All of us at Linda Leith Publishing are greatly saddened by the death of our author Michael Blair, who passed away peacefully on June 10, 2022 at the Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital.

Predeceased by his parents Hugh and Audrey Blair, Michael is survived by his devoted partner of 28 years, Pamela Hilliard, daughter Jessica, siblings Jennifer and Jonathan, grandchildren Ariel and Aaron, and nephews Shane and Tristan. 

Michael’s passion for writing resulted in seven published mystery novels. His first manuscript, If Looks Could Kill, was a finalist in the 1999 Chapters / Robertson Davies Literary Prize, and was shortlisted for the Quebec Writers’ Federation First Book Award in 2001.

A past-president of Crime Writers of Canada, he worked at different periods as a truck driver, a carpenter, owner of a second-hand bookstore, graphic designer, copywriter, and a computer administrator. His most recent novels, True Believers and The Evil That Men Do, are available from Linda Leith Publishing. 

As a boy he enjoyed camping with his family in Barry’s Bay, and his love of the outdoors was always evident in camping trips, skiing, hiking, and kayaking. In recent years he and Pamela spent summers at the cottage on Lake Champlain, and they enjoyed travelling, taking trips to the Rockies, the Lake District, Scotland, Ireland, Newfoundland, and elsewhere.

His family and friends would like to thank the Stroke and Palliative Care units at the Montreal Neurological Hospital for their kindness and care and in particular, his neurologist of the last five years, Dr. Aimen Moussaddy.

Donations may be made to St. Margaret’s Day Centre where Michael spent many enjoyable hours. A celebration of Michael’s life will take place at a later date.

Linda Leith founded Blue Metropolis Foundation in 1997 and was President and Artistic Director of the Blue Metropolis Montreal International Literary Festival for the first fourteen years. In 2011, she created the literary house Linda Leith Publishing. In 2021 she published her memoirs, Girl From Dream City. [Photo: John Mahoney]