Dr. Stephan Wolfs was born and raised in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta. His hobbies in youth were music (piano, guitar, and trombone) as well as speed skating, basketball, and making video skits with his high-school friends. After graduating from high-school, he lived in the Netherlands for 2 years. Dr. Wolfs completed a B.Sc. degree with a major in Neuroscience from the University of Lethbridge in 2002. It was there on the windy flats of Lethbridge where he was struck by cupid’s arrow and fell in love with his sweetheart, Somer. They made the journey to Winnipeg to begin dental school with 2 children; a 2 week old boy, and a 1.5 year old girl. After graduating from the University of Manitoba’s Dental School in 2006, he joined the Canadian Forces as a military dentist. A 9-year term in the military took their family to Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan; and added 2 more children to their family. In 2015 Stephan and Somer and their family of 4 children decided to settle down in the beautiful city of Cranbrook and enjoy the beautiful mountains, lakes, and bike paths it has to offer. Dr. Wolfs thoroughly enjoys fixing teeth (I know. weird right?) and feels very blessed to work with his fabulous dental team.
Dr. Laura Turner was born and raised in North Vancouver, BC. During her childhood, her extracurricular activities were mainly athletic, including gymnastics, track and field, soccer and basketball. She graduated high school in 1999 and went on to study at UBC, majoring in Microbiology and Immunology. After deciding on a future in the field of Dentistry, she continued at UBC to complete her DMD degree in 2007.
Dr. Turner spent her first year of practice in Victoria, where she moved to live with her husband, Rob, as he finished medical school. They then returned to Vancouver for the following 5 years where Dr. Turner practiced in North Vancouver and Coquitlam. When Rob completed his surgical training, they decided to leave the chaos of the big city for greener pastures. They chose to move to the lovely city of Cranbook, for sunny skies and snowy winters. Shortly after moving, Dr. Turner gave birth to their second child, and then luckily came upon Dr. Nish and his wonderful dental practice. Since working at Nish Dental Clinic Dr. Turner has had one more addition to her family. Dr. Turner has fallen in love with the city of Cranbrook and the lovely people who live here. She enjoys all aspects of dentistry, but particularly working with children and orthodontics.
Dr. Dean Nish was born in Cardston Alberta, the youngest of 4 children. After high school, he attended the University of Alberta where he took his undergraduate degree. After being accepted into dental school, Dean decided instead to serve an LDS mission, putting his education on hold for 2 years, he did his missionary service in France. After returning home he was able to be re-accepted into the dental program and began his studies in the fall of 1983. In 1984 he met his future wife Heather Rance, who was taking Dental Hygiene at the U of A. They married in August of 1985, and celebrate 40 wonderful years of marriage next year. Dean and Heather have 6 children and 10 beautiful grandchildren.
Dr. W. Dean Nish graduated from the University of Alberta Dental school in 1987. Completing dental school through the Dental Officer Training Plan offered by the Canadian military, Dr. Nish was then required to serve for 4 years in a military posting. Luckily for Dean and his family, they got their requested posting to Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, where he served for 3 years. While loving the maritime area and making many friends, Dean and his family were anxious to return to the west to be closer to family, and so, in the spring of 1990, they accepted a 2-year posting to Massett in Haida Gwaii.
While in Massett Dean moonlighted at a local dentist office and decided that he enjoyed treating a variety of people and ages, and so the decision was made to leave military service after his term was up, and go into private practice. After a lengthy search for a practice, Dean found Dr. Mel Bauman, who, at the age of 70 was ready to retire and Dean was able to buy his practice in the old Green Clinic.
Dr. Nish worked at that location from 1992 to 2013, when he decided that the space was finally just too small to accommodate the growing patient base and the need for more staff members. In 2013 the construction of the new Nish Dental Clinic across from the Cranbrook Library began and was completed later that year. The office was beautiful, large and modern and able to serve many more patients and employ more dental professionals.
Though busy working and caring for the needs of his local patients, Dean made time for several overseas volunteer opportunities, including service in Lima Peru, Tonga, and several trips to serve the underprivileged children of Jerusalem Israel. Dean loves these service trips, as he gets to travel to new parts of the world while using his dental skills to improve the lives of many people.
Dr. Nish loves his growing family, and especially loves traveling all over our beautiful world, having spent time in over 35 countries, with many more on his list to visit. He will miss all his wonderful patients, some who have been with him since taking over the practice from Dr. Bauman. He loves his work, his patients, and his fellow workers, but will continue to keep his license so that he can still provide dental services on a volunteer basis in underdeveloped areas of the world. We wish him all the best on his new journey of retirement.
Dr. Edward Wolfs was born and raised in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta. Much of his growing years were spent caring for animals, speed skating and playing soccer. After High School he served a two year service mission in Ecuador where he became fluent in Spanish. He completed his undergraduate and Dental degrees at the University of Alberta after which he worked for seven years in central Alberta. When the opportunity came to work with his older brother Stephan in the beautiful city of Cranbrook, he and his family were thrilled to join the team at the Nish Dental Clinic. Dr. Ed and his wife have 3 lively children and 7 chickens. They are so grateful for the opportunity to work and live in the Kootenays.
Dr. Edward Wolfs is currently accepting new patients.
