Mike is the ‘Father’ of the Oceanographic Environmental Research Society (OERS) which he created in 1992. As a Founding Director and the current Director of Operations of OERS, Mike has guided the organization through the growing pains that all young organizations experience. Mike is dedicated to protecting the environment and the animals who are injured or endangered through mankind’s carelessness using his experience in emergency animal medicine and underwater diving. He likes to lead through example and setting the standard for others to follow or surpass. His dream is that OERS becomes a world recognized Canadian marine research and education organization.

In 2002 he was the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award for Voluntarism from the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship, for his environmental initiatives with OERS. This award recognizes “extraordinary leadership, innovation and creativity in a select group of individuals that have made superlative contributions to their communities and the province through voluntary action