Mike Apsey passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of Thursday, September 1, after a lengthy struggle with dementia. Happily, Mike never lost his ability to recognize his beloved wife, Sharon, who was with him the day he passed, or his immediate family.
Born in Vernon. BC, Mike graduated from the University of British Columbia’s Forestry Department in 1961 and over the next four decades became one of Canada’s most influential and respected forestry professionals. He began his career in the provincial government’s Department of Industrial Development, Trade and Commerce, before being recruited as an analyst for Vancouver based forestry company Macmillan Bloedel. In 1968 he travelled to Turkey with his wife and young children to work for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to prepare a long-range development plan for that nation’s pulp and paper industry. Returning to B.C. in 1970, he served as a vice president of the Council of Forest Industries and then worked for a time with F.L.C. Reed and Associates. During the 1970’s he again took his family on a two-year international adventure, this time to South America, to Colombia, to assist in the development of that country’s fledgling forest industry.
In 1978, Mike became the Deputy Minister of Forests for British Columbia, a position he held until 1984. Leaving that post, he took on the role of President and Chief Executive Officer of the Council of Forest Industries of B.C, a position he held until his retirement in 1998. In retirement, Mike remained active, attending numerous speaking engagements and serving on various committees, including the National Forest Strategy Coalition, Wildlife Habitat Canada, and the Tree Canada Foundation. During this period, with the encouragement and collaboration of Ken Drushka, a friend and colleague of many years, and a distinguished author, Mike published his memoir, titled “What’s All This Got To Do With The Price of 2 X 4’s?”
Mike’s dedicated service to B.C.’s forest services earned him several honours, including the Rielle Thomson Award, the Chevalier de l”Ordre du Merite Agricole from the Government of France, a Certificate of Appreciation from the Government of Canada, and an Honorary Doctor of Laws from UBC. In 2002 he was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada. Mike will be remembered by those who knew him for his many achievements, but also, and perhaps especially, for his wonderful sense of humour. Included with the pictures of his loved ones on the walls of his room were several caricatures of him produced over the years by cartoonist, Roy Peterson. These continued to give him the greatest pleasure and never failed to produce his infectious smile when visitors took note of them.
Mike was predeceased by his sister, Bette, and is survived by his wife, Sharon, daughters, Susan (Ray) Sandrin, Jill (Pat) Apsey, and grandchildren, Farrah (Mitch) Denton, Tom (Kallie) Sandrin, and Michael Sandrin, and brother-in-law, John (Pam) Meagher.
The family would like to thank the staff of the Selkirk Seniors Centre for their thoughtful and professional care of Mike during his illness. A family gathering to celebrate Mike’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of B.C., www.giving@alzheimerbc.org
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Thomas Michael Mike Apsey April 1 1938 September 1 2022..
mccall gardens funeral and cremation service
Death notice for the town of: Victoria, Province: Colombie britanique