relatively easy to see specialists even if itrsquos non-urgent
They are quite receptive to referrals in a timely manner
What I really appreciate is that therersquos good interaction
between the specialists and the family doctors The Dine
and Learn events that the Division offers allow us to interact
with specialists on a personal basis in a small group setting
and to get local input on a given topic I feel like this
relationship is relatively unique because a lot of places donrsquot
have full service specialists
As well the attitude of our specialists is very open
and approachable Our interactions and communication
between family doctors and specialists is very congenial
and thatrsquos more rewarding for both the patients and the
physicians in practicerdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoBeyond meeting with specialists the Dine amp Learns and other Division events are great for getting to know our general practice colleagues I am lucky to work in a group of four doctors but if I were in a solo practice without the Division I wouldnrsquot have had so much interactionrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
22
ldquoWersquore always putting out calls for interested tutors to come and participate in the programrdquomdash Dr Steve Martin Year 1amp2 Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program University of Victoria
Many opportunities to tutor amp teachThe Island Medical Program (IMP) at the University of Victoria is one of four provincial sites
of UBCrsquos distributed MD Undergraduate Program The program
accepts 32 medical students each year allowing many
opportunities for family doctors to get involved with tutoring
and direct mentorship
Within the Clinical Skills Program doctors act as tutors to small
groups of students for various modules delivered at a hospital
clinical site Students then spend dedicated time within a
family practice office for direct mentorship Depending on the
studentrsquos relationship with the physician they may see their
own patients or see them with the family practitionermentor
Through experience and role modelling about how they
work with patients tutors also offer a wealth of intangible
information that doesnrsquot appear in the curriculum Students
often remark on how important it is for them to learn how
to be doctors
These tutors and mentors are identified as teaching faculty
within the UBC program itself
ldquoItrsquos amazing how many tutors come back and say how the
experience has renewed their
interest in medicine and has
rejuvenated them in ways they
didnrsquot anticipate
Our family practice tutors
really find it engaging They
like the studentsrsquo questions
and it challenges them Some
come and stay for long periods
others come and go or take
breaks Irsquove had some tutors
for the last 11 years Overall
they really enjoy it and are
just very thankful
The students particularly
enjoy the variety of young
new tutors and some of the
older wiser more experienced
tutors They all bring different
elements to it and students
really appreciate bothrdquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin
share YOUR
WISDOM
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
nurturing GPndashSPECIALIST
RELATIONS
Pediatrician Dr Krystal Cullen delivers a talk at a Dine amp Learn event that brought five local pediatricians together with family practitioners for presentations and case discussions
21
ldquoIn my experience having worked here before and after implementation of the Divisions there used to be very little opportunity to get to know the specialists Now itrsquos quite straightforwardrdquomdash Dr Heera Bindra Tuscany Medical Clinic
Monthly Dine amp Learn events take place throughout Victoria and bring specialists together with family physicians to exchange knowledge network and strengthen relationships
Strong connections with specialists ldquoSpecialists are really an armrsquos length away
here We have all specialties and even some sub-specialties
within those Theyrsquore all approachable and you can
at any point call for help Given the population of Victoria
itrsquos relatively easy to see specialists even if itrsquos non-urgent
They are quite receptive to referrals in a timely manner
What I really appreciate is that therersquos good interaction
between the specialists and the family doctors The Dine
and Learn events that the Division offers allow us to interact
with specialists on a personal basis in a small group setting
and to get local input on a given topic I feel like this
relationship is relatively unique because a lot of places donrsquot
have full service specialists
As well the attitude of our specialists is very open
and approachable Our interactions and communication
between family doctors and specialists is very congenial
and thatrsquos more rewarding for both the patients and the
physicians in practicerdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoBeyond meeting with specialists the Dine amp Learns and other Division events are great for getting to know our general practice colleagues I am lucky to work in a group of four doctors but if I were in a solo practice without the Division I wouldnrsquot have had so much interactionrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
22
ldquoWersquore always putting out calls for interested tutors to come and participate in the programrdquomdash Dr Steve Martin Year 1amp2 Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program University of Victoria
Many opportunities to tutor amp teachThe Island Medical Program (IMP) at the University of Victoria is one of four provincial sites
