Jared Milne was a true Canadian.
The longtime Gazette columnist flew a Canadian flag by his front door, hung maps of Canada on his walls, and had books on Canada on his coffee table. His reading room held a towering bookshelf crammed with books on Canadian history, alongside ones filled with Dungeons and Dragons manuals, fantasy novels, and comic books.
Whether it be at the dinner table or on vacation, Jared was always eager to hear your thoughts on the latest issues in Canada, said his sister, Carly Milne.
“There was no place where politics was taboo for Jared.”
Jared Scott Milne died from colon cancer on Sept. 13, 2024, in his St. Albert home with his family by his side. He was 42.
Milne was a writer with a passion for Canadian history. A lifelong St. Albert resident, he was a familiar face at city council meetings and other political gatherings and well-known to many of this region’s elected officials.
Milne was opinionated, but always based his opinions on facts and evidence, and was always willing to consider other points of view, said longtime friend and fellow St. Albert Poliwings member Neil Korotash.
“He was what every politician should be, and I’m certain I could have convinced him to run for [city] council at some point.”
Captain Canada
Milne’s mother, Bev Milne, said her son took an interest in politics as early as Grade 5 when he became fascinated by elections. He amazed many a door-knocking politician by grilling them on the latest issues whenever they showed up at his front door.
“He wasn’t even paying taxes [yet] but he joined the St. Albert Taxpayers Association,” Carly said.
Milne was active in many community groups including Toastmasters and St. Albert Poliwings, and volunteered for St. Albert politicians Cam MacKay and Brent Rathgeber, Bev said. Earning a Master of Arts degree in Canadian Studies from the University of Alberta, he worked as an analyst for the provincial government for most of the last 12 years.
Bev and Carly said Milne saw it as his moral obligation to keep abreast of current affairs, and dedicated time every Wednesday to reading up on the news.
Milne loved everything about Canada, but wasn’t uncritical of his country either, Carly said.
“He wanted things to be better,” she said, and to ensure Canada lived up to its reputation.
Milne first started writing for the Gazette in around 2003, this paper’s archives suggest. Brian Bachynski, former Gazette publisher and current president of Great West Publishing, said in an email that the Gazette hired Milne as a columnist because his writings provoked thought and discussion, which are the cornerstones of good editorial writing.
“Not only was his writing noteworthy, he was a voice from a younger demographic,” he said.
“That younger perspective on important societal matters like politics certainly added depth to our opinion pages.”
Many of Milne’s writings on his Medium website tacked tough questions about racism, truth and reconciliation, and how Canada doesn’t always live up to its rhetoric for tolerance and diversity.
“But that’s what true patriot love is supposed to be about — recognizing our failures as a country and using them as a reason to do better,” he wrote on July 1, 2024.
Bev said Milne was diagnosed with colon cancer in July, but remained upbeat about his life until the end.
“A week before [he died], he said, ‘I really have nothing to complain about. I am so blessed.’”
Milne announced his diagnosis on Facebook on Sept. 6.
“I may never become prime minister and somehow magically fix everything like I used to dream of, but I don’t need to. The contributions I’ve made are meaningful to those who have experienced them, even if it’s just in a supportive bond of friendship,” Bev said, reading the post.
Korotash said Milne was the antithesis of today’s divisive, hyper-partisan politics, and he hopes others will be inspired by Milne’s example.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to celebrate another Canada Day without thinking about Jared.”
Milne is survived by his mother, Bev, and sister, Carly, and predeceased by his father, Jeff. A celebration of his life will be held Oct. 4 in Progress Hall at St. Albert Place. In lieu of flowers, Bev asks that donations be made to charities supported by Milne, such as Indspire. Call Connelly-McKinley Funeral Homes at 780-458-2222 for details on the service.
