On April 13th, 2023, I lost my mentor, colleague, and dear friend, Michael Elmer Shay. He was a well known character in the community where we worked alongside at our loved garage for many years. Mikey was a stand up human and mechanic, and it was my privilege to learn from him and love him for so many years. Here are a couple of things you should know about him:

- He would give the shirt off his back to anyone who needed it, even if he needed it more.

- He loved his Christmas tree so much that he left it up all year around.

To honour and celebrate the warm, kind and lively spirit of Mikey, I created The Shay Way: A charitable endeavour, and an umbrella name for many projects, all supporting a cause that I know would be near and dear to his heart, The Ottawa Mission.

Mike was an open book, and the definition of resilience. He spoke openly about his struggles. He was knocked down many times, but never failed to get back up, and he would help anyone else do the same. He would be proud to have his memory honoured by extending a helping hand to those who need it most.