Robert Bruce McAlpine

Our hearts are at once heavy and light as we share the passing of Dr. Bruce McAlpine. Heavy with the loss of a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. Light with gratitude for the memories of a life well-lived and the love that endures. Bruce passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, in Kelowna on September 4, 2026.

Bruce was born in Saint John, New Brunswick on January 6, 1937 to Elizabeth and Arnold “Sub” McAlpine. He arrived in Vancouver by way of Winnipeg at the age of nine. On his first day at a new school, he met the boys who would become his lifelong friends — Mike Tompkins, Bob Fay, Chuck Gage and Don McNulty.

Imagine Vancouver circa 1955, five carefree teenagers in white t-shirts, khakis and leather saddle shoes walking arm in arm down Granville Street, mischievous smiles and laughter splashed across their faces, not a care in the world. This was Bruce and his buddies at the beginning of the rest of their lives.

At the centre of that life was Barbara Babcock. He met the beautiful Barbara while completing his dentistry degree at the University of Washington. They were married on May 26, 1962.

Bruce’s professional career was characterized by a community of people who saw him as more than just a dentist. It didn’t matter who you were, where you stood in the community, or whether you could afford to pay. Bruce was committed to ensuring everyone got good dental care. Generations of families walked through the door of the little office at Broadway and Pine and happily listened to Bruce (tunelessly) humming while he worked for over three decades.

Beyond the office, Barb introduced Bruce to the joys of packing up the family car and camping their way around the province. Many of their best memories were made driving the old green VW bus down a dirt road to a solitary lakeside campsite, where Bruce would settle in, set up camp and boil a pot of cowboy coffee to sip by the fire.

Bruce was a proud and loving father to Scott and Cam. Their time together revolved around the many sports and activities the boys were involved in, eventually leading Bruce back to his childhood love of skiing and to his truly happy place: the log cabin he helped build by hand near Whistler, BC. Weekends and holidays were spent skiing with the boys, hanging out at the Roundhouse laughing and telling stories with his wide group of ski buddies, working on one project or another around the neighbourhood with Len, Nelson and Doug, nurturing his love of woodworking, or putting out fires (literally) in his two decades with the Black Tusk Volunteer Fire Department.

After many years in West Vancouver and Whistler, Bruce and Barb moved to Kelowna, BC in 2016 to be closer to family, buying a house in the same neighbourhood as Cam and Jenny. There they were able to spend precious time with their granddaughter Georgia before her untimely death later that year. We’re confident Georgia is with “Grampy” now, showing him around the great beyond, maybe even taking him for a ski down a big white fluffy cloud.

He leaves behind his wife of 64 years, Barbara, sons Scott (Isabel) and Cam (Jenny), grandchildren Eli (Courtney), Steffi, Anton, Enric and Andrei, along with many nieces and nephews. He is also remembered with love by Karen, Ingrid, Breanna and Cassie. Bruce joins his parents, his beautiful granddaughter Georgia and his brother Ted.

In keeping with Bruce’s wishes, no service will be held.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Georgia’s Wish Fund at Canadian Mental Health Association, Kelowna.