Dear patients:

After more than 37 years in practice, 25 of those in Victoria, I will be retiring in the fall. I have been planning this for a long time, waiting for the right person to come forward to take my place so as not to leave any of you stranded without a family doctor. Well, now I can announce that I have found the right person: Dr. Ben Goold, will be taking over my practice at Doctors Medical Clinic to ensure your continuous care.

Dr. Goold has been in primary care for 11 years, having completed his family medicine residency at the University of Washington-Seattle in 2015. He currently practices in Olympia, Washington and is consistently ranked as one of the top providers in the State for patient satisfaction. In 2025, he was also nominated and selected by his colleagues to receive the organization’s annual award for clinical excellence. Whether working with children or adults, Dr. Goold enjoys a collaborative practice based on connection – walking alongside people for years of their lives.

Dr. Goold is looking forward to living and working in Victoria. He and his wife, Christie, have enjoyed visiting friends in the city for the past few years. Their daughter, who will be starting kindergarten this fall, recently enjoyed her first ferry ride and adventures in Victoria while her 4-month-old brother mostly enjoyed napping during the trip. Dr. Goold and his family have always felt warmly welcomed in Victoria and are excited to call the city their home. As a runner, reader, and lover of good food, Dr. Goold can feel the parks, bookstores and restaurants of Victoria calling already. He also enjoys playing board games and meditating in the rare, quieter moments of his free time.

Due to the immigration process, I cannot be certain of Dr. Goold’s exact start date, but it will almost certainly be in later August or early September. I plan to work alongside Dr. Goold for a few weeks to ensure a smooth transition. As Dr Goold and I work together, it is important for you to know the following:

• If you choose Dr Goold to take over your care, no special action on your part is required. All your prescription refills and pending referrals, investigations, and laboratory standing orders will be honored. Any reports with my name will automatically go to Dr. Goold and you can make appointments and follow up with him as needed at Doctors Medical Clinic.
• If you do not want Dr. Goold to take over your care, you are free to choose another primary care provider in Victoria or put your name on the BC Health Connect registry. With your written consent, and a small administration fee, your new doctor can request the transfer of your important health records from myself or Dr. Goold.

I am grateful to have had the privilege of being your family doctor for so many years. I have been honoured to be a part of your lives and to share in your joys and sorrows, your health and your illness. I am happy to be retiring soon but sad to realize that I will miss all of you. The trust and relationships built with patients like you have made my career as a physician truly satisfying. I wish you many years of good health and leave with the satisfaction and confidence that you will be in Dr. Goold’s excellent care.

Sincerely, Eugene Leduc