Bernard Jolicoeur: exploring nature through people’s mouths
Bernard Jolicoeur’s story is one of finding creative ways to do what you love. Once a biologist with the Canadian Wildlife Service, Jolicoeur said that he always dreamed of exploring the natural wonders of northern Quebec. Held back from his dreams by a lack of funding, he opted to change careers and found the key to what he was looking for through the practice of dentistry.
“In that way there were plenty of opportunities to head north,” Jolicoeur said, explaining that from 1995 to 2013 he worked full time as a travelling dentist in remote northern communities so that he could have the opportunity to pursue his passion as a naturalist. “Becoming a dentist was the key to all of my travels,” he shared.
The travelling Dentist explained that the towns and villages in Nunavik, the Lower North Shore, and along the Labrador border rely on a rotation of travelling health professionals to care for their health and wellbeing. On Ungava Bay, for example, four dentists share the needs of seven communities, moving about as needed with occasional supply stepping in of one of them needs
go on vacation.
“I still go back from time to time just to lend a hand in remote communities,” Jolicoeur said, noting that he doesn’t plan to quit the practice anytime soon. “I have never been made to feel unwelcome, I love it,“he continued. “It’s like a big family there; everyone knows each other.”
Although dentistry is time consuming and he does work full time when present in a community, the travelling dentist explained that the freedom to discover the local wildlife comes in how he chooses to use his downtime. Where most other travelling professionals finish their day and go back to their rooms to relax, Jolicoeur takes a different approach.
“I head out with a pair of binoculars and explore,” he said. “I work full time, but I have all my evenings and weekends.”
While out in the wild, Jolicoeur said that he is interested in everything from the geology and plant life of the regions to the wildlife and distinctive sea life.
Jolicoeur will be sharing his experiences as a naturalist in northern Quebec tonight at the Amédée Beaudoin Community Centre in Lennoxville. The free talk, hosted by the St. Francis Valley Naturalists’ Club, will take place from 7p.m. to 9 p.m. and will involve an overview of the travelling dentist’s observations in different regions of the north.