Mike Dolinski, Edmonton, May 2009

Mike Dolinski

Family:

I have lived in Edmonton Alberta since 1972 with my wonderful wife Myrna and our sons Jeff, Bradley and Brandon. Our daughter Michelle lives in Phuket, Thailand. Jeff, the oldest at 36, is a computer website designer in Edmonton, Brad (31) is in the travel business with a focus on scuba dive experiences to Asia, and Brandon, the youngest (22), is a student at the U of A.

Jeff currently works with a company developing a large CO2, natural gas, and storage facility and designs corporate websites. Bradley spent 5 years teaching English in Taiwan along with his sister Michelle. Michelle, now 29, has spent her adult life in Asia, teaching English, and operating scuba dive tours, mostly in Indonesia and Thailand. Currently Michelle and Bradley are completing the website for their travel and dive business under the name, Faces of The Sea.com.


Career:

Myrna and I are both retired, she from the legislative assembly of the Alberta government, and me from Alberta Agriculture, Food, and Rural Development. I started with Alberta Agriculture as provincial Entomologist in 1972 after completing a Masters in Entomology at the U of M. In 1975 I attended Simon Fraser University and completed a Masters in Pest Management. From 1980 – 1997 I was Provincial Entomologist but for various periods also managed the Provincial Apiculture, Plant Pathology, and Vertebrate Pest control programs, including the rat control program for 10 years. In 1997, I took on the role of Proncial Organic Specialist, and focused on development of the organic industry, National Standards, and markets for both crops and livestock. I held this position till retirement in 2004.

Hobbies:

Golfing and fishing with the family have always been a part of our lives. I’ve also been into running, squash, and racquet ball. Since retirement, golfing and fishing have increased with the addition of scuba diving complements of my daughter. I spent 6 weeks diving with her in the Togean Islands in 2005, and 10 days on a live aboard around Komodo Island, Indonesia this past October. I’m writing this in Invermere, B.C. while on a week golf trip with my sons.

Current Activities:

Traveling and participating in sports are main priorities in retirement. Professionally, I contract my services as a Senior Agri-Coach with Agri-Trend Agrology, an agricultural service provider to agronomists across Canada and Northern US. I provide entomology and organic agriculture support and training to their network of agrologists. I plan on doing some foreign work in the near future.

Looking forward to the reunion.