Dr. Dean Nish was born and raised on a farm south of Cardston, Alberta.  His hobbies in youth were music and reading.  After graduation from Cardston High School, Dr. Nish attended the University of Alberta for 2 years working on his B.Sc degree.  He took a two year break from University and lived in France, volunteering for his church.  Upon acceptance to the University of Alberta Dental School, he then joined the Canadian Armed Forces Dental Services to be sponsored as an officer.  During summer breaks from University, while other students relaxed, Dr. Nish attended Boot Camp and other rigorous military training sessions.  After graduation, he was posted to Nova Scotia to work as a Dentist for three years, then off to the Queen Charlotte Islands for a two year posting.  While in the Islands, he worked on Saturdays at a Private Clinic and discovered how enjoyable it was to treat families, not just soldiers.  He moved to Cranbrook in July 1992 with his wife, Heather and three young children.  Over the next few years, they added three more children to the clan.  Now he’s the grandfather to 5 little ones & life is really beginning to get busy.  Cranbrook has been a great place for Dr. Nish and his family.  He’s been singing with a local choir, Sun Valley Song, for many years and has just joined the Cranbrook Community Orchestra, dusting off that clarinet from his youth.  Hiking, back country camping and skiing, both Alpine and Nordic have kept him very happy on his days off.  Heather and him have also traveled to foreign countries to do volunteer dentistry; Peru, Tonga and Israel so far.