Michael Newark: retired Head of the Building Climatology Unit

Since childhood, Michael Newark always wanted to be a meteorologist. After immigrating to Canada from the United Kingdom in 1957, Michael began his career with Environment and Climate Change Canada in 1959 to pursue this dream.

Over the span of his 32-year career with ECCC, Michael had the opportunity to work in different locations including the Arctic. Michael held many positions during this time, moving from an operational weather forecasting role to doing research on tornadoes and formulating snow and wind loads for the National Building Code. During his career, Michael enjoyed working on a variety of different meteorological applications, some requiring teamwork and others individual motivation.

During his career, Michael benefitted from a boss who believed in his commitment to providing a more advanced service to the public and who supported his studies as he took unpaid education leave to earn his university degree in math and physics.

In 1991, Michael retired from his position as Head of the Building Climatology Unit of the Meteorological Service of Canada. Michael was awarded the title of Honorary Fellow with the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (CMOS) in 2019, in recognition of his outstanding work, research and publications on tornadoes in Canada.

The level of dedication and commitment that Michael demonstrated throughout his time with the Meteorological Service of Canada will have a lasting impact on the ECCC’s mission and mandate and help to better serve Canadians.

Here are a few random facts about Michael:

• What was your first job?  Meteorological Scientific Assistant (in 1955 for the UK Air Ministry).
• If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be? The Galapagos Islands.
• Would you rather ride a bike, ride a horse, or drive a car? I commuted to work by bicycle for a number of years.
• What are your hobbies? Photography, genealogy, gardening, walking.
• What is your favourite flavour of ice cream? Anything with chocolate.
• If you could share a meal with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? Leonardo da Vinci.
• What's your favourite holiday? A holiday in the Yukon.
• Do you love or hate rollercoasters? I have a fear of heights, so no rollercoasters for me.
• What's your favourite movie? Bridge over the River Kwai.