Gurdev Singh Gill, the pioneering Indo-Canadian who made history in 1958 as the first to practice medicine in Canada, has passed away at the age of 92 in New Westminster. Having immigrated from India in 1949 when only about 2,000 South Asians lived in Canada, Gill became the first Indo-Canadian to earn a medical degree from the University of British Columbia and practice medicine in the country. Community members gathered to pay their respects at a Vancouver gurdwara, highlighting Gill’s impactful medical career and his dedication to community service, recognized through awards like the Order of British Columbia and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Gill’s grandson, Imran Gill, emphasized his grandfather’s selfless life and contributions to uplift others, both in Canada and in improving sanitation infrastructure in Punjabi villages.
Active in St. Mary’s, the Royal Columbian, and Queen’s Park hospitals, Gill was also involved in fundraising for the Cancer Society, Rotary Club, and the Children’s Hospital. Imran Gill highlighted that his grandfather’s medical practice served as more than just a healthcare facility; it acted as a community hall where new immigrants sought guidance and advice. Gill’s commitment extended beyond Canada, as he contributed to building sanitation infrastructure in Punjabi villages, including his hometown, which he left in 1949. He served as the President of Vancouver’s Khalsa Diwan Society, overseeing the construction of a new gurdwara in South Vancouver. Jarnail Singh Bhandal, the South Vancouver gurdwara’s assistant secretary, noted Gill’s provincewide fundraising efforts for a larger building to accommodate worship, meals, and community events for the growing Sikh community. After a 40-year medical practice in New Westminster, Gill retired and continued his philanthropic work by aiding 25 Punjab villages with infrastructure and educational improvements through the Indo-Canadian Friendship Society, an organization he founded.
