Working (and of course having beers) with Mike was always a lot of fun and those memories will stay with me for a long long time. While we didn't agree on who is the best golfer is (Phil or the Big Easy), I will miss trying to convince him.

My sincere condolences to Mike’s family and thank you for posting all these photos. 

Cheers Mike, you will be missed! 



I was deeply saddened to hear about Mike's passing. I met Smitty over 20 years ago when we were both working at a discount brokerage. He was as great boss with a wicked sense of humor. I will always remember fondly the after work bevvies with the rest of the crew at Carlos and Buds among other haunts. Eventually we all went our separate ways and would meet once a year or so to talk about the glory days. I always enjoyed those meet ups. Smitty you will be missed. 

To Hue and Mike's family, please accept my deepest condolences.

Brent Walker 

Mike, 

It's hard to truly accept you aren't with us anymore. I've known you for more than 20 years, from the time we started at Qtrade in 2000 and you were working on the compliance manual (did you ever finish that?) until the past few years when we had lunch weekly and  occasionally met up with Aly for beers at the Frog. We used to joke about being forced to go to the Frog because Aly was too lazy to go anywhere else...odd though that we went there even when he wasn't with us. You ordered a Frog burger with fries 100% of the time, cut your burger in half (which I do all the time now) and ate half of your fries. Hey, if it works, right?

One thing I would like to say is thank you for being so generous. You drove over the Burrard Bridge countless times at 5 AM to pick me up for work. Not many, if any, would do that. During our weekly lunches, it always seemed to be your turn to pay. Not sure it was, but that was just you being you. 

I could go on for days, but I thought I'd instead share with everyone  the top 5 things you said to me or around me. I laughed at the time and it brings a smile to my face to think about them now.

5. No, I don't want to golf. Stop asking me.
4. I told you I didn't want to golf. Can we go home yet?
3. Why do you always  have to be such an ass?
2. Why do you always have to be such a [can't repeat that word, but you know it if you know Mike]?
1. Hello darling [to Hue of course}

Hue, thank you for letting me be part of the ceremonies. It was my honor. Thank you for also driving Mike and I back on Friday afternoons. That must have been super-annoying to listen to.

Mike, I know the last thing you would ever want is a fuss made over you, but sorry pal, we did that and you deserved it. May peace be with you. 

In the 10+ years that I have known Mike through his (sister-in-law/brother-in-law) Mai & Grant, Mike has always been a very kind and generous person.  He always welcomed me into his home and was very hospitable whenever I was over on weekends and holidays to hang out with Mai and Grant.
I also saw how caring and loving Mike was towards his niece Jade.
It has truly been an honour and pleasure to have known him.

My deepest condolences to Hue and all of Mike's family.  Mike will always be remembered and he will be missed.  May he rest in peace.

Liv

Many ears ago Michael was kind enough to autograph an extra pro photo for me. I kept it all these years and each time I discovered it again it made me smile and chuckle .

I am truly devastated since learning that my beloved pal Smitty has passed. My sincere and heartfelt condolences to Hue and both Her and Michael's Families.  

Smitty and I go all the way back to 1996 when we were co-workers and sat beside one another at TD Bank. Both armed with non-conforming ponytails,  a healthy abundance of cynicism and an English-flavoured sense of humour, we quickly began what was to be a lasting and lovely friendship over some 24 years.  

Many wonderful memories come to mind.  A camping weekend in Tofino, an excursion down to Portland for a Tragically Hip show, sharing Michael & Hue's Wedding day.  It was the simple stuff as well. Having a laugh at work or going for a beer at the end of the day and talking "ice hockey". There was nothing like hearing a South African accent commenting on the power play and Pavel and Trevor's performances. 

Inevitably there were gaps in our contact and sharing time together over the years. The death of another mutual friend a few years ago put Mike and I back on a path of communicating and meeting up again more frequently. In these last few years it was almost always a meetup for a cheeky beer at 4pm that would turn into 5 or 6 hours and many, many beers. Time flew by when we'd meetup. Story after story and a tonne of laughs. We always picked up right where we left off. 

I am grateful for the time we had and will miss you dearly Smitty. 
Behind that grumpy old man persona was always a smiling soul. 

