Record Numbers at the Eighth Annual Tumbler Ridge Medical Conference · July 3–5, 2026
The eighth annual Tumbler Ridge Medical Conference drew record numbers July 3–5, with just over 100 registrants — and more than 140 at the evening dinners once families were counted — gathering for a weekend built around the theme “Celebrating the Joy of Rurality.” With a logo featuring a dinosaur against a mountain backdrop, the event was as unique as the community that hosts it.
A tradition that has emerged over the past three years is an address from the President of the Doctors of BC, and this year Dr Adam Thompson delivered a message that resonated deeply with all of us. The February shooting tragedy that we in Tumbler Ridge experienced, he said, will not define our community — what will define us is the warmth and hospitality extended to guests, so evident at this conference. He acknowledged the outstanding work of our ER physicians and the whole team in managing that horrific day so professionally and adeptly, and noted that every physician in BC felt it could equally have been them called upon — and how united the medical community was in supporting us.
That spirit of community ran through the entire weekend. Co-organizers Dr Charles Helm and Jayleen Emery led the charge, with invaluable support from Heather Gummow, but participants often remark that it takes an entire community to pull off something of this scale — which is why the event is becoming known as the “Community Conference.”
The academic program featured a talented lineup of speakers on topics including Hybrid Care in Rural BC, Child and Youth Mental Health, Rural Emergency Medicine, Management of Menopause, Building Sustainable Primary and Community Care in Rural Communities, and more. Lectures alternated with practical, hands-on sessions, and participants visited booths from three rural divisions of family practice, the Rural Coordination Centre of BC, Northern Health, Doctors of BC, Med Response BC, and the BC Centre on Substance Use. As she has done every year, Marsha Dufresne opened the conference with a heartfelt traditional welcome.
But this is a conference for families, not just delegates. Where else in the world can conference-goers drop their kids off at Dinosaur Camp, run by the Tumbler Ridge Museum, during the academic program? Recreation carried the dinosaur theme too: an adventure hike to the Quality dinosaur dig-site, an early-morning run to the tracks at Cabin Pool, and a guided hike to the tracks on the Wolverine River — where, almost inevitably, new fossils were discovered, including one wonderful dinosaur track. Speakers were treated to a river-boat tour to Kinuseo Falls, with remaining seats raffled off to attendees thanks to sponsorship from Conuma Coal. Guided mountain biking and an interpretive nature hike rounded out the “healthy lifestyles” events on Saturday afternoon, and the weather — the one truly unpredictable factor — cooperated superbly.
Evenings brought record crowds of their own. The “Dinnersaur” at the Tumbler Ridge Museum, sponsored by MD Management, featured backstage tours of the wonders of regional palaeontology, while the “Feast” at the Tumbler Ridge Fairgrounds, sponsored by the District of Tumbler Ridge, offered the ideal setting for networking — and for kids of all ages to enjoy mini-golf, the dinosaur theme park, and the Geopark’s “Time Machine,” complete with a guest appearance by Crow the donkey and great music from the Mechanical Botanicals.
Among the attendees were 34 residents and medical students — the future of health care in BC. We all know the challenges facing health care in rural and remote British Columbia, and we believe the best way to counter them is to show off what we have to offer. The chance to experience rural practice in such a supportive environment will, we hope, encourage these young professionals to consider this path. The presence of the three mayors of the South Peace communities at the dinners speaks to what the conference means in this respect: an event that boosts local businesses and the economy while strengthening health care across the North.
None of it would be possible without our funders and partners. Conference funding was contributed by the Peace River Regional District through the South Peace Division of Family Practice; Rural Continuing Medical Education Community funds from Tumbler Ridge, Fort St. John/Hudson’s Hope, Dawson Creek, and Chetwynd; the Rural Coordination Centre of BC (RCCbc) via the SPIFI fund; and the Rural Education Action Plan (REAP) Closer to Home Bursary. Dr Ife Akanegbu donated a copy of his latest book for every delegate. The Museum, the Geopark, volunteer guides, and local and regional businesses and organizations — Wild River Adventure Tours, The Meat Doctor, TR Days Society, and 242-BREW — were essential to the success of the weekend.
The networking, the face-to-face time with colleagues, and the family-focused atmosphere leave lasting memories, and the feedback tells us this was not just another conference. A written message from one of our speakers says it all:
“What made the conference particularly memorable was how seamlessly it combined outstanding continuing medical education with the opportunity to experience the remarkable community and landscape of Tumbler Ridge. The warmth and hospitality shown by everyone, the networking opportunities, and the thoughtfully planned social and outdoor activities created an atmosphere unlike any medical conference I have attended. I returned home inspired — not only by the excellent scientific program, but also by the sense of community, collegiality, and passion for rural medicine that was evident throughout the weekend.”
