Renaissance men have very little on Michael Coleman.
The Vancouver-born Coleman, the longest-serving mayor Duncan has ever seen and from all accounts one of the most dedicated public servants the Island will ever know, was at turns a lawyer, politician, writer, poet, family man and dreamer.
Coleman, 78, died Tuesday morning, surrounded by his family.
“He was an amazing character,” said younger brother Chris, who at 11 years his junior was something of a pet project for years. “When you grow up on a small island like Pender, he’s 21 and I’m 10, he had almost god-like status.”
The younger Coleman saw his brother as a guiding light as a young boy, following him into law school and eventually the love of municipal politics.
Chris Coleman said their mother had two hard rules – the first being family is all-important; the second being everybody is in the family.
“My brother lived those rules,” he said.
Chris said the firm belief that the community, province and country you serve is in some way your family drove his elder brother.
It was the reason Michael Coleman, during his time as mayor of Duncan, raised money in the Cowichan Valley for a Kenyan town called Meru, which he had pushed to twin with Duncan, whose city hall/health centre needed a concrete floor; it was the guiding principle behind his push, as a young alderman, to get Duncan to twin and develop relationships with Montmagny, Que.
Chris Coleman said that relationship paid off for the country in 1995 as that small region, against pundits’ expectations, voted against separation after the Cowichan Valley started working on their friendships in Quebec, to let them know they were family.
“As a proud younger brother I liked that,” said Chris.
It was also a driving force in Michael’s push to have First Nations greet and welcome delegates to a national board meeting in Duncan for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
“It was one of the first times First Nations were brought in to welcome delegates, now that’s part of standing protocol,” said Chris. “He had a real impact, but quietly,” he said. “He was a real character, and he believed in miracles like that he could run for the Liberals and win in the Cowichan Valley and that the Leafs would win the (Stanley) Cup again.”
Michael Coleman was born in Vancouver on March 23, 1943 to Reverend Michael Coleman and Mary Coleman. The family would move to Victoria, Quamichan, Regina, and then Pender Island.
He was educated at Upper Canada College in Toronto before enrolling in the University of British Columbia.
After university, where he graduated with a law degree, Coleman and his wife Barbara and eldest son Charlie moved to Duncan in 1969. The couple would have two more sons, Ted and Jamie.
He would practise law for 46 years. He retired in 2015.
He was elected as an alderman in Duncan in 1973 and would eventually step into the mayor’s chair in 1980 until 1982. He would sit as mayor again between 1987 and 2005.
“He was always Mayor Mike,” recalled current Duncan Mayor Michelle Staples. “He and his family were always there for the community. The community and his family meant a lot to him, it was always a part of their life and they were so deeply interconnected.”
Staples said while she and Coleman would often see the world through different lenses, there was always mutual respect and the ability to put aside differences. “It was alright to have a difference of opinion with him.”
Staples said the legacy he leaves in the Cowichan Valley is of the importance of relationships.
Phil Kent, who stepped into the mayor’s role after Coleman in 2006, said his predecessor “was very civil in his politics and the consummate public servant.”
“It wasn’t just about where we lived but everyone had to succeed, he was a regional thinker,” said Kent.
Coleman helped to create community groups and organizations like Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Cowichan United Way, House of Friendship and the Cowichan Foundation. He also helped to develop better relationships with First Nations.
“Michael was blessed in many ways and gave back to his community both locally, provincially and nationally – because they were family,” said Chris Coleman.
Michael Coleman is survived by his wife Barb and sons Charlie, Ted and Jamie (Pam), several grandchildren, sisters Rosemary (Bob) and Sally (Dick), and his brother Chris (Judith).
Due to COVID limitations, there will be a small family funeral. A memorial service will take place when larger gatherings are permitted.
