A Legacy of Care: Honouring Pat Docherty Through the Gift of Critical Care

This is a series to celebrate the community and individual donors who are making the Critical Care Unit at NRGH possible.

In 2014, a group of friends came together for a casual golf day, enjoying a shared passion for sports and friendship.
What began as a lighthearted gathering soon took on a significant purpose after the loss of their dear friend, Pat Docherty, in late 2016. Pat, a beloved member of the Nanaimo community, was born at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH) and lived a life filled with love for hockey, baseball, and especially golf. His friends decided to honour his memory by turning their annual golf outing into the Pat Docherty Memorial Tournament, raising funds for causes close to Pat’s heart.

Since 2017, the tournament has raised an outstanding $429,000 for charitable organizations across Central Vancouver Island. Of that, $353,405 has gone directly to the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation, with a focus on transforming critical care at NRGH. The tournament, which brings together Pat’s lifelong friends, business associates, and local supporters, has become a heartfelt tribute to his legacy, each year driving their mission to make a meaningful impact in the community.

Pat’s connection to NRGH runs deep. In addition to being born there, he received care in the hospital’s old ICU. Inspired by this personal connection, and with the full support of Pat’s family, the tournament’s organizers—including Don Slaughter, Ed Neave, and Wes Zannet—set their sights on supporting the new ICU as a fitting tribute to their friend. As Don Slaughter emphasized, “The ICU was where Pat spent his final days, so naming a room in his honour is a meaningful tribute to both his memory and the care he received.”

In June 2023, the group’s goal of raising $124,000 to support the new High Acuity Unit (HAU) was realized, culminating in a room being named in Pat Docherty’s honour within the new ICU at NRGH. Friends and family gathered to celebrate this achievement, reflecting on Pat’s life, his contributions to the community, and the lasting impact of the tournament that bears his name.

Today, the “In Memory of Pat Docherty Room” in the ICU stands as a symbol of the generosity, dedication, and friendship that defines the Nanaimo community. It serves as a reminder of how one person’s life can inspire lasting change, improving the care and support available to patients and families in their most critical moments.

Pat Docherty’s legacy lives on, not only in the hearts of his family and friends but in the lives of those who will receive life-saving care in the very room that now bears his name.