Mike Thomas 1946 - 2024
One of Sooke’s outstanding citizens is gone. Michael “Mike” Thomas, who has contributed his generosity of spirit to Sooke for the past four decades, passed away Sept. 9.
Born in Edmonton in 1946, Mike was the son of Bill and Margaret Thomas. Growing up as the son of a road construction worker, a man who took jobs wherever they became available, Mike had the interesting experience of attending nine different schools during his growing up years, at points throughout the country, Ontario to B.C. He was 17 when his family headed for Hay River, N.W.T. At this point, he joined the Queens Own Rifles in Edmonton, Alta, followed by exercises at Work Point Barracks in Esquimalt, B.C., and several international postings.
Transferring to the air force, he became an electronic technician. It was his electronics skills that brought him to HMC Dockyard in Esquimalt, and to a home in Sooke, in 1981. At Dockyard, he continued in the electronic work that led to him becoming manager of the Calibration Centre at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt. This was the headquarters for the testing and calibration of equipment used in sensitive electronic work for the armed forces throughout Western Canada. Mike and his work colleague Al Beddows were later to carpool to Dockyard together.
Mike had hardly got settled here in Sooke when he met up with other folk, finding kindred spirits interested in drama. Teaming up, the group decided to form a club and see if they could create theatre productions. They began meeting at the West Coast Road home of Charlie and Joyce Perkins, and Stage West Players was born, with – guess what - Mike Thomas as the first president.
This was a start in community involvement; by the next year, the Sooke Lions had invited him to join, and he was soon in the thick of things. The Lions Club became part of his life, and his efforts to contribute through Lions’ team projects were absolutely without parallel, continuing right through to August of this year. His affable manner and sincere heart meant that his friendships were legion, but in particular he became pals with a leading Lion, Tuck Vowles; perhaps this was because each of them could be a bit of a rogue. Some of their pranks won’t be included here, but they certainly had fun.
With so many exciting community events in the works, Sooke needed a town crier and Tuck worked out a plan. Both men liked going out to catch a few fish on a weekend, and Tuck convinced Mike that he should take on the town crier job, demanding that unless he agreed, Tuck would no longer take him fishing.
The die was cast in 1990. Beatrice Hull was the kind volunteer that stitched up the town crier costume, the Lions paid for the gorgeous fabrics, and Ken Shepherd made the bell. Actually, it turned out to be 25 years before the community allowed Mike Thomas to retire from his “town crying” duties, and while the colourful costume had barely hung together, he lost count of the many pairs of white hose he went through.
Back in the 1970s, the Lions Club in Tahsis had initiated the Great Walk, a 40-mile trek between Gold River and Tahsis, created to provide an opportunity for walkers to raise money for a favourite charity. Mike not only supported this effort but made the walk eight times. Never mind he wore out a few toenails, he cajoled a bunch of us lesser folk to participate as well. In all, Mike’s walks raised $5,000.00 for the charity of his choice, Hospice.
Mike’s friendship with irrepressible fellow-Lion Tuck led to many experiences. Celebration of Sooke’s BiCentennial in June 1990 was memorable. The vessels taking part in the re-enactment were finalizing plans for the historic gathering at Whiffin Spit, to take place the next day. Hundreds of volunteers were at the site, setting up the ceremonial tents, reviewing stands, etc., when a sudden wind came up and everything broke loose.
Tents and porta potties were swept into the water, display tables set up ready for the next day’s 200 special cakes, all went sideways, and bedlam reigned. Mike Thomas and Tuck were in the thick of fit, rushing into the saltchuck with their clothes on, along with dozens of fellow Lions as they fought to bring order back from the onslaught of nature. As Mike stood resplendent in his town crier outfit in the sunshine the next day, master of ceremonies, who would have believed the chaos of the day before!
Mike quickly joined in with the Lions Club’s efforts in supporting the salmon-saving efforts of Sooke Salmon Enhancement Society and the Jack Brooks Hatchery, a work he never stopped. It was around 1989 that the Sooke Lions took on the responsibility for maintaining the grounds at Sooke Harbour Cemetery, and Mike assisted with those duties for many years. Another challenge the Lions took on was the little playground they set up on Murray Road, which required a lot of continued cleanups and maintenance. For many years Mike and his wife Marlene contributed their skills each month to the Sooke Food Bank, only retiring this year.
Another job Mike gave his heart to was helping the Sooke Region Museum’s operations, especially when the Historical Society teamed up with the Lions and the Sooke Community Association in cleaning up the neglected Muir Cemetery and turning it into a respectful historic park on Maple Avenue.
As I work at my sturdy maple desk at the Charters River Salmon Interpretive Centre, I think of how Mike Thomas carefully assembled timbers from the wooded site, planed, glued, sanded and varnished, providing us with a handmade desk in Sooke’s age-old volunteer tradition.
Mike leaves his wife Marlene, son Robert Thomas, daughter Catherine (Pierre) Lefebvre, stepsons Shawn Orchin and Kerry (Anita) Orchin, granddaughter Emily (Brendan) Thompson, sister Jackie Dube, and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service is to take place at Sooke’s Royal Canadian Legion on Sept. 29 from 1 to 3 p.m.
– Elida Peers is a historian with Sooke Region Museum
