Michael Barnes leaves a great impact on our community
On behalf of the WVHS Board, we are sad to advise of the sudden passing on February 16, 2019 of Michael Barnes, our Board member, Vice-Chair and friend. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family.
A native of North Vancouver, a devoted family man, married to Geri for 55 years, with three children and four grandchildren whom he adored, he was an enlightened citizen and a distinguished architect and had a great impact on our community.
Michael was employed by the architectural firm of Toby Russell Buckwell (today Ratio Architects). He sat on the AIBC council from 1987 to 1991 and was named Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada in 2010.
He worked in many fields, notably in cultural and heritage projects. He designed the youth section of the West Vancouver Memorial Library blending the new and older sections of the library in a graceful synthesis.
In Metro he participated in the design of the Burnaby Village Museum, the Emily Car Institute of Art and Design, the Burnaby city hall renovation, and the Sinclair Centre Redevelopment. In addition to the fields of cultural and historic revitalization, he was active in the design of many public and institutional buildings and in the fields of infrastructure and transportation.
In West Vancouver Michael volunteered his time and sat on the board of the West Vancouver Historical Society, the Heritage Advisory Committee, the Advisory Design Panel, the Art Museum Advisory Committee and the Hollyburn Historical Society.
An environmentalist, he believed strongly in the importance of heritage preservation, intelligent planning, and good design as the means of creating a healthy and attractive environment. He was a person devoted to family and community who spent his life contributing to the public good. He will be sorely missed.
Rod Day, President
West Vancouver Historical Society
Read more here: Michael Barnes Obituary