Throughout his life, Michael has been the definition of a hardworking man. He dedicated three decades of his life to Molson’s Brewery, working in Lethbridge, Calgary, and Edmonton to provide for his family. He was a man of action, and when he finally reached his well-earned retirement, he didn’t slow down. He filled his days with the things he loved most: hunting and fishing with family and friends and meticulously tending to his yard and puttering in his garage. Without question, Michael would drop everything to help someone in need. He showed his love not just in words, but in the steady work of his hands and his presence at every family gathering from Lethbridge to Medicine Hat.
But our world began to shift long before we had a name for what was happening. We noticed the subtle changes first: a loss of mobility in his left shoulder, strange twitching in his muscles, and an exhaustion that seemed impossible for a man who couldn’t sit still. We watched him struggle with simple tasks that had always been second nature. The turning point came during a medical exam, a moment we will never forget. The doctor couldn’t get a reading because Michael’s muscles were “jumping” so much. That was the day a doctor first spoke the letters ALS. After a series of tests at the South Campus hospital in Calgary, our fears were confirmed. On January 2, 2024, Michael was officially diagnosed and our lives were forever changed.
There is a heavy sorrow in bearing witness to this disease for all of Michael’s family and friends. It is heart-wrenching to watch a man who spent his life as the pillar of our family—the one we all leaned on—navigate a slow, relentless physical decline. ALS is a thief that tries to steal a person’s independence. Watching Michael face a challenge that cannot be mended with tools or a long day’s work is a grief that touches our hearts every single day. Despite this, he is still the husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend who anchors us, meeting this incredibly difficult challenge with a grace that leaves us in awe. He has taught us that while ALS can take his strength, it cannot touch his character and his spirit.
Michael has shown us a level of bravery we never knew possible. He has met every devastating milestone of this disease with a relentlessly positive attitude. We have watched Michael take each loss in stride—from the day he could no longer get behind the wheel, to the first time he reached for a cane, to the transition into a wheelchair, and the installation of a stair lift in his home. At the center of these transitions is Jane, Michael’s loving wife of 58 years. She has been an incredible support for Michael and our entire family. Jane stepped into the role of caregiver with a depth of love and patience that is nothing short of heroic. Jane selflessly navigates the daily complexities of this disease, ensuring Michael is always comfortable and never feels alone.
Thankfully, Michael has not had to carry this burden alone. He is surrounded by family and friends who provide unwavering love and support. The ALS Society of Alberta has been nothing short of amazing—an essential lifeline providing the knowledge, expertise, and equipment we need to navigate this journey. The kind and caring staff at the South Campus Calgary Hospital have been our partners in care, ensuring Mike is treated with the dignity and kindness all those suffering with ALS deserve.
We are walking for the man who spent a lifetime being there for family and friends and who now needs us to stand tall for him. We are walking for Jane, and for every family who provides care with tired arms and full hearts. Most of all, we are walking for the hope that one day, no more families will have to fight this horrible disease.
Michael is honoured to be your Lethbridge 2026 Side-by-Side ALS Ambassador. Please consider joining us for the Walk Together for ALS. When we walk together, we ensure that Michael, and families like ours, are never left to walk alone.
