Michael was a tireless champion and supporter of the arts across Canada for more than four decades, beginning his career as an architect and campus planner for institutions such as Ryerson Polytechnic and the Ontario College of Art and eventually becoming the General Manager of Toronto’s major civic cultural centre, the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, in 1985. In 1994, he was invited out west to oversee the planning and development of a brand new cultural facility at UBC, which would open its doors as the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts in 1997 with Michael at the helm.
He was a passionate and visionary leader in the early stages of this organization, a beloved colleague and “boss”, a dedicated patron, and a kind and thoughtful friend.