Michele Ida-Jane Guest (nee Shaw)

Born and raised in Calgary, Michele was the youngest of her siblings (Ridley, Shirley, and Bonnie) and she was never one to be held back. When it came time for university, it was recommended that she take typing skills to be a secretary as that was a “good job for a woman'”, but she blazed her own path to the University of Manitoba to get an Interior Design Degree.

Once in the design workforce Michele shared her leadership skills by volunteering in numerous organizations, including the Interior Design Institute of British Columbia (IDIBC), Interior Designers of Canada (IDC), the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ), and Design BC (a broad based organization recognizing all design professions). She was president of IDC in 1974, and named a Fellow of IDC in 1987. In 1990 Michele was chairperson of NCIDQ, a North American organization based in NY City. She helped move forward common standards for interior design through her work with NCIDQ.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s Michele was instrumental in re-shaping the then 2 year diploma at Kwantlen College into a program that could grow into a Bachelor of Interior Design (at now Kwantlen Polytechnic University) which ultimately became the first accredited Interior Design Bachelor Degree Program in BC.

It was also through her design work that she met her late husband, Gowan Guest.

Michele lived and breathed design and taught her family the importance of design and art. Michele was also an avid painter in her free time, loving to paint the many splendors of the West Coast. She loved teaching her kids and grandkids about expression through art.

Michele gave selflessly of her time and energy in seeking respect and making progress for recognition of interior design as an equal player to other professions within the built environment. She worked provincially, nationally, and internationally, to promote the profession of interior design. She was a consummate committed volunteer, giving a tremendous amount of energy and effort to the profession that gave her so much pleasure and satisfaction.

Michele passed away, peacefully, at her home in Vancouver, on September 21, 2022, with family by her side. She is survived by her 5 children, Martin (Janet Carroll), Alex (Chris Perez), Marni (Nasahn Sheppard), Doug (Anna), and Arthur; and 8 grandchildren, Will, Meggie, Sophie, Nicholas, Sage, Sienna, Grace, and Jonah.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Arbutus Club in Vancouver at 12 noon on Saturday October 22nd. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to a charity of your choice.