Michael Walsh

It is with a broken heart that we announce the passing of Michael Harry Walsh on September 9, 2023 at Mount St. Joseph Hospital in Vancouver, BC.

Born August 3, 1943 in Winnipeg, Manitoba to Harry & Kathleen Walsh, Michael completed the family of 4 that included a sister, Marilyn. During his adolescence, he lived and attended the St. Ignatius School in Winnipeg and Vancouver College in Vancouver, serving as alter boy at the St. Ignatius Church in Winnipeg and Blessed Sacrament in Vancouver.

After graduation in Vancouver, he returned east and joined the Hudson Bay Company. As a Bay Boy, he was posted throughout Manitoba, Ontario and Northwest Territories. His first post was at Little Grand Rapids, then went on to see other posts such as Gods Narrows, Oxford House, St. Theresa Point, Split Lake, Ogokee, Lac Seoul, Spence Bay, Inuvik, Fort Simpson, Wrigley, and Fort Norman. His career also saw him work with the Canadian Pacific Railroads in Vancouver. After leaving the Hudson Bay in the early 70s, he returned back to Yellowknife in 1978 and worked at Arctic Cooperators, North West Company and Direct Charge Coop. He left the North in 1994 to enjoy an early retirement where he resided in Abbottsford and Edmonton, ultimately moving back North in 2006 to Fort Smith to be near his daughter and grandson.

He is survived by his daughter Shauna and her son Andrew. But in 2019, his family grew through a fortunate ancestry.ca DNA test to include a son David (Linda), three grandsons Mike (Ellissa), Tom (Zoe), Hayden (Sophie), and one great grandson Lewis (who inherited the Walsh blue eyes). He also left a beloved sister Marilyn (Joe) and her family (Patti, Shirley (Neil), Jimmy, Kim and many great (and great great) nephews and nieces).

Michael will be remembered for his easy going demeanour, enjoyment of a good laugh or story, passion for watching the Blue Jays and Toronto Raptors (not to mention Wiggins), and love for his family.

In lieu of flowers, please have a dinner with family and enjoy a Pepsi and a big bowl of potatoes! These are favourite items he was not able to enjoy the last years of his life. Making memories is the greatest gift.

His family would like to thank the Palliative team and staff at the Long Term Care Ward at Mount St. Joseph Hospital in Vancouver who cared for him during the Yellowknife evacuation, the staff on the Acute Care floor of Stanton Hospital who cared for him the week before the evacuation, and the Home Care staff in Fort Smith (Linda & Sadreon and aids) who helped him live a dignified life while battling kidney disease. Lastly, Fred Daniels and residents of Sunset Chalet where he lived since 2008.

Michael has been cremated and the family will be holding a private service at a later date.