Former Canadian Dental Association president Alastair Nicoll dies
Elkford dentist led the national association, received its highest honour and mentored dental students in the Elk Valley
Dr. Alastair Nicoll, right, presents Dr. Ken Bentley with the Canadian Dental Association Medal of Honour at the association’s 2016 annual meeting.
Photo: Greg Teckles / Canadian Dental Association
Dr. Alastair Nicoll, an Elkford dentist who served as president of the Canadian Dental Association while continuing to practise in the Elk Valley, has died.
Nicoll died Aug. 26 at 72, according to a notice published by Cherished Memories Funeral Services in Fernie.
He served as president of the Canadian Dental Association in 2015–16 after previously serving as president-elect. The association identified him as an Elkford dentist when he was installed as president in April 2015.
Nicoll had also served as president of the British Columbia Dental Association and held leadership roles with the Northwest Territories Dental Association, Kootenay Dental Association and the College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia.
His national work continued after his presidency.
In 2016, the Canadian Dental Association established a 25-member Task Force on the Future of the Profession, chaired by Nicoll. The group examined issues expected to affect dentistry over the following years, including access to oral health care, changes in the dental workforce and the future delivery of care.
Its work resulted in the Canadian Dentistry 2032 report and a series of recommendations that the national association later prioritized with provincial and territorial dental organizations.
Nicoll’s contributions were recognized in 2018–19 when the Canadian Dental Association awarded him its Medal of Honour.
The association describes the Medal of Honour as its pinnacle award, recognizing extraordinary service to dentistry, leadership and contributions that have had a significant effect on the profession or broader community.
Nicoll also remained involved in dental care and training in the Elk Valley.
UBC Dentistry has documented his work as a longtime mentor through its Summer Student Practitioner Program, which places dental students in rural and community practices.
In one documented 2022 placement, a UBC dental student spent several days with Nicoll in Elkford and observed hospital-based dental care involving pediatric patients and people with complex medical needs.
UBC highlighted Nicoll’s influence again in 2025, when dentist Dr. Greg Allan credited time spent shadowing him during dental school with helping shape his decision to pursue hospital dentistry.
Nicoll’s family said he established a regular dental surgery program at Elk Valley Hospital that served communities throughout the Elk Valley for many years.
His career began outside British Columbia. According to his family, Nicoll was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, studied dentistry at Bristol University and worked in Britain’s National Health Service before moving to Yellowknife in 1986.
There, he provided dental care in remote Northwest Territories communities before moving to the Elk Valley in November 1989.
Nicoll was born Sept. 12, 1953.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; children Jenny, Richard, Laura and Thomas; nine grandchildren; his brothers Michael and Jeffrey; and extended family.
A celebration of life was scheduled for Sept. 12 at Knox on 2nd in Fernie.
An Influenza A outbreak remains active on the medical unit at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital in Trail.