Notice Board

The University of Lethbridge was saddened to learn of the passing of Professor Emerita Dr. Gail Michener and extends its sincere condolences to her family, friends and former colleagues. Michener passed away at her home on Friday, March 20, at the age of 80. 

Known as an expert on Richardson’s ground squirrels, Michener joined ULethbridge on Jan. 1, 1981, as an associate professor in the Department of Biology. In 1990, she became a full professor and remained in that role until June 30, 2008. She taught as a sessional lecturer until the end of the year.

Her longtime colleague, Dr. John Bain, wrote a tribute to Michener and provided key details about her life and work.

Michener was born in England and grew up in Australia. She earned a BSc in zoology from the University of Adelaide in 1967 and soon emigrated to Canada, where she met and eventually married Dan Michener in 1971. In 1972, she received a PhD from the University of Saskatchewan, Regina (now the University of Regina) for her studies on social relationships in Richardson’s ground squirrels. She was awarded a Killam post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Alberta, after which she and Dan moved to the farm outside Picture Butte. Dan became a farmer, and Gail joined ULethbridge as a sessional lecturer. In 1980, she received a URF (NSERC University Research Fellowship). She built an active, internationally recognized research program studying Richardson’s ground squirrels, often from a study site just outside her back door.

Michener received many accolades and awards for her work, including the C. Hart Merriam Award for Distinguished Contributions to Mammalogy from the American Society of Mammalogists. She earned the William C. Brown Behaviour Teaching Award from the Animal Behaviour Society. At ULethbridge, she received a Distinguished Teaching Award in 1993 and the Ingrid Speaker Award for Research Excellence in 2003, along with a five-year appointment as a Board of Governors Research Chair. Michener served as Chair of the biology department from 1993 to 1996.

Following her retirement in 2008, she remained active in various projects, including commemorating the heroics of Second World War Danish resistance fighters who rescued the man who would become her father. She continued to host social events, such as the biology department's Christmas party, and to lead walks in the coulees with Dan and their dogs. She and Dan travelled to every continent except Antarctica, watching animals, birds in particular. Michener maintained an enduring passion for friendship, chocolate and Scottish country dancing.

A brief obituary is available at Martin Brothers, which states that an event to celebrate her life will be announced at a later date. This notice will be updated when more information is available.