Dr. Chris Ekong, neurosurgeon who was CTV Regina’s 2024 Citizen of the Year, dies

The former CTV Regina Citizen of the Year and neurosurgeon passed away leaving a lasting legacy in medicine and charity.

Dr. Chris Ekong, a retired neurosurgeon who was named CTV Regina’s Citizen of the Year for 2024, has died.

According to an obituary on Dignity Memorial, Ekong passed away peacefully on Feb. 18, 2026, “leaving behind a legacy defined by excellence in medicine and unwavering commitment to God and humanity.”

Ekong was born in December of 1946 in Uyo, Nigeria, and completed his medical training at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria in 1972 before moving to Canada.

He trained in neurosurgery in Saskatoon and Toronto, gaining a specialist certification in neurosurgery and post-residency fellowship in neurotrauma. He then joined the medical practitioner staff in Regina in 1982.

He later served as lead for the Division of Neurosurgery in Regina for over 10 years until 2019.

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Among his accomplishments, Ekong served for five years as a member of the board of directors of the Saskatchewan Medical Association and also served as a board member of the Regina Regional Medical Association.

He has also published more than 100 papers and has won numerous awards throughout his career, also establishing a foundation which helped fund technological needs of health institutions around the world.

“He believed that access to surgical expertise should not be limited by geography and worked tirelessly to bridge gaps in global health education. Many surgeons worldwide benefited from his mentorship and generosity,” his obituary stated.

Following his retirement in 2019, he continued to be active in the community.

In 2023, he partnered with the Hospitals of Regina Foundation to begin the Dr. Chris Ekong Neuro Spine Fellowship, which will train surgeons over a 10-year period.

Ekongs’ Celebration of Life service will be held on May 1.

In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to be sent to C&J Ekong Charitable Foundation.

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