Michael Moore

Michael died peacefully in his sleep on the morning of November 20 after a courageous and inspiring battle with cancer.

Michael was born in Vancouver and spent his early years with his family in the wilderness at the fishing and logging village of Winter Harbour on northern Vancouver Island. Later in life he built a cabin there where his family spent many happy days through the years.

As there was no high school in Winter Harbour Michael went to Vancouver where he was a full-boarder at St. George’s School for five years.

As a young man Michael traveled in Europe for 10 years, mainly France, occasionally returning to his native village to work in the family logging business long enough to get back out into the world. While backpacking he learned the guitar and found himself the minstrel at gatherings on his journeys.

While in Paris, Michael met Sophie Oliveau, the love of his life. They were married and moved to Winter Harbour where Michael managed the family salmon farming business for seven years. There they soon brought a son, Ariel, into the world, followed by their daughter, Iris. The family moved to Port Hardy in the early 1990s where son Emanuel was born while Michael worked as executive-director of a community-based program to bring the participants in the fishing industry into a common dialogue.

Michael was among the founding members of Hollyhock on Cortes Island where he returned each summer to rejuvenate his spirit and to share his experience with others.

Through the years Michael developed into a master guitarist, composing and producing recordings of his work under the stage name Michael Waters. He regularly played concerts, both solo and accompanied, for audiences close to home and abroad. He drew inspiration from his spiritual nature and his music had a profound impact on his audiences.

Michael was also an accomplished webmaster, producing websites for many businesses and non-profits. Combining these skills with his charitable nature he worked with the Uganda-based BeadforLife, helping impoverished women to become self-sufficient in business.

From 2013-2016 Michael toured several European countries as communications director with the campaign to allow Golden Rice as a cure for vitamin A deficiency.

Above all, Michael was a positive force for life: always the optimist with a wry sense of humour and a passion for his music, his family, his work and his community.

Michael is survived by his loving wife Sophie, his children Ariel, Iris, and Emanuel, his mother Beverly, his brothers Patrick (Eileen), Will, and Graham (Luby), and his sister Tani (Bill), and his step-mother Jan.

A Celebration of Life to be privately announced will be held for Michael in April. Condolences can be left on his online guestbook at www.firstmemorialvictoria.com. Donations in his memory (under the name of Michael Moore) can be made to the