Tom Wilson at Kitchener Public Library
Tom Wilson is a Canadian icon—a musician, author, and visual artist whose work is as raw and powerful as the steel city he hails from. Best known for his bands Junkhouse, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, and Lee Harvey Osmond, Wilson’s deep voice and poetic songwriting have made him a fixture on Canadian stages—including regular appearances at Kitchener’s Centre In The Square, where his storytelling and sound have resonated with audiences for decades.
His 2017 memoir, Beautiful Scars, captivated readers with the revelation of his hidden Mohawk identity and the search for truth that redefined his life. That journey continues to shape his art, much of which has deep ties to the land, memory, and cultural reclamation—making his performances in Kitchener-Waterloo feel both personal and communal.
Wilson’s bold, expressionist paintings have been exhibited across the country, and his spoken-word and visual collaborations have brought him back to Kitchener repeatedly, where he’s found both inspiration and a welcoming creative community.
Whether onstage, on canvas, or on the page, Tom Wilson remains a master storyteller—blending grit, grace, and a fierce love for this part of the world he considers a second home.
