Jason Wilson

Description

Dr. Jason Wilson is a bestselling Canadian historian and musician. The two-time Juno Award nominee, Canadian Reggae Music Award winner and SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship Recipient is the author of seven books, including King Alpha’s Song in a Strange Land: The Roots and Routes of Canadian Reggae (Vancouver: UBC Press, 2019) and Soldiers of Song: The Dumbells and other Canadian Concert Parties of the First World War (Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2012). Wilson also co-authored the national bestseller The Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club: Official Centennial Publication, 1917-2017 (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 2016) and the award-winning Lord Stanley: The Man Behind the Cup (Fenn Publishing, 2006). As a musician, Wilson has nine albums to his credit and has performed over 2,500 across North America, Britain and Jamaica. Dr. Wilson has experienced sustained success in ‘performing history’ – that is to say, bringing history to life – for both academic and non-academic audiences with a variety of live performance projects. These projects present history through a blend of music, lecture, theatre and storytelling and have been performed at various venues – including universities, schools, historical sites, museums, theatres and music festivals – across North America.

Education

Professional

Adjunct-Professor, Guelph, current

Sessional Lecturer, Guelph-Humber, current

Designed courses "HIST*2280 Hockey in Canadian History", “AHSS 2330 Hockey and Canadian Nation”, “UNIV 1200 Song, Story, Drawing and Dance: The Arts in Motion” and “UNIV 1200 Across the ‘Black Atlantic’: Jamaica’s Impact on Community, Culture and Music in Britain and Canada”

Research

Canadian Popular Culture/Canadiana

Canadian Music

Jamaican Music/Reggae

First World War

Hockey

Canadian Immigration/Jamaican Migration

Public Utilities

Children's Rights and Participation 

Publications

Books:

Jason Wilson, King Alpha’s Song in a Strange Land: The Roots and Routes of Canadian Reggae. Vancouver: UBC Press, 2019.

Jason Wilson and Kevin Shea, with Graham MacLachlan, One Man and the Maple Leaf: The John Paris Bickell Story. Toronto: Dundurn Press, 2017.

Kevin Shea and Jason Wilson, The Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club: Official Centennial Publication, 1917-2017. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 2016. (Canadian Bestseller)

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: The Dumbells and other Canadian Concert Parties of the First    World War. Waterloo: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2012.

Jason Wilson, For the People: 100 Years of Electric Power at Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro. Kitchener: Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro, 2014.

Kevin Shea and John Jason Wilson, Lord Stanley: The Man Behind the Cup. Toronto: Fenn Publishing, 2006.

Jason Wilson, Squirrel Gangs, Streetlights & Bucket Trucks: The History of Waterloo North Hydro. Waterloo: Waterloo North Hydro, 2005. 

Theses:

John Jason Collins Wilson, King Alpha’s Song in a Strange Land: Music, Culture and the Jamaican Experience in Canada. PhD Dissertation. Guelph: University of Guelph, 2013.

John Jason Collins Wilson, Soldiers of Songs: The Dumbells and Other Concert Parties of the First World War, MA Thesis. Guelph: University of Guelph, 2003.

Scholarly Articles:

Jason Wilson and Kevin Shea, ‘Lord Stanley and Sir John A. Macdonald: A Long and Dear Friendship’, Historic Kingston, 57. Kingston: 2009.

Jason Wilson, ‘Alicia Anne Spottiswoode, Lady Scott’ and ‘Jean Eliot of Minto’, The Biographical Dictionary of Scottish Women. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2006.

Jason Wilson, ‘Skating to Armageddon: Of Canada, Hockey and the First World War’, The International Journal of the History of Sport, 22, 3. Oxford: Routledge, May 2005.

Jason Wilson, ‘27 Remarkable Days: The 1972 Summit Series of Ice Hockey between Canada and the Soviet Union’, Totalitarian Movements and Political Religions, 5, 2. Oxford: Taylor & Francis Ltd., September 2004.

Jason Wilson, ‘Of Ireland, Hockey and The First World War: A Study in Popular Recruitment in the Canadian Military, 1914-1918’. Toronto: York University Paper housed at The Hockey Hall of Fame, 2000.

Advocacy/Child-Friendly Papers

Jason Wilson, Doing good work for us children: Children and Adolescents' Contributions to the Draft General Comment on Child Rights and Business Sector. Stockholm: Save the Children Sweden, 2012.

Galteland, Kristin Birkeland, Alana Kapell and Jason Wilson, Children and Armed Conflict: Child Friendly Version of the UN Security Council Resolution 1612. Oslo: Save the Children Norway, 2012.

Non-Scholarly Contributions

Jason Wilson and Spencer Robertson, ‘A Journal of the Plague Year: Hockey in the Time of Covid’, Legends: The Official Program of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Toronto: Hockey Hall of Fame, November 2020.

Jason Wilson, ‘Tradition Building: Lord Stanley and His Importance to Canada’, Legends: The Official Program of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Toronto: Hockey Hall of Fame, November 2016.

