Michael is a Food Scientist (University of Guelph 1976) and has been employed in the food industry for over 44 years.  Having been involved in Research & Development for the first part of his career, Michael has been in food ingredient sales for the past 36 years.  He is General Manager of First Spice Mixing Company (Canada) Ltd., a blender of custom-designed seasonings for other food processors and he still likes to get his hands dirty in the lab when time permits!  He sits on the Board of the Canadian Spice Association.  Michael has experienced a number of firsts – first Jew to graduate from the Food Science Department at U of G, first Jewish National President of the Canadian Institute of Food Science & Technology (CIFST) in 1992.  Michael also holds a Fellow in Business Administration from the Canadian School of Management (1984).

Michael and his wife, Judy (Dicker), have been involved at Temple Sinai for nearly 34 years.  The Dicker family joined Temple Sinai in 1964; Judy grew up here and worked in the Pre-School as well for many years.  Judy and Michael became deeply involved with the then newly-formed Young Families group in about 1988-89 and have been dedicated members ever since.  They have raised their six children here.  They currently are enjoying four grandsons all under the age of 7.

Michael has been a regular Torah reader and Shiva leader for over 25 years and, more recently, he has conducted Unveilings when Clergy is unavailable.  Michael has the distinction of being the only congregant who has tutored his own children for their B’nei Mitzvah Torah portions.

Michael is also a deeply involved Freemason for the past 32 years having been elected District Deputy Grand Master in 2010.  He belongs to Mount Sinai-Pillars Lodge No. 522 in Thornhill.