Michael Julien, co-founder of the Roots Cultural Association, long-time employee of McGill University and former co-host of CKUT’s Bhum Bhum Tyme has passed away in the country of his birth, Trinidad and Tobago.
I first met “Uncle Mikey” in the summer of 1991 when we both worked at the Black Community Council of Quebec (BCCQ). He had taken a sabbatical from his work at McGill University and was exploring new paths. That summer, 2121 Old Orchard was alive with activity, as both seasoned and younger community members contributed to impactful projects. Mikey brought with him a quiet brilliance, shaped by his experience as a university library supervisor and his earlier work in the Ministry of Works in Port of Spain. He was organized, strategic, and passionate about culture.
I came from a background in fundraising, film, and theatre. With those two worlds combined, there was almost nothing we didn’t tackle together. Our friendship was like an award-winning TV show — part I Love Lucy, part The Odd Couple, always entertaining and endlessly funny.
By 1992, my daughter Alicia wanted to “play mas” with her day camp at the NDG Black Community Centre. Uncle Mikey, ever the purist, raised an eyebrow and declared, “I’ll bring you to a real mas camp!” And so he did. Unbeknownst to me years earlier, Michael Julien with Stephen Payne founded Roots Cultural Association. Since its inception, the perennially favourite costume band won the most Band of the Year titles in Montreal.
In 1993, Bhum Bhum Tyme hit the CKUT Radio airwaves— a late-night hour from 11 p.m. to midnight where “Uncle M” and “Sistah P” spun oldies and wove night magic with the music. We would riff about the various genres of Black music and speak to the memories the music would bring back. Mikey was a natural and with his sense of humour and insight we gently lulled listeners into Monday. It was our love letter to the culture, every Sunday night.
The shenanigans just never ended. I remember him hacking down shrubs and tree limbs to build a witch doctor’s hut for Sedley Antoine’s street theatre performance during a Montreal Carnival. The solid advice he would give masqueraders like Heather, Andy, GarthAlicia and Jumille. His stories of carnivals of long ago in TnT would help wile away the hours as one “worked a mas”. In Trinidad he was carried through the streets as he depicted Jesus on the Cross. Much to 5 year old Alicia’s glee, he wore a diaper for a jourvert. Or the time we accidentally drove off-road on Nun’s Island and tried, foolishly, to lift the car ourselves — laughing at our own boldness, madness, and unshakable teamwork.
No matter the project, he was insightful. Alongside Roger Mathews and community men they raised the funds to build the Blackpool Sports club in Maraval, Trinidad. I still don’t know how he got all those balls to Trinidad!
Whenever I produced a show, Mikey ran the box office with military precision. From Reggae Sunsplash 1994 — a monumental lineup of 92 artists and musicians — to performances by Luciano, Anthony B, Bunji Garlin, and Glen Washington for crowds of up to 17,000 in the Savannah in Trinidad , he was my constant, my co-conspirator, and my anchor, driver and one of the best shit talkers who could turn serious in a nano second.
Michael Julien was more than a community builder — he was family. His impacted lives wherever he went between Canada and the Caribbean through the many events he touched, carnival related activities from organizing meetings to judging for the National Carnival Commission. The setting up systems where he improved infrastructure including his leadership in the implementation the barcode system on books in McGill’s libraries, Mikey did it all his way.
Michael Julian is survived by his his wife Nola , after 60 years of love; his children Mitch Julien( deceased),Garth,
Sean, Algenon, Angelique,
Nikki Julien, Wendy,
Arlene and Perry with
15 grandchildren and several great grand children.
In Loving Memory of Michael Julien
