Gordon David Michael

He was born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on November 28, 1947, to the late Mike and Sophie (nee Khoury) Michael. He grew up above the family store, Michael’s Grocery, and carried fond memories and stories of that time throughout his life.

Gordon graduated from Prince of Wales College, UPEI with a Bachelor of Science, Acadia University with a Bachelor of Education, and from Dalhousie University with a Master of Education. Gordon’s early teaching career took him to Corner Brook, NL to Charlottetown, PEI and finally to B.C. Silver in Spryfield. While the classroom was his starting point, his passion for working in communities and lifelong education inspired him to explore education in many settings.

Gordon worked for the Atlantic Institute of Education and was the Coordinator for Continuing and Community Education for the Bedford District School Board, the Director of Community Education for the Halifax Regional Center for Education and the Director of Continuing and Community Education for the Province of Nova Scotia. He was a founder of EXCEL, an after-school program (now of increasing relevance to his daughters with young children). During his time as the Director of the Atlantic Canada Community Education Centre, funded by the C.S. Mott Foundation in Flint, Gordon took leaders several times from Nova Scotia to Michigan so they could see on-site businesses and community in practice. This work demonstrated his philosophy of more action, less talk!

Gordon continued to work on projects for NS Health, Feed Nova Scotia, the Halifax Seaport Farmers Market and the Halifax Inner City Initiative. He also served as the Director of Continuing Education for St. Mary’s University. Most recently, he was the Executive Director and developer of the Mentoring Plus Strategy, that started at Dalhousie and extended beyond Nova Scotia. After he found his retirement unexciting, he started planning with the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) to implement the Mentorship Plus program again this spring. Gordon was a member of many professional associations throughout his career and received a national award for volunteerism. Across all these endeavors, he always held a quiet but relentless determination that will be missed.

Gordon had big ideas as it related to his community work and was always excited to share his thinking to anyone from colleagues to his children to his taxi drivers. His passion for education and lifelong learning became part of his leisure life. While Gordon enjoyed attending antique and art auctions and musical concerts and plays, his passion for community and continuing education were often sources of talk during the intermission at these events.

Over the years, Sandra and Gordon spent many vacations in Cape Breton and PEI and enjoyed beach days with their Labradors Sabra and Doyle, playing tennis and going sailing. Gordon loved to cheer on his daughters’ music and dance performances and sports teams, Myles in his footy games, curling and, of course, the NHL.

Gordon is survived by his wife of 45 years, Sandra Read, his brother Roger (Margaret) of Bedford, sister Anne Love of Charlottetown, daughters: Heather Michael (Chris Karmas), Alexis Michael (Myles Amirault) and Margaret Michael (Logan Clark-Kenney) all of Halifax, as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews and in-laws. He is predeceased by his parents, brother-in-law Harry Love, and son Daniel who died of SIDS.

Gordon was very proud of his daughters and their accomplishments but was happiest when they were confident and proud of themselves. Over the last nine years, he enjoyed watching his family grow. He welcomed Myles, Logan and Chris, appreciating how each brought his own interests to conversations at family gatherings. In 2021, Gordon became affectionately known as “Gramps” upon the arrival of Henry Amirault who was later followed by Lucy Amirault in 2024. In the fall of 2025, grandchildren Hugh Clark and Sophia Karmas joined the family and Gordon proudly said, “just one more and I’ll have a starting line for a basketball team”.

Visitation will take place at Cruikshank’s Funeral Home (2666 Windsor Street) on Thursday, February 26th from 6 – 8:30pm. The funeral will take place at the Cathedral of All Saints (1330 Cathedral Lane) on Friday, February 27th at 1pm. A reception will follow. Cremation has taken place and interment will happen at a later date.

Gordon loved to have a chat over a cup of java. In memory of him, call a friend and go for a coffee.