of UBCrsquos distributed MD Undergraduate Program The program
accepts 32 medical students each year allowing many
opportunities for family doctors to get involved with tutoring
and direct mentorship
Within the Clinical Skills Program doctors act as tutors to small
groups of students for various modules delivered at a hospital
clinical site Students then spend dedicated time within a
family practice office for direct mentorship Depending on the
studentrsquos relationship with the physician they may see their
own patients or see them with the family practitionermentor
Through experience and role modelling about how they
work with patients tutors also offer a wealth of intangible
information that doesnrsquot appear in the curriculum Students
often remark on how important it is for them to learn how
to be doctors
These tutors and mentors are identified as teaching faculty
within the UBC program itself
ldquoItrsquos amazing how many tutors come back and say how the
experience has renewed their
interest in medicine and has
rejuvenated them in ways they
didnrsquot anticipate
Our family practice tutors
really find it engaging They
like the studentsrsquo questions
and it challenges them Some
come and stay for long periods
others come and go or take
breaks Irsquove had some tutors
for the last 11 years Overall
they really enjoy it and are
just very thankful
The students particularly
enjoy the variety of young
new tutors and some of the
older wiser more experienced
tutors They all bring different
elements to it and students
really appreciate bothrdquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin
share YOUR
WISDOM
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
21
ldquoIn my experience having worked here before and after implementation of the Divisions there used to be very little opportunity to get to know the specialists Now itrsquos quite straightforwardrdquomdash Dr Heera Bindra Tuscany Medical Clinic
Monthly Dine amp Learn events take place throughout Victoria and bring specialists together with family physicians to exchange knowledge network and strengthen relationships
Strong connections with specialists ldquoSpecialists are really an armrsquos length away
here We have all specialties and even some sub-specialties
within those Theyrsquore all approachable and you can
at any point call for help Given the population of Victoria
itrsquos relatively easy to see specialists even if itrsquos non-urgent
They are quite receptive to referrals in a timely manner
What I really appreciate is that therersquos good interaction
between the specialists and the family doctors The Dine
and Learn events that the Division offers allow us to interact
with specialists on a personal basis in a small group setting
and to get local input on a given topic I feel like this
relationship is relatively unique because a lot of places donrsquot
have full service specialists
As well the attitude of our specialists is very open
and approachable Our interactions and communication
between family doctors and specialists is very congenial
and thatrsquos more rewarding for both the patients and the
physicians in practicerdquo
mdash Dr Jody Young
ldquoBeyond meeting with specialists the Dine amp Learns and other Division events are great for getting to know our general practice colleagues I am lucky to work in a group of four doctors but if I were in a solo practice without the Division I wouldnrsquot have had so much interactionrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
22
ldquoWersquore always putting out calls for interested tutors to come and participate in the programrdquomdash Dr Steve Martin Year 1amp2 Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program University of Victoria
Many opportunities to tutor amp teachThe Island Medical Program (IMP) at the University of Victoria is one of four provincial sites
of UBCrsquos distributed MD Undergraduate Program The program
accepts 32 medical students each year allowing many
opportunities for family doctors to get involved with tutoring
and direct mentorship
Within the Clinical Skills Program doctors act as tutors to small
groups of students for various modules delivered at a hospital
clinical site Students then spend dedicated time within a
family practice office for direct mentorship Depending on the
studentrsquos relationship with the physician they may see their
own patients or see them with the family practitionermentor
Through experience and role modelling about how they
work with patients tutors also offer a wealth of intangible
information that doesnrsquot appear in the curriculum Students
often remark on how important it is for them to learn how
to be doctors
These tutors and mentors are identified as teaching faculty
within the UBC program itself
ldquoItrsquos amazing how many tutors come back and say how the
experience has renewed their
interest in medicine and has
rejuvenated them in ways they
didnrsquot anticipate
Our family practice tutors
really find it engaging They
like the studentsrsquo questions
and it challenges them Some
come and stay for long periods
others come and go or take
breaks Irsquove had some tutors
for the last 11 years Overall
they really enjoy it and are
just very thankful
The students particularly
enjoy the variety of young
new tutors and some of the
older wiser more experienced
tutors They all bring different
elements to it and students
really appreciate bothrdquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin
share YOUR
WISDOM
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
22
ldquoWersquore always putting out calls for interested tutors to come and participate in the programrdquomdash Dr Steve Martin Year 1amp2 Course Director Clinical Skills
