Michael Perley has spent nearly 35 years in the field of environmental and public health advocacy. After a short stint as Executive Director of the Canadian Environmental Law Research Foundation, he helped found the Canadian Coalition on Acid Rain in 1980, and was the Coalition’s co-Executive Coordinator until 1990. The Coalition successfully lobbied for reductions in acid rain-causing emissions in both the United States and Canada during that time. Michael joined the Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco as Director in 1993. On behalf of the Ontario medical and public health communities, he has led the campaign’s efforts to help pass the Ontario Tobacco Control Act – which was proclaimed in 1994 – and the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, which came into force in May 2006. Most recently, his work contributed to passage of the supporting Smoke-Free Ontario by Reducing Contraband Tobacco Act, which received Royal Assent in June 2011. As well as being devoted birdwatchers, Michael, his wife Jayne and their son Will are Georgian Bay fanatics, who can usually be found during as much of each summer as possible in Nares Inlet. In June 2024, Michael was appointed to the Order of Canada.