Michael Ryan Fairchild

In loving memory of Michael Ryan Fairchild, May 6, 1977-August 5, 2025.

On the evening of August 5, 2025, Michael Ryan Fairchild passed away suddenly in Ottawa, Ontario. Michael was predeceased by his father, Richard John Fairchild, his grandparents, Richard ("Dick") and Bernice ("Peggy") Fairchild, Thomas Grant ("Andy") Andrews, and Winnifred ("Winnie") Cluff, and his mother-in-law Berniece Michael.

He leaves behind his grieving immediate family including his esteemed mother Nancy Jean Fairchild, his widow Nicole Marie Fairchild (née Michael), his treasured son Liam Michael Richard Fairchild, his stepson Isiah and his siblings Tamara, Scott (Lauren), and Robert, and in-laws Tim and Jacyln. Michael also leaves behind his cherished relations, grandmother Anne Marie Andrews, aunt Karen, uncle Thomas (Hien), uncle Oluf (Su), uncle John Watts (Brenda, deceased), his aunt Connie (Kirk), his cousins Blake (Tanya), Bruce (Tracey), and Eric (Noelle), Rob (Jenn) and Shelley (Eric), Kelsey, Max and Owen, and Oluf and Jack, his nieces Bronwyn (Dylan) and Gwenna, his niece Paige and his nephew Jacob, and his grand-nephews Atlas and Story. Michael also leaves behind countless dear friends and loved ones, including Matt Green, Sam Roberts, and Steve Burchill, Mike Hall, Lisa DeSalvo, Megan Scheepers, Tim Greencorn, and Bryan Nichol to name but a few.

Born in Ottawa, Michael grew up largely between Ottawa and the Smiths Falls/Jasper regions. The youngest of four children of Nancy and Rick, Michael had a zest for life.

From his early days, Michael exhibited a quick wit and charm that could put everyone around him at ease. He loved to organize campouts and musical events at the family homestead, including the infamous Fairfest that ran for several years.

He considered it a mark of honour to put on a huge fireworks display with his family every year for Canada Day, and he was the family grill master. Ever curious about the stories of others, Michael also loved to read biographies. He was especially kind to animals and would spend time nursing abandoned cats back to health. He loved to garden, each year defending the corn, cucumbers, tomatoes, and pumpkins from the eager critters of the fields. He believed in strong friendships and in helping others.

Michael was an extremely hard worker and an accomplished welder, achieving his Interprovincial Red Seal Journeyman qualification in 2010 as well as his welding inspection license. He was adept at structural welding, pipe welding, and fabrication, and he worked on many important construction and resource projects across the country. Michael’s time working in Alberta allowed him to appreciate the tremendous beauty of Canada, and he began painting the landscape and writing music about it.

When he returned to Ontario, Michael and his Uncle Thomas formed the band The Deadpans and put out a beautiful first album with their bandmates. A second album will be released posthumously.

Michael’s greatest joy in life was his son, Liam, about whom he always spoke with great pride. His wife Nicole was the love of his life, and his family was his greatest accomplishment.

In late May of 2025, against the backdrop of black plumes of smoke and flames, Michael ran into his burning family home to save his mother before a conflagration took the house to the ground. He also made sure to rescue the terrified cat.

All those who knew and loved Michael are terribly bereaved by the loss of the vibrant person that he was. In his last years of life, Michael struggled deeply with his physical and mental health and his well-being. He relied on substances to ease his pain, but they became their own disease. His family mourns his untimely loss, and in his memory, they encourage all those who are suffering in silence to seek and accept all the help that they need with trauma, mental illness, and addictions from medical and mental health professionals so that something good may come from Michael's tragic passing.

A private service will be held with friends and family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in any amount be made to Lanark, Leads and Grenville Addictions and Mental Health .

Michael’s family would like to emphasize the particular need for people who worked in construction and the trades, like him, to find professional help for their physical and mental pain. People with a history of employment in the construction industry are disproportionately impacted by opioid toxicity deaths in Ontario. In Ontario, a 2021 report among people who died of opioid toxicity showed that one-third of those who were employed at the time of death worked in the construction industry. As this 2022 report states:

"Fentanyl and cocaine involvement were significantly higher among those with employment history in construction compared to those without, while the involvement of methamphetamines and pharmaceutical opioids was significantly lower. Alcohol also directly contributed to 1 in 5 opioid toxicity deaths among construction workers, which was significantly more common compared to those without a history of employment in construction. Pain was also highly prevalent among construction workers who died of opioid toxicity – almost 80% experienced a pain-related condition or injury in the five years prior to opioid toxicity death…." 

source : Report on Lives Lost to Opioid Toxicity Among Ontarians who Worked in the Construction Industry