Thanks Doc!
Community mourns the loss of Dr. Bouchard
The one-of-a-kind Dr. Gilles Bouchard, who served the Stanstead border community and beyond for 50 years, passed away over the weekend at the age of 83. News of his death prompted a massive outpouring of condolences and comments on social media from the thousands of people whose lives he impacted.
Bouchard was among the last of a breed of country doctors that had a knack for diagnostics and a genuine concern for the well-being of his patients whether they came from Stanstead, from across the border, or even as far away as Montreal.
He started his practice in Stanstead in 1963. He went through a period of semi-retirement where he continued to see patients several days a week in his home office, working independently, having opted out of the official Quebec health bureaucracy.
House calls and after hours emergency visits were common practice for Bouchard.
He officially retired from practicing medicine in 2013.
Bouchard was best known for a sign in his office. "No one must pay. If you are short of money just say, 'Thanks, Doc.'"
During an interview shortly after his retirement, Bouchard explained he had to announce the news, and then leave town for three weeks to let it spread. Months after, he said he was still receiving phone calls to confirm he was off the medical market, a testament to how important he was in the community.
His retirement signified the end of an era.
"I was born here. This is my hometown, I like the people," Bouchard said in the 2013 interview, explaining his reason for setting up shop in Stanstead. "I didn't do it for the money."
During his 50 years of practice, Bouchard saw 10 different doctors come to the area, none of whom stayed, either because of the lower salary, or the quiet life of the country.
"There’s a lot of gratification working in the country," Bouchard said. He spoke of a personal connection he shared with his patients, and the informal perks he enjoyed. "In winter, someone would just shovel my walk; I never knew who did it." He also mentioned enjoying fresh caught fish as payment on a few occasions.
Before tightening at the border, Bouchard used to see patients regularly from the U.S.
He recalled delivering more than 700 babies in Vermont between 1963 and 1974.
In 2012, Bouchard was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal in recognition of his significant contributions to the community throughout his life.
There is a bench in the centre of Stanstead dedicated Bouchard, in honour of 50 years of service to the community.