5 Nov 2004

I was shocked to hear of Michael's passing, and it brought back one memory in peticular for me. While I have not talked with him since High School, reading the postings on this site has truely given me a better idea of his character. As I am sure you all know, Mike knew exactly what he was after, and before most of his age group could even clearly define their goals and aspirations, he had already achieved his. It reminds me of a class I had with him in High School - Transportation class.

One of the projects was to build a styrofoam airplane that would use a small gas motor for propulsion. While most of the class cut every possible corner to get to the finished product, Mike very carefully crafted his plane to the most demanding precision. The result was spectacular - The plane looked amazing. The engines we used carried about one minute worth of fuel, and most planes did not make it the full minute. One other plane ended up lasting for about 2 minutes if i recall correctly. Last plane to fly was Mike's. I still remember him letting go of the aircraft - Not an overhand throw to get some extra air speed like the rest of the students - just a simple, confident opening of the hand, and off went the plane. We could hear the buzzing and watched in amazement as it flew higher, more stable, and more graceful than all the others. Once the gas ran out, the plane went higher, and higher, and higher..

It stayed in the air, soaring high above the "Back Fourty" at West Carleton, and finally dropped out of sight 15-20 minutes after the first gentle release. So far, in fact, that a search was not attempted as it would require a 20 minute hike through the bush! I have always looked back on this time as a guide for my own life, how taking the time to do something properly and methodically will always produce superior results, and the importance of a clear goal. I envy him, for in the time he was with us, he has touched more lives than I could ever hope to in 80 years. My condolances to all who knew him.

Christian Fry
Carleton Place
fry_christian@hotmail.com

1 Nov 2004

We always thought that news (good and bad) travelled fast in "small towns" but this time, it was not the case. There is no way to express the feelings we felt when we heard of Michael's tragic death. Memories of years gone by and the Channer's quickly flooded back. A smile came to our faces as we thought back of the good ol' days - the frequent visits to the "Fresh Approach", the "Cub" walk back to the banks of the Jock River - the cherub yet mischievous face of Michael. We were lucky to have known little Michael and in reflection are sorry that we lost greater contact.

The memories that others are sharing truly reflects that Micheal lived a full life and in doing so touched the lives of many others. It can only be hoped that this together with the knowledge that others are thinking of you now will be of some small help.

D.J., Brodie and Laura wish to be remember to you both.

Bruce & Barb Stackhouse
Prospect, Ontario
stackhouse@sympatico.ca

31 Oct 2004

Please accept our sincere sympathy on the loss of your son, Mike. We never had the privilege of meeting him but reading the tributes to him from others gives us some idea of the young man he turned out to be. It is impossible for us to say that we know how you feel but we can imagine your great sorrow in losing a child. His memory will be kept very much alive by all the people that have responded and others who have been touched by him.

Our love and prayers are with you. If you are traveling in the Maritimes, please call us. We would love to have a visit. Home Economics ties are strong.

Trinkie and Garth Coffin
Truro, Nova Scotia
Canadagcoffin@eastlink.ca

24 Oct 2004

I have just heard of Mikes death through a mutual friend, Matthew Williams. My friend and I arrived in Johannesburg from the UK to start our 3 month round the world trip on 20 April 2004. Within a few hours we had met Matt and Mike who were a really nice pair and totally put us at ease. We chatted to Mike for a while and heard all about his piloting and his dreams of trying to get a pilot license to work in S.Africa (I can't remember the ins and outs of it all but hope that this detail is correct).

Anyway, the four of us arranged to out for a drink in the evening and Mike drove us all to a suburb in J'burg where we drank and played pool for hours and hours. It was a fab night and I haven't had so much fun for ages. I met Mike for 'one night only' but he was a great laugh and extremely genuine. When you are a long way from home Mike is the kind of guy you
can only wish to meet.

Fiona Thomson
Kenilworth, England
FionaThomson82@hotmail.com

23 Oct 2004

Although I did not know Mike very well, I knew a few things about him. When I met him in the summer of 2002 at National Flyers in Waterloo, there was no question in my mind that he was a professional pilot, and he had love of what he was doing, and what he wanted to do.

He never hesitated to answer a question, or add some helpful advice, and I knowthat he is in a good place now where never lark nor eagle flew.

Dave Green
Thunder Bay, Ont
dgreener@gmail.com

21 Oct 2004

My name is Matt Sattler, and I graduated from Sault College a year after Mike. When we heard the news of Mike's accident, we were all deeply saddened. For many of us here at work, the past few days have been spent in quiet reflection. I'm writing, as a stranger, to say that my thoughts and prayers
are with you and your family. If you don't mind, I would like to also share with you a few thoughts on Mike, and how he impacted my life and career.

I was a year behind Mike, and so I was only fortunate enough to have talked with him several times, although we shared several mutual friends. What struck me about Mike was his inherent kindness and natural ability to treat others with tremendous respect. As you can imagine, learning to fly is an overwhelming endeavour for any kid, so it was very common for junior students to look up to third years. I knew that Mike had instructed at National Flyers during the summer of my first year, and was eager to hear all about it when he returned for his third year. He was kind (and not to mention patient!) enough to answer all my questions. He was very honest about all the ups and downs of flight instructing, and it was completely obvious that he loved to fly.It's strange how the details of a conversation like that come flooding back when you have a chance to realize its significance.

I remember exactly where we were standing in the dispatch area. I even seem to remember the weather being somewhat disagreeable that day. Needless to say, his advice inspired me to work harder. That day I made it my goal to follow his lead and work as an instructor during my summer break. Mike's enthusiasm was such that he became a subconscious reference point for what I wished to become. I'm sure if y
ou were to speak with any of my classmates, you'd quickly realize I was not the only one who looked up to him. My hope is that you can find some solace in knowing that he was a tremendous leader for us all in terms of his professionalism, kindness, and love for aviation. For that, we are all grateful.Once again, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Sault College, Class of 2004 Instructor, National Flyers Academy

Matt Sattler
Kitchener, Ontario
mattler@magma.ca