March 20, 1948 – March 27, 2026
Michael passed away on March 27, 2026 at Maple Ridge Seniors Village. He was born and raised on a family farm in northern Alberta. He shared a loving marriage with his wife, Annette LeBox, and took an active role as a grandfather. He earned a teaching certificate from the University of Alberta, a Bachelor of Science in biology and a Master’s degree in psychology. He worked on the oil rigs, fished for salmon off the coast of Prince Rupert and fought fire in Alaska. As a biologist he studied wildlife in remote parts of Western Canada and survived a mauling of a grizzly bear in 1975.
Michael was a wilderness tourism guide for seven years, owning Hummingbird Nature Tours before working as a constituency assistant for former Bill Hartley for eight years in the nineties. Before being elected as an N.D.P. MLA representing Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows in 2005, he worked as a Mental Health therapist with Burnaby Mental Health. He served two terms as an MLA before retiring.
Michael was an expert birder and with his scientific background, he wrote A study of breeding success of Sandhill Cranes in the Lower Mainland of BC, which was published in the ornithological journal, British Columbia Birds, Volume 29, 2019. This was one of his proudest accomplishments.
Michael will be remembered as a fierce advocate for the environment and agriculture. He will be lovingly missed by his wife, Annette, his brother, Denny Sather, sister-in law, Alison Sather, his step-daughter, Sara Bates Rowe, his grandchildren, Thales and Charly Rowe, his step-son, Christian Bates, his grandchildren, Bailey Hutton and Mason Bates and his nieces, Donna Casperow and Debi Pretty.