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From YouTube: MAY 11 2023 Statements Nicholas Simons
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
4th Session
42nd Parliament
A
A
Michael
grew
up
on
a
small
farm.
In
Alberta
he
became
a
wildlife
biologist,
a
teacher
A
wilderness
guide
and
a
mental
health
counselor
before
getting
elected,
and
he
brought
his
broad,
Knowledge
and
Skills
with
him
to
this
place.
He
always
spoke
his
mind
and
stuck
to
his
principles,
no
matter
what
the
consequence
is.
He
was
a
man
of
great
integrity.
A
Well,
while
in
politics
he
raised
important
issues
such
as
mental
health,
homelessness,
the
protection
of
Farmland,
the
importance
of
biodiversity
among
other
issues,
but
the
story
that
always
got
people
talking
was
his
story
about
being
encountering
a
Grizzly
back
in
the
late
70s
Michael
and
his
biologist
partner
were
attacked
by
a
Grizzly
sow,
who
was
protecting
her
two
Cubs.
Both
biologists
were
hospitalized
after
the
mauling
and
Michael's
scar
on
his
head
was
a
permanent
reminder
of
that
encounter
Mr
Speaker
years
later,
Michael
and
former
MLA
guy
Gentner
used
to
hike
a
lot
together.
A
My
guess
is
gentler.
Was
there
to
scare
away
the
Bears
they're
on
a
in
a
bookstore
in
Canmore
after
a
hike
and
Guy
noticed
the
book
bear
attacks
and
saw
that
it
included
the
account
of
Michael's
mauling.
He
told
the
shopkeeper
keeper
Michael
had
no
idea
that
his
story
had
been
published
before
you
knew
it.
He
was
happily
autographing
books
and
maybe
showing
off
his
scarf
to
tourists.
A
Well,
Michael
was
recently
diagnosed
with
primary
Progressive
aphasia,
a
rare
form
of
dementia,
characterized
by
the
difficulty
in
word,
finding
which
could
lead
to
the
gradual
loss
of
the
ability
to
speak,
read,
write
or
understand
what
others
are
saying.
In
fact,
Michael
diagnosed
himself.
He
knows
the
disease
and
he
understands
the
impact
this
will
have
on
others,
but
he
also
knows
how
important
it
is
to
remain
social
and
active,
how
important
it
is
for
families
to
be
supported
and
how
crucial
it
is
for
us
to
continue
to
search
for
a
cure.
A
The
purple
Angels
dementia
group
can
offer
support
the
Alzheimer's
Society
provides
information
and
clear
stands
for
Canadians
for
Leading
Edge
Alzheimer's
research,
to
which
all
donations
are
tax,
deductible
Michael
lives
with
his
spouse,
writer
and
conservationist
Annette
lebox.
She
has
two
sub-children
Christian
and
Sarah
and
four
grandchildren.
Thank
you.
Mr
Speaker
foreign.