Kevin Shea and Jason Wilson, ‘The Maple Leafs Forever: Celebrating 100 NHL Years in Toronto’, Legends: The Official Program of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Toronto: Hockey Hall of Fame, November 2016.

Jason Wilson, ‘Book Review: Eric J. Graham, Burns & the Sugar Plantocracy of Ayrshire’, International Review of Scottish Studies, 36. Guelph: University of Guelph, 2010.

Jason Wilson, ‘A New Era of Inductees’, Legends: The Official Program of the Hockey Hall of     Fame, Induction 2010 Edition. Toronto: Hockey Hall of Fame, November, 2010.

Jason Wilson, ‘Safety First: Elizabeth Graham and her Mask’, Legends: The Official Program of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Induction 2004 Edition. Toronto: Hockey Hall of Fame, November, 2004.

Jason Wilson, ‘Hockey’s Famous Shamrock: The Story of Harry Trihey’, D. Diamond (et al), Total Hockey: The Official Hockey Encyclopaedia of the National Hockey League, Second Edition. Toronto: Dan Diamond and Associates, 2000.

Don Reddick and Jason Wilson, ‘Dawson's Stanley Cup Challenge’, D. Diamond (et al), Total Hockey: The Official Hockey Encyclopaedia of the National Hockey League, Second Edition. Toronto: Dan Diamond and Associates, 2000.

Jason Wilson, ‘Rookies, Rodeos and Journeymen: The Kansas City Scouts Story’, Legends: The Official Program of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Induction 2006 Edition. Toronto: Hockey Hall of Fame, November, 2006.

Jason Wilson, ‘The Fast Bowling Ernest Ranglin’, Word Magazine, Caribana Edition. Brampton: July 2006.

Jason Wilson, ‘UB40’s Got Plenty More’, Word Magazine. Brampton: April 2006.

Jason Wilson, ‘Natural Progression: Brinsley Forde of Aswad’, Word Magazine, Caribana Edition. Brampton: July 2005.

Jason Wilson, ‘End of the Road for the NHL’, Ice Hockey. Toronto: Premier Hockey, 2005.

Jason Wilson, Bill Taylor, with files from J. Jason Wilson, ‘Daredevils in Drag: The Dumbells’, The Toronto Star. 6 November, 2001.

Jason Wilson, ‘Ernest Ranglin – Reggae Pioneer’, Word Magazine. Brampton: December 2005.

Conferences/Presentations

Jason Wilson and Friends, King Alpha’s Song in a Strange Land: Official Book Launch, Lecture and musical performance presented at Papermill Theatre, Todmorden Mills, Toronto, Ontario, 6 February 2020.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Mattamy Theatre, Milton, Ontario, 10 November 2018.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at Pickering College, Newmarket, Ontario, 5 November 2018.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Rose Theatre, Brampton, Ontario, 2 November 2018.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at Fort York, Toronto, Ontario, 21-22 September 2018.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Grand Theatre, Fergus, Ontario, 27 April 2018.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Acadia BAC, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, 11 November 2017.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Evergreen Theatre, Margaretsville, Nova Scotia, 10 November 2017.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Imperial Theatre, Saint John, New Brunswick, 9 November 2017.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the King's Playhouse, Georgetown, Prince Edward Island, 8 November 2017.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Harbourfront Theatre, Summerside, Prince Edward Island, 7 November 2017.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the deCoste Centre, Pictou, Nova Scotia, 6 November 2017.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Conseil Communautaire Beausoleil, Miramichi, New Brunswick, 5 November 2017.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Riverview Arts Centre, Riverview, New Brunswick, 4 November 2017.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Astor Theatre, Liverpool, Nova Scotia, 3 November 2017.

Jason Wilson, Kevin Shea and Graham MacLachlan, J.P. Bickell, lecture, presented at the McIntyre Arena, Timmins, Ontario, 29 September 2017.

Jason Wilson, The Golden Era of Canadian Reggae Music, musical-lecture, presented at the National Music Centre, Calgary, Alberta, 17 August 2017.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at Memorial Park, Stouffville, Ontario, 1 July 2017.

Jason Wilson, ‘Leader in Residence’, Pickering College, Newmarket, Ontario, 2 February 2017.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at Hugh’s Room, Toronto, Ontario, 11 November 2016.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at Victoria Hall, Port Hope, Ontario, 28 October 2016.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, Ontario, 30-31 July 2016.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Victoria Park Armoury, Lindsay, Ontario, 13 May 2016.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Bruce County Museum, Southampton, Ontario, 14 November 2015.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at Nineteen on the Park – The Lebovic Centre, Stouffville, Ontario, 6-7 November 2015.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at The Sanderson Centre, Brantford, Ontario, 4 November 2015.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Ruthven Park National Historic Site, 23 October 2015.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Annandale National Historic Site, Tillsonburg, Ontario, 22-23 May 2015.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Parkview Gardens, Listowel, Ontario, 25 April 2015.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at 1915: Music, Memory, and The Great War, Krannert Art Museum Auditorium, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, 11 March 2015. 

