Who Was Michael Jamieson?

Nova Scotia trucker was a prominent member of the arts community, known for his charity work.

Part 1: Out in the Cold, in the Middle of Nowhere
Part 2: Gone to the Highway in the Sky

Mike receiving the Champion Award in late 2021 - for his longstanding contributions to the Hant County Exhibition. Original photo here. Photographer unknown.

To the riot police who smashed his window and yanked him out of his truck, Mike Jamieson was an obstacle to be dealt with. But back home in Nova Scotia this man, with his Santa Claus beard, was a central figure in the arts community.

A few months before he drove his banana yellow Freightliner to Ottawa, Mike’s contributions were recognized by the Hants County Exhibition, which describes itself as “the oldest continuously run agricultural fair in North America.” A news article said he received the Champion Award after “working behind the scenes” with that organization for “more than three decades.”

Having been responsible for the public address system, and for the sound and lighting of concerts, Mike was always ready with a “smile and a laugh or a joke.” Very positive. Professional. A pleasure to work with. That’s how people who knew Mike talk about him.

At the Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia nearby, he served as the Technical Director for more than a decade. This undated photo shows him standing on that stage:

Screen capture from news article here. Photographer unknown.

In this photo, from the theatre’s 2011 newsletter, he’s at the bottom left:

A 2016 news article quotes Mike:

I got into doing sound work on the weekends, sort of like a hobby at the start...you got paid for some of it…I’ve been doing that for around 30 years off and on. It’s kind of a love of the job. You see a lot of happy people, people enjoying the music, enjoying the time…when you’re doing stuff for charities, it’s a great feeling afterwards…I’ve done Christmas Angels for a number of years. I can’t tell you how many years I’ve been doing that. [bold added]

Christmas Angels is a group of volunteers “committed to making sure that families and children have less stress and more joy at Christmas.” They raise funds for the disadvantaged via a seasonal telethon (now a webathon) featuring performances by local musicians.

In May 2022, as word of Mike’s death spread, singer songwriter Jake Smith described it as “a huge loss to our music community.” Every “local musician had MJ [Mike Jamieson] do their sound at least once,” he said. Whenever “we ran into each other we talked about the music biz and about the music school.”

Michael Jamieson was more than a truck driver. After hours, he made a different kind of contribution to his community. Decade after decade, he supplied the skills and equipment that made live music and live theatre happen in his corner of Canada. This was a man who gave of himself unstintingly, who did charity work every Christmas.

His concerns were legitimate. His love of freedom sincere. He had a right to peacefully express his views - and to have them acknowledged and respected. Instead he was scorned, marginalized. Just a small fringe minority with unacceptable views.

Mike Jamieson deserved better than to be dragged out of a truck, arrested, roughed up in a paddy wagon, and thrust outdoors in extreme weather.

Here’s that photo, once again. Taken 18 February 2022, after Mike was arrested, released, and rescued. Click here to read more.