Island Medical Program University of Victoria
Many opportunities to tutor amp teachThe Island Medical Program (IMP) at the University of Victoria is one of four provincial sites
of UBCrsquos distributed MD Undergraduate Program The program
accepts 32 medical students each year allowing many
opportunities for family doctors to get involved with tutoring
and direct mentorship
Within the Clinical Skills Program doctors act as tutors to small
groups of students for various modules delivered at a hospital
clinical site Students then spend dedicated time within a
family practice office for direct mentorship Depending on the
studentrsquos relationship with the physician they may see their
own patients or see them with the family practitionermentor
Through experience and role modelling about how they
work with patients tutors also offer a wealth of intangible
information that doesnrsquot appear in the curriculum Students
often remark on how important it is for them to learn how
to be doctors
These tutors and mentors are identified as teaching faculty
within the UBC program itself
ldquoItrsquos amazing how many tutors come back and say how the
experience has renewed their
interest in medicine and has
rejuvenated them in ways they
didnrsquot anticipate
Our family practice tutors
really find it engaging They
like the studentsrsquo questions
and it challenges them Some
come and stay for long periods
others come and go or take
breaks Irsquove had some tutors
for the last 11 years Overall
they really enjoy it and are
just very thankful
The students particularly
enjoy the variety of young
new tutors and some of the
older wiser more experienced
tutors They all bring different
elements to it and students
really appreciate bothrdquo
mdash Dr Steve Martin
share YOUR
WISDOM
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
share YOUR
WISDOM
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
THE PERFECT BLEND OF
BIG+SMALLPopulation Victoria 80000 | Greater Victoria 345000Home to 18 First Nations + 14200 Aboriginal people100 km from Vancouver amp SeattleFilm amp Tech sectors are largest revenue-generating private industriesSecond oldest Chinatown in North AmericaKnown as the lsquoGarden Cityrsquo35 minutes by float plane or helicopter from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
25
79 of locals say they rarely or never feel uncomfortable or out of place because of religion skin colour culture race language accent ability or sexual orientation
83 per cent feel a strong or very strong sense of belonging
ldquoGetting to and from work is very quick I work with a doctor who lives in Sidney and hersquos able to make it here in 15 minutes or less Therersquos not much traffic at that time In Victoria we donrsquot really have a rush hourrdquo mdash Dr Heera Bindra
ldquoItrsquos the best of both worldsrdquomdash Dr Melina Thibodeau GP
Tuscany Medical Clinic
Big city offerings small town vibe ldquoWe wanted a city that was big
enough and that had all the opportunities
for kids whether sports music or schooling
Victoria is big enough to offer all of those
things and a short commute without being
a huge city with all the pollution and traffic
People probably donrsquot realize how multicultural
Victoria is Diversity is accepted and celebrated
here I have two adopted children from
the Congo and we were expecting some
racism but we havenrsquot found any at all There
are a lot of different nationalities at their school
and throughout the city Everybody seems
to be very accepting of other people
As far as elite athletes go Victoria is the centre
for a lot of national teams Irsquom involved in track
and field as one of the physicians and therersquos
also a swimming centre rugby rowing triathlon
biking There are all kinds of sports hererdquo
mdash Dr Melina Thibodeau
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
26
After hours funYoursquove worked hard all week now itrsquos time
for a little fun and relaxation with friends Thankfully
Victoriarsquos fixation on protecting work-life balance means
we play as hard as we work Dining out culture dominates
the scene and long casual dinners often continue into
the night over drinks and dancing
The cityrsquos social calendar is packed with colourful festivals
that attract locals and visitors alike And hundreds
of restaurants lounges patios live and electronic music
venues and nightclubs means therersquos something
to satisfy every quest for fun
Enjoy affordable local wines
(from more than 30 island
vineyards) paired with playful
tapas plates Sample a flight
(then buy a growler) of local
craft beers with friends over
gourmet burgers or wings
Menus brim with delicacies
from our sea such as wild Pacific salmon prawns and
oysters on the half-shell Healthy foodists will appreciate
Victoriarsquos penchant for offering up a huge selection of
vegetarian vegan raw gluten-free and dairy-free options
including some bistros devoted exclusively to exactly that
For the global palette yoursquoll find an impressive
variety of authentic restaurants dedicated to Chinese
Greek Italian Japanese Mexican Vietnamese Indian
Thai Ukrainian and Middle Eastern cuisines
Are you ready for some fun food festivals
and dancing in this vibrant seaside city
