Canadians lost an icon when Tragically Hip singer, poet and advocate Gord Downie died on October 17.
Since then, tributes across the country have taken place, include a Hip sing-along at a Toronto park and a moment of silence at WE Day in Vancouver.
We’ve rounded up some of the latest tributes to Downie in Toronto as well as some upcoming events. If you have a Gord Downie tribute event coming up, email or comment below.
Toronto Sings For Gord
Join community singing ensemble Choir! Choir! Choir! at Nathan Phillips Square on October 24 for a Tragically Hip sing-along. Song lyrics will be posted to the group’s Facebook page on Monday, and singing begins Tuesday at 8 pm. A donation of $5 to the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund is suggested. See website for details.
C!C!C! Sings Gord Downie’s The Stranger
If you miss the public event at Nathan Phillips Square on Tuesday, a second opportunity to sing in honour of Downie takes place the following night on October 25. Choir! Choir! Choir! gathers at Clintons (693 Bloor West) for their usual weekly sing-along to tackle Downie’s The Stranger, the lead song off his 2016 album, The Secret Path. Cover is $5 and singing starts at 8 pm. See website for details.
Long Time Running at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema
Filmmakers Jennifer Baichwal and Nicholas de Pencier documented the Tragically Hip’s final tour across Canada in 2016 in support of their album, Man Machine Poem. The result is a 96-minute documentary that not only captures the magic of the shows but the band’s emotional journey as well. NOW film critic Norman Wilner described Long Time Running as “deeply sad and positively triumphant. It’s everything we need it to be.” See it this Thursday (October 26) at 8:45 pm at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema (506 Bloor West). See website for details.
A sign outside the Horseshoe Tavern the day after Gord Downie passed away.
A sidewalk mural on Queen West.
Flowers over the Tragically Hip’s star on Canada’s Walk of Fame on King West.
Tragically Hip fan Joseph Reid ran the Toronto Marathon on October 22 dressed as Gord Downie.
A billboard spotted at Yonge-Dundas Square on October 22.
michelled@nowtoronto.com | @michdas
