THUNDER BAY – Like no other musician before him, Gord Downie’s music united Canadians from coast to coast.
On Tuesday, just 53-years-old, the Tragically Hip front-man died, leaving a nation to mourn his passing.
A lyricist who wove his country’s historical tale seamlessly into his songs, Downie’s untimely death was not unexpected.
In 2016 he announced he was suffering from terminal brain cancer, then promptly got the band together and hit the road one last time.
His death hit hard.
Knowing the end was inevitable didn’t make it any easier to accept.
“It’s pretty sad. I’m pretty upset about it,” said Pat Clark, wandering through Intercity Shopping Centre on Wednesday, just hours after the nation awoke to the sad news.
“He was a rock icon and one of Canada’s favourites. I saw a bunch of his concerts and always loved those guys.”
For Clark, it was the Hip’s live performances that drew him in, especially Downie’s antics on stage.
“The guy was crazy on stage and super entertaining. I always enjoyed that part of it. You can never go wrong with a Tragically Hip concert.”
Chris Sabourin saw the band 16 times live over the years, including a stop on last year’s farewell tour.
“They were amazing live,” he said, texting his thoughts during a break at work.
“I’m definitely sad and taken aback. He was one-of-a-kind and truly one of music’s greatest poets, lyricists and front-men.”
Downie’s whose iconic playlists includes hits like New Orleans is Sinking, Ahead by a Century, Poets, Nautical Disaster, My Music at Work and Bobcaygeon, spent the latter years of his life fighting for the country’s Indigenous population.
He sang of the third-world conditions found in Attawapiskat and his final solo project, The Secret Path, told the tale of Charlie Wenjeck, a 12-year-old residential school runaway who died trying to make his way back to his family hundreds of kilometers away.
He became friends with Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, the two coming together last September to spend time with Wenjeck’s family after the launch of The Secret Path.
The news hit Fiddler hard.
“My dear friend took the country by storm last year with his heartfelt call to action, and exposed dark truths about this country like no one before him. I have been deeply moved by Gord’s work with the Wenjack family to bring the history of the Indian residential school system to a national audience,” Fiddler said in a release.
“Gord restored the dignity and innocence of a little boy who only wanted to go home, and we have been humbled by his determination to share the story of Chanie and all of our youth who never made it home.
“We will forever be touched by Gord’s compassion and commitment to guide us along the path to reconciliation. Gord knew this wouldn’t be easy, but I pray that my friend has inspired us all to get moving.”
An emotional Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Downie loved his country with everything he had.
“He loved every hidden corner, every story, every aspect of this country that he celebrated his whole life,” Trudeau said. “And he wanted to make it better.”
Not many would disagree that he did.
"Rain falls in real time and rain fell through the night
No dress rehearsal, this is our life."
