SELAND, THOMAS PETER
November 21, 1941 – March 29, 2013
Physician, husband, father, chef, and music lover.
Peter Seland, beloved
husband of Michèle Mantle, father to Karen (Jim), Nicola, Scott (Denise), and Mark
(Lara) and grandfather to
Desirae and Alex, passed away peacefully on March 29, 2013 in Kelowna, B.C. Peter
was born and raised in
Drumheller, AB, to parents Norma and Trygve. After
finishing school at 16, he
enrolled at the University
of Alberta taking two years of pre-med classes before
entering medicine. After completing his medical
degree in 1964 and internship in 1965, Peter served
three years in the Royal Canadian Navy based in Comox, BC as a Surgeon Lieutenant. He returned to the U of A
to pursue his interest in the function of the brain
through a Neurology Residency.
In 1973 he moved the family to Calgary where he served
as the Director of the Division of Neurology at the Calgary General Hospital. As a faculty member of the Uof C, he was one of the key founding fathers of the Department of Clinical Neurosciences. He served as the President of the College
of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta between 1984 and 1986 and later as Chair of the College’s Advisory Committee on Professional Education. In this same period, he acted
as Chair of the Neurology Examination Board of the Royal
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Throughout his career in Neurology he pursued a specific
interest in Multiple Sclerosis. Peter was the Director of the University of Calgary Multiple Sclerosis Research Clinic
and following a move to Kelowna in 1992, set-up a new
MS Clinic, caring for patients from across south central
British Columbia. While in Kelowna, Peter also had a
busy community-based Neurology practice and served
various administrative roles at the Kelowna General
Hospital. Always considerate and caring, he was
respected by patients, physicians, and academics alike. Over the years, his experiences and observations
led him to an understanding of, and passion for, the area
of medical ethics. In 1999, he joined the College of
Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia as Deputy Registrar (Ethics). Over the past decade, Peter made
numerous presentations and speeches on various
aspects of medical ethics.
Peter was truly a man of many interests and talents.
In his earlier years, he was a Boy Scout leader with a love
of canoeing and photography. He was an avid lover of
classical music and literature. Peter also enjoyed the
splendor of flowers, mountains and physical geography.
He was a masterful “home chef”. Peter and Michèle
shared a common love for their dogs. Weakened in his
last several weeks by lymphoma, he kept his sense of
humour and wonderment and accepted his condition
with courage and grace.
A celebration of Peter’s life will be held at
Summerhill Winery on Friday, April 5, 2013 at 1:00 p.m.
If desired, friends are encouraged to donate to the
Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Condolences may be sent to the family
by visiting www.springfieldfuneralhome.com
250-860-7077.