Mike Wolfson, B.A.Sc. (Civil), P.Eng. (Civil), J.D.
Mike Wolfson graduated from the University of British Columbia, Faculty of Engineering in 2002. Mike qualified as a Professional Engineer and worked as a consulting engineer in land development and municipal engineering in the Lower Mainland and Southern Interior of BC for more than a decade.
In 2012, Mike began the transition to a career in law, enrolling in law school at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops where he lived with his wife and daughters. Mike exceled at law school, earning the highest mark in multiple courses. He continued to work as a consulting engineer as time permitted. Mike graduated with TRU’s second ever class in 2015, and after moving back to Vancouver, completed his articles shared between McLean & Armstrong LLP and Gwendoline Allison.
Mike was called to the B.C. Bar in 2016 and commenced full time work with M&A. At M&A, Mike’s practice focused entirely on construction related matters, including builders’ liens, creditor remedies, mediation, arbitration, and employment disputes. Mike’s high quality of work and friendly demeanour made him a pleasure to deal with as a colleague and as opposing counsel. No one ever said a bad word of Mike.
In 2018, Mike left M&A to move back to Kamloops, but after a brief interlude, he re-joined M&A and continued to work remotely from his Kamloops “satellite office” (his partially finished attic, pictures of which he took great pride in sharing with his colleagues). Mike’s grasp of technology was far in advance of his colleagues. With his remote location and immediate grasp of the limitations of our firm’s infrastructure, coupled with the value of his contributions to the firm, Mike was a primary motivator in the firm’s move to 21st century technology.
A downside to Mike’s move to Kamloops was that his colleagues no longer had the opportunity to interact with him on a daily basis. Mike was a much-loved part of our firm. His love of hot sauce, used to drown his Super Store no-name frozen burritos, was legendary. Following his move to Kamloops, if one didn’t have advance notice of one of Mike’s regular trips to the office, it was always apparent he was there when the smell of Franks’ Red Hot was wafting through the air.
In February 2020, Mike began experiencing vision problems and headaches. On July 17, 2020 Mike passed away from brain cancer. The process was rapid, but Mike remained a kind and humorous man without artifice until he left us, far too soon.
Mike was carving a path as an accomplished lawyer but had already reached the pinnacle of success in his most important endeavours – as a husband, father and friend. He passed away far too soon and is very much missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. He will forever be missed.
Entrance scholarship of $4,000 offered by McLean & Armstrong LLP in memory of Mike Wolfson (TRU Law Class of ‘15). Mike is fondly remembered for his keen intellect, terrific sense of humour and genuine concern for the well-being of others. This scholarship is for a deserving student who has a background in engineering, science or construction and a minimum 1 year of full-time work experience prior to entering law school. The successful applicant will be selected by the partners of McLean & Armstrong in cooperation with the family of Mike Wolfson. The funds will be applied directly to their tuition owing at TRU.
Preferential consideration:
Applications will be accepted beginning in May till the 3rd Friday of August each year. The scholarship will be awarded by September and the recipient will be contacted directly.
To apply please email the following to info@mcleanarmstrong.com
