Wilbert Willoughby Belch

Died peacefully in his sleep on Monday, January 24, 2022. Beloved husband of Mary (nee Gray) for over 62 years. Loving father of Tim Belch, Heather Laferriere (Dan), Catherine Caza (Jules), Natalie Belch (Paul Comeau) and the late Willoughby James Belch.

Proud Grandfather of Ben and Jon Laferriere and Amelia, Abi, and Aidan Caza.

Dear brother of Martha Budd of Port Hope, Dr. Lindsay Belch (Ruth), from Thornhill and Natalie Ward (Dale) of Ottawa.

Predeceased by his parents Nathaniel and Ethel Belch and siblings Dr. Tom Belch (survived by Marilyn), Marion McCormick (Dr. Robert McCormick) and brother-in-law Donald Budd.

Will be fondly remembered by Family Friends: Marlene Hutchison (Medical Secretary for 38 years) and her husband, the late Jim Hutchison.

The Belch family originally came to Canada in the 1840’s from the County of Cavan in Ireland. They were some of the founding families who settled here locally in what is now the Township of Cavan Monaghan.

Bill grew up in a rural community on the Sixth Line, a.k.a. “Fallis Line” in Cavan Township, near Millbrook, Ontario. Dr. Belch came from humble beginnings. He grew up on a “Mixed Farm”, with 3 boys (who all became medical Doctors), and 3 girls (1 R.N. and 2 Teachers).

In 1945, at age 18, he enrolled in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. To help fund tuition and living expenses, Bill and his younger brother, Lindsay, worked part-time at 999 Queen Street West, Toronto during their undergrad years.

During an internship at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, Bill met his future wife, Mary.

After marrying in 1959, the young couple settled in Peterborough and set up Bill’s Surgical Practice. They remained in Peterborough for his entire 50-plus year career, working at both Civic Hospital (now called Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC)), and St. Joseph’s Hospital and at his office on Charlotte Street. During his career he volunteered with the St. John Ambulance. He was awarded a Governor General’s award for his meritorious service.

Bill was a kind (sweet) gentle man. He was admired by both nursing staff and patients. He had an excellent bedside manner and care for his patients. He was serious but sometimes you could see his playful sense of humour. At Christmas he would dress up as Santa Claus and ride his unicycle up and down the hallways entertaining patients and nursing staff. In 1967 (Canada’s Centennial year) he bought a Penny-farthing bike from England. He learned to be quite proficient riding it, despite its dangerous reputation. The bike was called the “Bone Crusher” back in the late 1890’s. Bill never got hurt on it!

Bill had a desire to return to his farming roots. The usual fare was too tame!

He wanted something more challenging. He saw an ad in the Financial Post advertising buffalo were going to be sold for the first time in Canada, from Elk Island National Park, near Edmonton. It caught the Doctor’s imagination and he put in several sealed bids for the animals.

Remember, he had no farm at this time. By the early fall of ‘67 he got a letter congratulating him on the winning bid for 44 buffalo calves. He was informed he needed to come out to Elk Island and get his calves in the early winter of 1969. From then on Dr. Belch became known as “Buffalo Bill”.

He quickly went and scouted nearby properties and found one, 200 acres on the west side of Peterborough. It was perfect. There was 70 acres of scrub brush that the buffalo would revel in with the remaining 130 acres for pasture and to grow feed. He bought the farm in the spring of 1968. He rushed to get the fencing in place and Olan Leahy helped get it ready for the winter of ‘69. Bill arranged to go out to Alberta with his father, Nathaniel, and son Tim. Bill shipped the animals across Canada by CN rail in temperatures as low as minus 44 degrees Fahrenheit - and he rode in the caboose! What an adventure!

The animals arrived by rail to Peterborough and were loaded on a big transport truck and unloaded at the newly purchased farm where they went straight for the bush. The animals thrived, the herd size eventually grew to 400 animals and the business was diversified to sell buffalo meat to local residents at numerous Farmers Markets in Southern Ontario.

The Doctor continued in his dual role as Surgeon and Farmer for many years, finally retiring from his private Surgical Practice in 1997, at age 70. He continued to work as a Surgical Assist well into his eighties. In semi-retirement he assisted many doctors but worked closely with Surgeon Dr. Anthony Petrasek. The Belch Buffalo Farm, a 40-year venture, drew to a close in 2010 when Bill sold his remaining 20 buffalo to a young couple near Kemptville, Ontario. He truly was a Maverick for his time.

A private family celebration of Dr. Belch’s life will take place on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. at the Comstock-Kaye Life Celebration Centre, 356 Rubidge Street, Peterborough. All are invited to view the service by Livestream: go to https://funeraweb.tv/diffusions/60793. In memory of Dr. Belch, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the PRHC Foundation, St. John Ambulance, or Doctors Without Borders. Online condolences can be made at www.comstockkaye.com