Beloved Tofino Pediatrician Steve Kent Dies Suddenly at 72
VICTORIA,B.C. – Dr.โข Steve Kent, a dedicated โpediatrician who became a cherished figure in the Tofino, โB.C. community, has died โฃunexpectedly after aโข run near his homeโค in Victoria. He was 72.kent’s passion for medicine was matched only by his love โขforโ theโค ruggedโฃ beauty and close-knit spirit of the Westโข Coast, leadingโค him to โestablish a clinicโ in Tofino decades ago.
Kent quickly integrated into the fabric of Tofino life,โค arriving at the localโข hospital with his leather briefcase, eager to serveโค his patients. Beyond the clinic, he embraced the area’s adventurous โlifestyle, attemptingโข to surf,โ undertaking lengthy beach runs, and even joining localsโค for late-night games of pool atโ theโข Legion or risk – famously losing โคto anโ 80-year-old opponent. He โฃdelighted in sharingโ his adopted home with family and friends, including his wife and, more recently, his three grandchildren, โAbby, Luke, and Jaden.
A lifelong outdoorsman, Kent completed the West Coast Trail three โฃtimes, once with his son Josh at age 11. He ran the Edge โto Edge Marathon in Tofino with his daughterโฃ chelsea when โฃshe was โค23, and backcountry kayaked for nearly 30 years, often with friends and familyโ in the Broken Islands. His โขdedication to hisโ patients extendedโฃ beyond the clinic walls; a story recounts him diagnosing aโ child with a severe bronchialโค condition whileโฃ camping on Clarke Island, prompting the familyโ to seek immediate medicalโข attention.
Kent’s commitment to pediatrics was formally recognizedโฃ with a posthumous lifetime โachievement awardโค from Vancouverโ Island Health, and theโฃ 2021 Cystic Fibrosis Canadaโข Dr.โ Douglas Crozier award, โขacknowledging his dedication to learningโ about โand implementing new therapies โfor cystic fibrosis. He also contributedโ toโข medical education โคas a teacher with theโข UBC medical School.
For decades, Kent maintained a weeklyโ Saturday ritual withโค his friend Brian D.Young: a โคrun, coffee, and reading the Globe and Mail,โค frequently enoughโข leading to โฃlively discussions – and jokes about โขlaunching a podcastโ with limited appeal.
“North’s ‘why’ was in the room on the day of his celebration of life: his family, โคhis grandchildren, many patients and colleagues, and his dear friends,” wroteโ Young, who penned โthisโฃ remembrance.
Kent’s life exemplifies a dedication to both profession and passion, leaving aโ lasting legacyโ inโ the heartsโ of those โhe touched.