Our History

Dr. Lorne Berman established the Sechelt Dental Centre in 1974. In 1988, Dr. Dan Kingsbury joined as a partner, and the original office—located above the Bank of Montreal at Cowrie and Wharf Street—was renovated and expanded. A year later, in February 1989, both the office and the bank were destroyed by fire. Construction soon began on the current location, adjacent to the Sechelt Health Unit and across from the Post Office at Inlet and Dolphin. In collaboration with local builders and craftsman Clark Steabner, who harvested logs from his Roberts Creek property (see also the Sechelt Arts Centre for his woodwork), the distinctive West Coast–inspired space that remains today was created.

In 2007, the Sechelt Dental Centre expanded again, adding a dedicated hygiene wing to accommodate the growing community, and at this time, Dr. Berman’s son-in-law, Dr. Michael Bradshaw—who had recently graduated from the University of Saskatchewan—joined the practice as an associate dentist. In 2012, after five years with the practice, Dr. Bradshaw took an extended leave with his family to New Zealand, where he worked in private practice and as a Professional Practice Fellow at the University of Otago Faculty of Dentistry. In 2024, Dr. Bradshaw returned to his home town on the Sunshine Coast to take over the operation of the Sechelt Dental Centre and to continue the evolution of the practice.

Photos 2-3 : Clark Steabner preparing the logs.
Photo 4: Builders (left to right) Dan Clemens, Clark Steabner, and Sam Clemens.

Our practice is located in Sechelt, the traditional and ancestral territory of the shíshálh Nation. We’re grateful for the opportunity to care for and serve the people of the Sunshine Coast community and beyond.