Dr Addie Charles McGregor Ennals, 1937–2019
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Dr Addie Charles McGregor Ennals (Charles). Born in the King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Duncan on 13 June 1937, he passed away from postoperative complications following emergency surgery in Nanaimo.
After graduating from Cowichan Secondary School, Charles entered Victoria College and was then admitted to the UBC Faculty of Medicine, graduating in 1962. The inaugural issue of the UBC Medical Journal was printed in that year, highlighted by a comprehensive eight-page article written by this fourth-year student, titled “Trends in BC medical care.” How prophetic was his vision! This was an evolving but tumultuous time in Canadian medicine, and Charles indeed contributed to its successful transition. He practised family medicine for 40 years, predominantly in Cowichan, where he quickly gained respect from his colleagues and was elected to the position of president of the medical staff at Cowichan District Hospital from 1974 to 1977. During that time a gradual transformation to a regional referral centre took place under his diplomatic and able hand.
When medical care insurance was established in BC, the BCMA was very much involved in setting up the honor system of billings that is the mainstay of our system today. Charles was astutely appointed to the Patterns of Practice Committee, which he chaired from 1971 to 1987. He then represented the BCMA on the Medical Advisory Committee and Audit Inspection Committees of MSP until 2005. For his many contributions, he was deservedly awarded an honorary membership in the CMA in 2006.
Charles was active in politics as well, first as vice president and treasurer of the BC Social Credit Party from 1969 to 1970, and as a candidate for the provincial legislature in four elections. He was also a member of the Malaspina University-College Board, and chair from 1990–92. For 33 years Charles was also a member of the Zenith Gyro Club of Duncan.
Retirement for Charles and Jill (his bride for 48 years) led them back to Jill’s family homestead farm at Craig Bay in Parksville where they became active at growing produce, selling vegetables and eggs, and interacting with their market clients. Charles dreamed of playing the bagpipes again, but his wind was just not sufficient. Perhaps there will be a skirl of the pipes heard where this fine man now rests.
—Jill Ennals, RN
Nanoose Bay
—Donald R. Hilton, MD, FRCPC
Chemainus