Dr. Jeremy Begalke on Legacy, Learning, and Giving Back

For Dr. Jeremy Begalke, becoming an optometrist was more than just a career choice – it was the start of a journey shaped by family, community, and a strong connection to home. From the hallways of Northwestern Polytechnic, that journey would lead to a career serving patients around the world while never losing sight of where it all started. 

When the Begalkes moved to the Peace Region in the early 1980s, Jeremy’s mother joined what was then Grande Prairie Regional College (GPRC), now Northwestern Polytechnic (NWP). As a founding instructor in the nursing program, she helped build out health-related offerings and remained deeply committed to student success. That same spirit filled their home, where all four children eventually followed unique paths into health professions. 

It wasn’t something they were pushed toward. Their parents encouraged independence and curiosity, not specific job titles. Still, each sibling gravitated toward the health professions in their own way. Jeremy’s older brother became a dentist. His sister pursued physiotherapy. Her husband, whom she met at NWP, went on to specialize in anaesthesiology. Jeremy’s younger brother began in the sciences and later became a pharmacist.

“I remember visiting my mom’s office regularly,” Jeremy says. “That exposure made me very aware of the college as a place of opportunity.”

When it came time to apply to a post-secondary, staying close to home just made sense. In 1994, Jeremy enrolled in the pre-professional science program. He was drawn to the smaller class sizes, approachable instructors, and the ability to focus without the distractions, and costs, that come with moving away. 

“I’m convinced I wouldn’t have earned the grades I needed if I had gone straight to a big university,” he says. “The personal attention I got at GPRC made all the difference.”

Jeremy fully immersed himself in campus life. His days were packed with classes, labs, gym workouts, and long evenings in the library. Lunches in the Howler lounge provided a sense of connection, where he built friendships that have lasted well beyond graduation.

Jeremy initially considered a career in medicine, inspired in part by a high school volunteer trip to Egypt that exposed him to global health disparities. The experience sparked a strong desire to make a difference. But after his first year in sciences, he began to question becoming a doctor was the right path. As he explored other options, he discovered optometry, and it clicked. The blend of science, hands-on learning, and the opportunity to help others, locally and abroad. fit exactly what he was looking for.

Since 2001, Dr. Begalke has been helping people see the world more clearly through his work at FYidoctors. In addition to his thriving Grande Prairie practice, he has volunteered on eye care missions in Mexico, Cambodia, Burma, Zanzibar, and the Philippines. These global experiences have shaped his clinical approach and his outlook on life.

“When we take our skills to places where there’s no one else, it’s incredibly fulfilling,” he says. “But it’s also humbling. The people we help often live with very little, yet they’re kind, grateful, and full of joy. It reminds me to be thankful and to try to be a better human.”

Jeremy doesn’t dwell on the idea of legacy. The connection between his family and NWP runs deep. For more than four decades, the Begalke’s have been part of the NWP story, through classrooms, community, and the careers that followed.

Today, he encourages his own children to explore their passions with the same sense of freedom he once had. He won’t tell them what to choose, but he’ll always remember where his journey began.

“NWP gave me my best shot. I had everything I needed to succeed.”

From a quiet library on campus to clinics around the world, Jeremy’s path reflects the impact of starting strong and staying connected to your roots.