You were truly a lovely guy and a great friend. 
RIP Smitty 


Fond memories of our epic backpacking trip in 1988 and good times at Rose Court and the Pig & Whistle as students. 
My standout memories from those times with Mike include:
- U2 in our panel van crossing Europe
- Mikes vocal dislike of the SA police force 
- Parties at Rose Court 
- Mirror in the Bathroom and Madness at full volume
- Mikes Ford Estcourt "the dog". It could actually drive itself.
- Beers at the Pig whistle

Then we all grew up and  Mike found his soulmate in Hue. We loved catching up when they visited SA, and spoke often of arranging a 4x4 safari to Botswana and Zambia to experience the real Africa that Mike wanted . We hope Hue will take some time off and join us on that trip someday...  

Mike , go well

   

Mike my friend for over 40 years ,school days,university and our overseas travels in the 80’s.There are so many wonderful memories that I will treasure forever.

I always looked forward to Mikes visits to Cape Town and even though we only saw each other every few years our friendship remained the same. It was like he had never left .

Some of my fondest memories are the times we spent standing on the ramps at the Newlands rugby ground watching our beloved Western Province followed by a number of beers at a local establishment .And of course the endless summer days at Castle corner at the cricket.

I will always remember Mike making the decision to leave Cape Town and move to Canada where he would meet his beloved Hue.It was wonderful to meet Hue when she and Mike visited Cape Town and to see how happy they were together.Clearly Mike made the right decision to move to Canada. 

We will all miss Mike terribly but will always cherish the memories.

Sending strength and our love to Hue,Wendy ,Lesley and their families.

All our love 

Andrew and Debs

So many good times and memories with Mike in Vancouver, often involving beverages and a patio. After I moved away from Vancouver, Mike was one of those rare friends that you could call out of the blue a couple of times a year and pick up like you had just seen each other last week. It was guaranteed he would make me laugh with his dry sense of humour or a sarcastic comment. I'll miss you my friend.

To Hue and Mike's family,  my deepest condolences and Tina and I are thinking of you.

I have had many occasions over the years to meet with Michael during my visits to our team in Vancouver. He was always very personable and welcoming. He was passionate about his role in investor protection. He was always candid and kept a calm demeanor, even in challenging times. Michael always had a wry smile and a witty comment to make. He always had a funny story to tell over a beer.

I appreciate the opportunity to have known him and worked with him . I will remember Michael and his good nature.

To his wife Hue and all of his family and friends, I offer my deepest sympathies. 

For Mike, my little brother, uncle and brother in law
 We can see you sitting there grinning down at us  corona in hand having a good chuckle. Cheers my brother.
Dancing on the tables at Verdis was great fun.  
You always made us laugh with your quick, sharp, dry sense of humour. 
You are now  free.  Spread your wings and fly.
You are forever in our hearts. Till we meet again. 
With much love
Gene, Les, Richard and Michael. xxxx















For my big brother, my teacher and my protector as we grew up, my friend and our very cool uncle:

Mick, it's another beautifully sunny day in mid-winter Marlborough today. You'd never believe me, but come and see for yourself. xx

Although we can no longer see you, I draw comfort in knowing that everything remains the same as it ever was. 

If we could send you a  virtual gift it would be a crate of Coronas, some biltong, a tub of Haagen Dazs Rocky Road ice cream and a slab of Whittakers Hokey Pokey chocolate, together with a Madness Greatest Hits album, all wrapped in our love for you. 

Rest easy Mick, love you forever,

Wendy, Manu, Emma and Damien xxxx 

I worked closely with Michael for over six years and he was a determined and insightful investigator.  I will miss having a beer with him and talking about footie and his family.  We both commiserated,about trying to learn French as my kids and his niece were in French immersion.  He was always good natured even when he came back to work for a while.  I even heard from a parent of a player on my Little League team who worked with him years ago at CIBC and commented what a great guy he was.  I consider myself lucky to have had him as a work colleague and a friend.

Having known Mike for over 25 years, it's hard to imagine not seeing that bright smile or being on the receiving end of some quick wit. I'm gonna miss getting together talking sports, politics or just about life in general over drinks every few weeks. 

Working with him was also wonderful. 

I know he is in a better place  so I try to take comfort in that but I'm still going to miss you alot my friend.

OBITUARY

Michael Edward Smith

14 June, 1964 – 20 June, 2020

Burkeview Memorial Services

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