People of Georgian: The Sunset Piper who built a life around purpose, family and music

Aug. 1, 2025

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The Georgian community is full of unique, inspiring perspectives —and we’re sharing them as part of an ongoing series.

Meet Michael Smith

Every Friday night in the summer, just before the sun dips below the horizon on Lake Huron, I climb up on the stone wall in Southampton and begin to play the bagpipes.

It’s hard to describe what that moment feels like. There’s the music and the setting, but there’s also a deep connection to everything I care about. This has never just been a performance. It’s tradition, reflection, and something that grounds me, no matter what else is going on in my life.

I picked up the pipes when I was 10. My sister was a Highland dancer, so I was always around the music and culture. After a few years of playing, around age 12, I started piping at sunset. I had to ask my parents to drive me to the beach every week and fortunately they agreed, because I never imagined it would become what it has. Now, 21 years later, I’ve only missed three Fridays.

This tradition shaped more than my summers. It shaped my life.

‘I built everything else around Friday nights on that beach’

I went on to earn a degree in Human Kinetics, then went on to study nursing . I worked  in a medical unit as a registered nurse, transitioned into the ICU, and completed my master’s degree while working full time. I now teach full time in the Honours Bachelor of Science – Nursing program at Georgian’s Owen Sound Campus and still work in critical care.

And, somewhere in the middle of that, I got married and became a dad.

But no matter what stage of life I’ve been in, I’ve always made sure I was back in Southampton for those summer Friday evenings. In 2019, I proposed to my wife Krista on the beach after one of my performances. We were married in 2022 with a full Scottish-themed wedding, and I played the pipes as she walked down the aisle. Not long after, The Globe and Mail listed Southampton as one of Ontario’s most romantic wedding spots and mentioned the Sunset Piper as part of the charm.

Now, our daughters Ella and Ava come to listen and dance in the sand while I play. My oldest already has a love for the bagpipes. I like to tell the crowd that my replacement is here—I’m just keeping the spot warm until she takes over.

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‘Teaching is another way I get to give back’

I’ve always had a strong desire to help others. Teaching gives me a chance to share what I’ve learned and shape the next generation of nurses. It also lets me stay connected to my own practice. In the classroom, I can bring in my ICU experience and help students understand the realities of care.

At Georgian, I teach courses in pharmacology, patient-centred care, community nursing, foundation labs and simulation. I still work shifts in critical care too. Balancing both roles is demanding, but it’s also incredibly rewarding.

‘Having something you love makes the hard days easier’

With teaching, clinical work, performing, parenting and everything else, life can be full. But having a passion makes all the difference.

I’m fortunate to have a family that supports and shares that passion. Krista is also a registered nurse and the Director of Care at a long-term care home. She understands what it takes to keep all these parts of life moving, and she’s right there with me. When we’re on the beach together, watching our daughters listen to the pipes and take it all in, it feels like everything fits.

Whether I’m helping a student find their footing in simulation lab or playing to a crowd at sunset, those are the moments that keep me going. They remind me of what really matters.

Following your passion gives you purpose. It gives you something to hold onto when life gets busy or hard. It reminds you why you show up—for the people who support you and for yourself.