Obituary of Michael Robert Pollock

September 18, 1961 – Calgary, Alberta

January 24, 2024 – Airdrie, Alberta

Michael Pollock, of Airdrie, AB, passed away on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at the age of 62 years.

Michael was born on September 18, 1961, in Calgary, AB, to Philip and Shirley Pollock. He spent his early years at the family farm in Crossfield, AB, as the oldest of five children. As an active youth, Michael was on the football, wrestling, volleyball, and track and field teams at St. Francis High School in Calgary, from which he graduated in 1979.

Michael’s early career days involved working as a manager for several different restaurants, before attending SAIT to train as a journeyman electrician. With his Red Seal, alongside his regular work, he proved to be a reliable electrician for friends, family, and his community on numerous projects. He recently started working for Rusty Pipe Mechanical Incorporated, with which he had a close connection to the owner and operator, through their common interest in competitive Country Western Dance. 

Before Michael pursued competitive dancing, he was a prolific amateur actor. He discovered acting in junior high school, but it wasn’t until he was in his forties that he regularly appeared in plays through theater companies in Airdrie and Calgary, such as the Bert Church Theatre, the Liffey Players, and the Nose Creek Players. His acting pursuits even extended to television and film which allowed him to appear in the TV series, “Pet Heroes”, and in the Hallmark Christmas Movie, “Ride”, showcasing his dancing skills.

Competitive Country Western dancing proved to be Michael’s biggest passion. He competed throughout North America, with his most recent achievement securing first place in his class with his long-time dance partner at the United Country Western Dance Council’s 2023 World Championships in Phoenix, AZ. In short, and as he put it, Michael was a “Blue Collar Worker by day and a World Champion Country Western Dancer by night”.

Michael came from a large family. He is lovingly remembered by his former spouse Lillian, stepdaughter Michelle, his siblings, Colleen, Joseph (Diana), Kevin, and Thomas (Shannon); his nieces and nephews, Caroline (Kristian), Meghan, Olivia, Parker, Chase, Vanessa, and Matthew; his great-nephew and niece, Gunnar and Georgia, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and his extensive community of close friends and colleagues.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta, 200, 119 – 14^th Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1Z6 Telephone: (403) 264-5549, https://www.heartandstroke.ca/.

A Memorial Service will be held at St Paul's Catholic Church (1305 Main Street, Airdrie, AB) on Friday, February 2, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. Reception to follow in the Church Hall.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Michael’s family here.

In living memory of Micheal Pollock, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Airdrie, 300 Towerlane Drive, Airdrie, AB T4B 3L8, Telephone: 403-948-1100.