Dr. Gurdev Singh Gill was a compassionate and adventurous soul, deeply committed to his community and driven by a lifelong passion for helping others. Born in India in 1931, he knew he wanted to be a doctor from the age of 12 and made the long journey to Canada by himself at only 17. He became the first Indo-Canadian to graduate from UBC with a medical degree and to practice medicine in Canada, a career he pursued for 40 years in New Westminster, BC.

Dr. Gill valued community, family and friends very deeply. His medical practice served as a community hub, welcoming Indo-Canadians not only for medical treatment but also for guidance and support. He co-founded the East Indian Welfare Society, lobbying the Canadian government to improve conditions for his community, and was instrumental in family reunification, enabling women in India to come to Canada and join their families. Following his retirement in 1995, he founded the Indo-Canadian Friendship Society and improved countless lives through village projects in Punjab.

Dr. Gill had a real love for nature, travel and adventure. He loved Vancouver Island, and being out on the ocean was one of his favourite things. His daughter, Jasmine, warmly remembers a road trip through Europe to India when she was a child with her mom, dad, brother and cousin, which included campervanning and her dad courageously completing the final two-week leg through Iran during the revolution.

Dr. Gill was a trailblazer who improved the lives of millions through his career and life. He is fondly remembered and deeply missed.

Donations to the Dr. Gurdev Singh Gill Memorial Fund in Family Practice will honour Dr. Gill’s passion for family practice, community and helping others. Your gift will pay tribute to his life and career by supporting students in the Faculty of Medicine at UBC. Final decisions on the allocation of funds will be made in consultation with Dr. Gill’s family.