Michael Smart

Michael Dennis Smart was born in Victoria, BC, August 25th, 1955 and passed away March 13th, 2023 at 67 years of age. He is survived by his wife Wende, daughter Misha, son-in-law Keegan, grandchildren Cooper and Goldie, his brother Steve (Julie), his faithful dogs Joey and Tessa and many special nephews and nieces. Mike is predeceased by his older sister Sherryl.

Mike grew up in the Cedar Hill area. He loved to tell stories of the antics he and his brother Steve got up to in their neighbourhood while their older sister tried to keep them out of trouble. He spent many days, rain or shine, on Cadboro Bay Beach where his love of the ocean and boats began. Mike loved to learn; he has many funny stories of the year he was student council president. He continued his education at UVic where he completed an undergraduate degree in Sociology. Mike was headed for law school but the desire to build his first 38’ boat was a stronger pull.

Mike met Wende when he rented a cottage next door. Talking over the fence, it didn’t take long before they were dating. The early days were filled with camping, swimming at the rec centre daily, a three-month surfing trip down the California coast in a VW van and of course, sailing.

In the late 70’s, Mike started building his first steel boat, Dourak. He rented shop space behind Capital Iron in Victoria and his journey of boat building began. Mike built dozens of steel and aluminium boats; his first build, Dourak, and his last, Alumination, were his favourites. He was a creative problem solver, a gifted craftsman and he loved a challenge.

Mike and Wende moved to Piers Island in 1986, after he built a boat for Grace and Sven of #54 McKenzie Crescent. Following lunch one day at Grace and Sven’s and after a walk around the island, Mike said “I think we should buy one of these campsites; it feels good.” He loved the island instantly. Soon after, Mike and Wende bought #6 McKenzie Crescent and one year later, Misha, Slavic for Michael, joined our family. Oh how he loved her. Mike’s Dad, his nephew Chris and many island friends helped to clear the land and add onto our tiny cottage.

Mike was a Piers Island firefighter in the early days but took on the role of builder and fabricator for small fire department jobs when the family moved to Knapp Island for seven years. Mike built many of the docks and wharfs on Piers and would sometimes count the number he had built and worked on in our family cruising laps around the island. He was your go to person for dead batteries, lifting boats that had sunk, metal fabrication and brainstorming. It was not unknown for Mike to head out in the middle of a stormy night because a dock or boat was in trouble. He always helped his neighbours the best way he knew how, “No problem, I’ll be right there.”

Mike loved the fishing derbies, the annual picnics where he and Misha competed in every race, prawning, bonfires, yoga, sleeping outside, and always looking for shooting stars. He had a positive attitude and found beauty in every day.

Mike loved his family passionately and told them every day. We will miss you dear Mike, but will always hear you calling across the bay: “I love you Coop! I love you Goldie!”

A special thank you to the amazing Piers Island First Responders and the kind words of so many friends and family.