ANNUAL FESTIVALS amp EVENTSbull Victoria International JazzFestbull Victoria Symphony Splashbull Victoria Dragon Boat Festivalbull Victoria Pride Weekbull Vancouver Island Blues Bashbull Victoria International Buskerrsquos Festbull Rifflandiabull Rock the Shoresbull Aboriginal Cultural Festivalbull Chinese New Year Celebrationsbull Victoria Film Festivalbull Feast Food amp Filmbull Victoria Beer Weekbull Victoria International Kite Festivalbull Food Truck Festivalbull OUTstages Festivalbull Victoria International Track Classicbull UrbaCity Challengebull Color Vibe 5kbull YYJ Eatsbull The Art of the Cocktailbull Ironman Victoriabull Vintage Cadillac Car Showbull Sooke River Bluegrass Festivalbull Art amp Wine Festival at the Fortbull Shakespeare by the Seabull African Cultural Week amp AfriCa Festbull Ryder Hesjedalrsquos Tour de Victoriabull Integrate Arts Festivalbull The Saanich Fairbull Tartan Up Scotch Single Malt Whisky Festbull Strawberries and Winebull Car-free YYJbull Fernwood Bitesbull Bed Races on Beaconbull Sidney Daysbull Jubilee Flavour Trail amp Wine Festbull Victoria Chalk Festivalbull Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometownbull English Car Affair in the Parkbull IFCon Victoriabull Pet-a-Paloozabull and much moreLearn more about festivals and events at tourismvictoriacomevents
ldquoDate night would be going out to eat and I think for the size of the city therersquos a good selection of restaurantsrdquo mdash Dr Janet Mak
After a fun night out and a lazy start yoursquoll grab a coffee from one of dozens of trendy hipster roasteries Then meet friends for a west coast Sunday brunch at a legendary old school diner or trendy hot spot
Play on one of two doctorrsquos-only hockey teams
Join the SpinDoctors physician cycling club
Catch GP musicians playing in Cougar Bait band
Join the GP Mama and Baby group
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
HOT IN THE CITY
IMAGES COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
fact FILE
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
29
A few more facts about Victoria
Caring for the Earth
987 recycle materials
948 conserve energy
925 reduce waste
898 reuse materials
876 conserve water
800 separate waste
679 carpool or car-share
540 use alternative transportation
229 buy locally produced food
Employment by Industry
In 2013 Greater Victoria hosted 25 film and television productions generating $3-million in revenues In 2014 this industry exceeded $8-million In April 2015 industry experts predicted it would meet or beat its 2006 record of $18-million
Age of Victoriarsquos Population
Family physicians per 100000 people (2012)
0ndash1415ndash2425ndash6465ndash7475ndash8485+
76
95
per cent perceive their mental health to be very good or excellent
municipally owned public artworks in Greater Victoria including First Nations art gateways mobile displays monuments mosaics murals paintings sculptures site-integrated artworks street furniture and water features
0 50 100 150 200
Canada 109
British Columbia 122
Greater Victoria 160
81 per cent of residents are satisfied with the level of access to arts and cultural opportunities
0 3 6 9 12 15
Trade 149
Health Care 143
Public Administration 107
Construction 68
Manufacturing 35
$3 million = value of high-tech industry
Facts and figures throughout this booklet about Victoria furnished by the Victoria Foundation the Vancouver Island South Film amp Media Commission and Tourism Victoria
56
13
12
9
64
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
30
ResourcesBC Ministry of Health govbccahealth
Doctors of BC doctorsofbcca
Health Match BC healthmatchbcorgPhysiciansaspx
Island Health vihaca
Canadian Medical Protective Association (liability protection) cmpa-acpmca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (licensure) cpsbccafor-physiciansregistra-
tion-licensingapplying
Medical Services Plan Billing Number healthgovbccaexformsmspprac2991filpdf
Social Insurance Number servicecanadagccaengscsinindexshtml
Taxes cra-arcgcca
Check out these resources for help in settling and setting up your practice
Child Care childcarechoicesca
City of Victoria victoriaca
Educationbitly1yKG3R4
Driverrsquos Licence icbccomPagesdefaultaspx
Health Insurance healthgovbccainsurance
Housing
cicgccaenglishnewcomersafter-housingasp
Real Estate realtorca
Rental Accommodation rentbccom
victoriacraigslistca
usedvictoriacom
kijijicah-victoria-bc
Travel amp Tourism tourismvictoriacom
hellobccomvictoriathings-to-doaspx
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
CANADA
USA
Whistler
Washington DC
Toronto
Montreal
New York
come exploreCurious about Victoria Plan your next
vacation on the west coast of Canada
and see for yourself why our family
practitioners love it here
book a tourContact Division staff to book a tour
of the city attend a Division event
as a guest meet local physicians
and have your questions answered
Helen Welch
hwelchdivisionsbcca
+12505075494
make victoria your homeYoursquoll find lots of support for settling
here and for setting up your practice
through your Victoria Division of Family
Practice
Use the resources in this guide
to get you started
Vancouver
VICTORIA
VICTORIA BC
A GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design
VICTORIA AWAITS YOU make your
MOVE
divisionsbccavictoria
victoriadivisionsbcca
toll-free +18777908492
f +12505970889
facebookcomVicDivFP
PO Box 2488
1745 Cowichan Bay Road
Cowichan Bay BC
CANADA V0R 1N0
ldquoI definitely have no regrets about moving hereI plan to stay long term to the point of retirement I think Irsquove found the perfect place to live and workrdquomdashDr Celeste Just
VICTORIA BCA GREAT PLACE TO BE A GP
Dr Jody Young and her husband Kris daughter Emma and dog Tucker love to spend time along the waterfront at Macaulay Point Park
published Spring 2015
photography Doddrsquos Eye Media bull Nathan Sorochan bull Terrance Lam
writing amp design Crystal Sawyer Triveni West Communication amp Design