Remembering Michael Shoreman

The dog community is mourning the loss of Michael Shoreman, a great dog man, who passed away on March 25.
  Mike loved all purebred dogs and dedicated his life to breeding quality dogs, judging with integrity and, most importantly, sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with everyone around him. He started breeding Weimaraners in the early 1970s, followed by Border Terriers. The “Roschel” dogs are well-known and respected worldwide. To this day, the Shoreman’s Weimaraner Can. & Am. Ch. Roschel’s Fashion Impact still holds the breed’s all-time show record in Canada.
 
Mike’s career in judging began in 1987. He was a popular judge, who travelled extensively and judged at many prestigious venues, including Montgomery and Westminster. When not judging or showing, Mike was often spotted ringside mentoring or continuing to learn from others.
 
Mike was at his best bringing like-minded people together and working hard to make things better. He was active in many dog clubs. He was a past President and Director of the Caledon Kennel Association, a founding member of the Border Terrier and Weimaraner national clubs and was instrumental in organizing the first Field Dog test and the second Earthdog test held in Canada.
 
In the ’90s, Mike chaired the CKC Audit Committee and was elected to the Board of Directors in 2012 and served for a three-year term.  He served as its Chairman during a very difficult time and played a pivotal role in getting the Club back on track (as he had done with the Ontario Jockey Club years earlier). In his professional life Mike was the Executive Director of the Royal Ontario Museum. Mike was proud of the ROM’s renovation and the wonderful team that made it happen. 
 
Our hearts go out to his family and friends, and especially to his wife Rosemary. For over 50 years, Mike and Rose shared every aspect of their life in dogs side by side – it was a true partnership. There are so many who were also a part of Mike’s journey, who will sorely miss his warmth and laughter.
 


We are sharing some of the messages CKC has received in Mike’s memory:

“It was with immense sorrow that I learned of the passing of Mike Shoreman, a man for whom I had a great deal of respect. Over the many years, I had the opportunity of working with Mike on a wide spectrum of issues, not just when he was Chairman of the Board, but also in the ’90s when he chaired the Audit Committee and when we both served on the ED Review Committee. Mike had a worldwide profile and will be sadly missed in our fraternity and beyond.”
– Joan Bennett, Chair of the CKC Board
 
“I met Michael and Rosemary early in my career in purebred dogs. By example he displayed his leadership in the purebred dog fancy. A dedicated breeder of Weimaraners and more recently Border Terriers, he commanded respect with his unassuming, gentlemanly and sportsmanlike demeanour. Michael gave back to our sport on so many levels, serving on the executives of breed, all-breed and eventually our national body, the CKC, where he represented not only the members of our zone but that of all members when he served as Chairman of the Board. His passing will be felt by all and I personally will miss his guidance on all matters CKC, especially financial, with his sage advice to me on the future of our sport. Rest in peace, my friend.”
– Richard Paquette, CKC Director, Northern Ontario
 
“Michael Shoreman was a true gentleman. Smart, funny and passionate. I have known Michael and Rosemary for many years and have admired them. Our hearts are heavy and we deeply share Rosemary’s sorrow.”
– Thomas Nesbitt, CKC Director, Eastern Ontario
 
“I cannot say that I have known him personally, but I first met him when he showed his Weimaraners. I think we all should remember that he was Chairman of the CKC in a very difficult time and that he was instrumental in the changes that basically saved this organization. Condolences to his wife and all his family and close friends.”
– Linda St-Hilaire, CKC Director, Quebec
 
“Mike has been a friend for over 30 years. His passion and dedication to our sport of dogs was only surpassed by his love for Rosemary and his family. How he loved to talk about the Shoreman clan and the potential for a future Toronto Maple Leaf growing up in the ranks. He would frequently bring up the annual Shoreman family get-together at the local ice rink on Boxing day and often talked of his years being the property of the Detroit Red Wings even though he played for Leaf-sponsored teams in the Toronto area.
 
“While we worked together for many years at The Canadian Kennel Club Board table, what made us close friends were the many hours spent discussing hockey, law enforcement, music, the ROM and, yes, the CKC at times!
 
“Mike was a class act! A decent and kind person who will be missed by his family, his many friends and the dog fancy worldwide. How I will miss that warm greeting and contagious smile when I would greet Mike at a local Quebec dog show.”
– Ed Graveley, former CKC Director
 
“I can easily put away hundreds of dollars worth of sushi and wash it down with liberal amounts of sake. It turned out that Mike also liked sushi, so on many occasions, he would join me, Wendy Maisey, Dwain McLean and Sandy Fletcher (who definitely did not like sushi but came along for the entertainment factor) at a restaurant a few blocks from head office. We chewed on more than sushi, however. We’d talk about ideas, dogs, people, agenda items, etc. And we had a LOT of belly laughs. Mike and I shared an interest (more like a passion) in provincial and federal politics and while we certainly didn’t always agree, that too, made for interesting dinner fodder.
 
“I got the sense that Mike wasn’t all that interested in process or implementation details. Those were for other people to figure out (like me). Mike was a big ideas kind of guy. He liked to charge ahead with those big ideas and to get things done. In fact, I think one of his greatest frustrations was when things would get ‘stuck’ and not move at the speed he wanted.
 
“He was always forthright, respectful and collaborative. I think he really enjoyed being around people who made him laugh. I, for one, enjoyed being around him.”
– Marg Moran McQuinn, former CKC Director & former Acting Chair, CKC Foundation
 
“Most of us remember Michael Shoreman as the expert judge from Ontario who always looked and acted in the ring with such professionalism. Fortunately, I was given the added pleasure of working with him on the CKC Board of Directors for a three-year term, and he was our Chair. Always prepared and kind to everyone around the table, he was ready and willing to listen to comments and suggestions as we got ready to vote on an agenda item. His experience in the work world and his knowledge of the sport combined to give him the recognition and respect that he deserved. He will be missed! I count both he and Rosemary as friends. My condolences go to her at this time.”
– Dwain McLean, former CKC Director
 
“Mike Shoreman was always a gentleman. My three years on the Board were totally influenced by his calm and steady control as Chairman. He made everyone feel like their opinion mattered. Getting to know Mike as a judge and breeder of many years was a privilege. At our many dinners it was obvious that he had an excellent sense of humour and we had a lot of laughs along with great discussions. He was a kind and intelligent man who was an excellent representative of the CKC in or out of the country. The dog world has lost a good man.”
– Wendy Maisey, former CKC Director