Dentistry and giving back to the community are two things that run deep with the Wiens brothers, Evan and Ethan.

In 2013, Dr. Evan Wiens received the University of the Fraser Valley’s Young Distinguished Alumni Award, and Dr. Ethan Wiens is this year’s recipient, recognized for the same commitment to giving back through community service.

“Oral health is crucial to a community’s overall health, and I think it’s important to be involved in the community you care for to best serve it,” Ethan says. “Being a good healthcare provider means understanding and contributing to the lives of the people you serve, and that means investing time in getting to know the people around us, building meaningful relationships, and giving back to the places we call home.

“That’s a practical reason for giving back, but for Evan and I both, I also think it’s just innate to us. We do it because we want to do it.”

Inspired by Evan, who’s nine years older and has long been a mentor figure, Ethan is a member of the Mission Dental Society which is a group of local dentists that provides scholarships for young students pursuing education in the field of dentistry, such as the certified dental assistant program at UFV. He’s also active with the Mission Sip n’ Stroll, as well as fundraising initiatives with the Mission Rotary Club. Through these organizations and events, he helps bring dental and healthcare professionals together with members of the community while supporting causes that make a meaningful difference in the city and region.

His commitment to service also extends to the world of professional sport. As an in-game dentist for the Abbotsford Canucks, Ethan works alongside physicians, surgeons, therapists, trainers, and other healthcare professionals to support players throughout the season. But for him, the experience offers something beyond the opportunity to provide care. “You get to see the human side of professional sport. It’s amazing to watch young athletes navigate the balance between doing something they love and managing the pressures that come with competing at such a high level,” says Ethan. “Being part of an incredible medical team and working alongside so many dedicated healthcare professionals to support the health and wellbeing of elite athletes is a really special experience.”

Raised in Abbotsford, Ethan took an unusual path to his career, starting with a Bachelor of Arts at UFV, followed by a post-graduate degree at the University of Sydney in Australia. Completing his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree during the pandemic, Ethan used the fine arts knowledge he learned at UFV to develop digital media teaching materials for first and second year dental students, helping prepare them for clinical practice.

Ethan played a key role in writing and producing the university’s clinical Handbook in Restorative Dentistry, a comprehensive resource developed in collaboration with senior faculty and leaders in the field of restorative dentistry.

Dr. Maria Tran, one of Ethan’s professors, wrote a nomination letter in which she lauded him for translating complex clinical protocols into clear, practical guidance for students entering clinical training. Though he is now back in Canada, Maria said his resource will continue to benefit future cohorts.

“Ethan brought a unique interdisciplinary perspective to his work,” she noted. “He applied his background in visual arts and media production from UFV to the design of instructional graphics, video teaching materials, and multimedia resources supporting clinical education during COVID-19,” Tran wrote. “At a time when dental schools were actively exploring new teaching modalities, his contributions helped bridge the gap between traditional written instruction and modern digital learning tools.”

Encouraged by Evan to pursue a career in dentistry, Ethan has carried this cutting-edge approach to his work at Heritage Dental Centre in Mission. In her nomination letter, Dr. Diana Germain said he’s always pursuing continuing education and advanced training in areas of oral surgery and orthodontics so that he can provide the most recent evidence-based care to his patients.

More than that, she says, he’s built his practice around relationships and trust.

“He provides care to many multi-generational families from Mission and our surrounding communities, often treating grandparents, parents, and young children within the same household,” Diana wrote. “He takes the time to ensure patients fully understand their oral health and treatment options, and his calm approach helps people feel comfortable and confident in his care. His commitment has helped him earn the trust of many families and vulnerable people in our community.” Ethan also participates in a free dental emergency on-call program that provides 24-hour access to a dentist, often to individuals that don’t have regular access to care.

Ethan says his time at UFV played an important role in shaping both his professional and personal path. “It taught me to think critically, communicate clearly, and approach challenges from multiple perspectives — skills that have proven invaluable in dentistry,” he says. “Dentistry is a technical profession, but it’s also built on communication, empathy, and problem-solving. I did a lot of sculpture, photography, painting, videography, and digital graphic design at UFV, and I think my fine arts background is a benefit that a lot of other dentists don’t have.”

For students just entering university, Ethan encourages them to take the time to explore and accept that they don’t have to have everything figured out. “Think about what’s important to you and take some courses to find out what you like,” he says. “Also surround yourself with people that want to see you succeed and teach you from their own experience. I wouldn’t be the person and dentist I am today without family and colleagues that have mentored me throughout my journey. Your life is going to ebb and flow.

“Taking those extra few years to explore through education and meet people is well worth the time and effort.”