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Newmarket Theatre, Newmarket, Ontario, 17 January 2015.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Timmins Museum/McIntyre Community Centre, Timmins, Ontario, 21-22 November 2014.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Orillia Opera House, Orillia, Ontario, 27 September 2014.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, Ontario, 26 September 2014.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Virden Auditorium Theatre, Virden, Manitoba, 13 September 2014.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Brokenhead River Community Hall, Beausejour, Manitoba, 12 September 2014.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Townshend Theatre, Fort Frances, Ontario, 10 September 2014.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Carman Collegiate Community Theatre, Carman, Manitoba, 8 September 2014.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Rainbow Stage, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 7 September 2014.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Roxy Theatre, Owen Sound, Ontario, 5 September 2014.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Stirling Festival Theatre, Stirling, Ontario, 13 April 2014.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Canadian Army Ball, Gatineau, Quebec, 12 April 2014.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, Ontario, 8 April 2014.

Jason Wilson, Rebel Music and Music Rebels: 300 Years of Music across the Black Atlantic. Lecture and musical performance presented at Histories and Communities, the Tri-University Graduate Student Conference, Balsillie School, Waterloo, Ontario, 22 March 2014.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at Toronto's First Post Office Event, St. Lawrence Hall, Toronto, Ontario, 6 March 2014.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at Enoch Turner Schoolhouse, Toronto, Ontario, 6 December 2013.

Jason Wilson, Rebel Music and Music Rebels: 300 Years of Music across the Black Atlantic. Lecture and musical performance presented at the National Music Centre, Calgary, Alberta, 14 August 2013.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at Hugh’s Room, Toronto, Ontario, 15 June 2013.

Jason Wilson, Soldiers of Song: A Tribute to the Dumbells. Lecture and musical performance presented at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives, Brampton, Ontario, 13 April 2013.

Jason Wilson and Kevin Shea, Something More Than Ordinary Friendship: Lord Stanley And John A. Macdonald, 1888-1891. Conference Paper Presented at the Kingston Historical Society, May 2008.

Jason Wilson, ‘The Beginning of the Professional Age in Hockey’. Lecture presented at The Hockey Hall of Fame Presents: The History of Hockey. Seneca College: 24 January, 2005.

Jason Wilson, ‘The History of British Reggae’, Music, People, Politics. Toronto: CHRY 105.5/York University, November 1995.

Selected Discography

Jason Wilson, Sumach Roots. Wheel Records/Proper Music Distribution: 2019.

Wilson and Swarbrick, Kailyard Tales. Wheel Records/Proper Music Distribution: 2018.

Jason Wilson, Perennials. Wheel Records: 2016. Wilson and Swarbrick, The Lion Rampant. Shirty Records/Wheel Records: 2013.

Jason Wilson, The Peacemaker’s Chauffeur. Wheel Records: 2008. (Juno-Award nominee/CRMA winner)Ÿ

Jason Wilson and Tabarruk, dREaD & BLUE: A Canadiana Suite. Wheel Records: 2004.Ÿ         

Jason Wilson and Tabarruk, Jonah. Wheel Records: 2000. (Juno-Award nominee)

Jason Wilson and Tabarruk, Dark Corners. Wheel Records: 1998.Ÿ

Tabarruk, Tabarruk. Wheel Records: 1994.

Funding

SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship

OGS (multiple awards)

Awards

2018 – Awarded an Ontario Arts Council Grant for his musical project Sumach Roots

2017 – Became National Bestselling Author (Canada) with The Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club: Official Centennial Publication, 1917-2017

2016 – Advisor to the Royal Canadian Mint, official vetting of a variety of new Commemorative Coins (2017) 2009 – Awarded SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship

2009 – Awarded OGS

2009 – Nominated for The Guelph Mercury’s Top 40 under 40 honour list

2009 – Recipient of a Canadian Reggae Music Award for The Peacemaker’s Chauffeur

2009 – Nominated for Juno Award for Best Reggae Recording: The Peacemaker’s Chauffeur

2009 – Nominated for two Reggae Music Achievement Awards for Best Reggae Recording (The Peacemaker’s Chauffeur) and for Best Male Vocal

2008 – Awarded OGS

2007 – Co-Recipient of The Heritage Award for Outstanding Sports Research and Writing (New York: The Society of North American Historians and Researchers), for the publication entitled, Lord Stanley: The Man Behind the Cup 

2006 – Brock Doctoral Scholarship Nominee (Guelph)

2006 – Recipient of the Karl Mullings Award (for commitment to reggae music in Canada)

2003 – Recipient/Winner: Graduate Thesis of the Year (Guelph) "Soldiers of Song" (With Distinction)

2002 – Recipient/Winner: Graduate Course Essay of the Year (Guelph) "Skating To Armageddon" (since published in Oxford-based/Refereed journal)

2002 – Helen O'Reilly History Scholarship (for superior academic standing)

2001-Present – Recipient of various University Graduate Scholarships and Board of Graduate Studies Research Scholarships (Guelph)

2001 – Nominated for Juno Award for Best Reggae Recording: Jonah