Jan Schijf

Jan was born in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 1934. One of his fondest memories was of a very short stay in the hospital at the age of three, after which he declared to his mom, “I will be a doctor when I grow up.” The nuns allowed him to watch their care, and it fascinated him and inspired him to pursue medicine.

During WWII, Japan occupied Southeast Asia. Jan and his family survived the notorious Japanese concentration camp “Tjideng.” His education was delayed by three years as a result. In 1946, he stayed for six months in Ceylon and eventually was transported to Holland. He entered high school, where he met his wife, Christina. They were married for 66 years. After graduating high school, Jan pursued medicine, eventually becoming an MD after eight years of study.

In 1967, Jan, Christina, and their three children (all under the age of seven), immigrated to Canada. A new country meant he had to successfully pass new medical entrance exams. In the Netherlands, he had to write a medical exam to enter Canada. He chose Saskatoon. He worked very hard and even had to redo his basic sciences and residency and finally his Canadian medical degree while also having a wife and three children. He loved the Saskatoon people, but Saskatchewan proved to be too cold and too flat, and so a move to BC in 1969 was in order. This meant learning to practice medicine in remote areas like Williams Lake and Fraser Lake. They eventually settled in Kamloops in 1972.

Jan loved his patients, and their well-being was always at the forefront of his mind. He made many house calls, late-night visits, and weekend openings of his small practice. Jan’s practice was established in Westsyde. He loved his patients and treated generations of families. He was always known as the “Westsyde Doctor” or “The Good Doctor,” because few could remember how to pronounce his name. He was president of the Westsyde Lions Club and had deep connections throughout the community.

After retirement in 1995, Jan and Christina traveled and lived in Ireland, the Canary Islands, the Netherlands, Hawaii, New Zealand, and for years in Western Australia, where they formed invaluable friendships.

Always hungry for growth, Jan went to Toastmasters to learn public speaking. He was also a lifelong Freemason and lifelong Rotarian. In 1981, he met Marjorie Willoughby Snowden in her home, where they discussed the process of dying and providing comfort for those facing this challenge (The current Hospice hospital is named in her honor). Hospice became a very important part of Jan’s life in the 2000s. He became chairman of the board of the Hospice and spent countless volunteer hours there. With the help and input of Jenny Strudwick, the enormous help of Gay Klietske, and many other team members, he worked very hard to put the current Kamloops Hospice Association on a firm footing. His concern was always for people, their dignity, and their humanity.

Jan is survived by his loving wife, Christina, of 66 years; his three children (Walther (Debbie), Roelof, Jorine (Weldon) and two grandsons Alexander and Hayden. The family wishes to express their immense gratitude to the staff at Royal Inland Hospital, specifically the doctors and nurses on 5th South, who made his last days comfortable.