Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s gave a tearful statement about Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip’s passing.
I am really moved reading how important Gord Downie was to Canadians.
Ottawa, Ontario
October 18, 2017
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the death of Gord Downie:
“For almost five decades, Gord Downie uncovered and told the stories of Canada. He was the frontman of one of Canada’s most iconic bands, a rock star, artist, and poet whose evocative lyrics came to define a country.
“The Tragically Hip’s music invited us to explore places we had never been – from Mistaken Point to Churchill – and helped us understand each other, while capturing the complexity and vastness of the place we call home.
“Gord’s command of language was profound. He painted landscapes with his words, elevating Canadian geography, historical figures, and myths. When he spoke, he gave us goosebumps and made us proud to be Canadian. Our identity and culture are richer because of his music, which was always raw and honest – like Gord himself.
“In the wake of his diagnosis, Gord only fought harder for what he believed in: social justice, environmentalism, and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. Before passing, he shined his light on the story of 12-year-old Chanie Wenjack who died from hunger and exposure after trying to find his way home from a residential school. For his work raising awareness of Indigenous issues, he was inducted as a member of the Order of Canada in 2017.
“Gord did not rest from working for the issues he cared about, and his commitment and passion will continue to motivate Canadians for years to come.
“On behalf of all Canadians, Sophie and I offer our deepest condolences to Gord’s family, friends, bandmates and crew members, and his many, many fans. He will be sorely missed.”
I posted about Gordie before, but I want to again on the day of his passing.
Please give us your favorite Tragically Hip songs.
Here is one of mine: New Orleans is Sinking
RIP Gordie. The world needs more men like you.
© 2026 – SoulSequel
10 responses to ““We are less as a country without Gord Downie in it,” Justin Trudeau”
“Poetry is a voice that characterizes a nation. We should become a a nation of poets rather than America-haters. It’s certaintly more interesting.” ~Gordon Downie
i cant even keep my face dry today
what amazes me is how much he tried to do in this past year, after the last show, what he did to give to us more and more
this one hurts
i cant say which is my favourite. there are songs of theirs from every period of my life starting at 15.
“its been nice doing business with you”
@BelleMadre Courage. We should all be courageous in honor of Gord Downie.
Is this the song you mention? Scared
This is how a leader responds to a country’s loss and sadness. Good on you Justin Trudeau.
I guess this one rings my bell whenever I hear it. Gord was a story teller and this one a bit of Canadiana that will never be forgotten, More for this song than the actual event itself.
Last Summer’s farewell tour was a big deal in Canada. Their final concert on the tour was in their hometown and televised live across the country, We were at one of thousands of parties. It was just as big as any Stanley Cup final that includes a Canadian team. We were in a friends backyard where a bedsheet was strung up between two trees and the concert project against it. The place was wired for sound and you could hear the music from many backyards where they were doing the same thing. A great Canadian moment.
Oh…and they once opened for the Stones…I think it was The Steel Wheels Tour. They never looked back after that.
Another thought to share Gina about this guy.
He represented a Canadian version of cool. He dressed like an oddball and you half wondered if he did it on purpose while at the same time seemed like he couldn’t care less if you loved it or hated it. There was a wry wit in his communication pattern constantly in evidence. The guy was a poet first, like Dylan and Jim Morrison but significantly more self effacing, at least as far as any front man could be.
I was thinking of Canadian cool, versus how I see American cool and I find it hard to think of American whites as cool. It seems like there is an effort that makes the final result not cool, because it seems more like a parroting of trying to look black, whom in my opinion are the only ones capable of carrying a description of cool. Maybe the whole Fonzie thing killed it for all Caucasians down there after James Dean invented it
Canadian cool might be about being ok with not being at the top of a heap. Being content with being close is enough. It seems Gord had the it going on and while the bands music will definitely live on, there will be a slightly sadder edge that will now be married to the sound. Can you even imagine having the power to leave a legacy like that, for close to a whole national population to even care that much for someone they think they know?
@spitfire3dc oooh our canadian hearts!
i like that he was doing his own thing, shrugging about it. but selling it. although i personally wont be wearing a 2/tube sock scarf in honour i know he did it cause he needed to :D like, the rest of the band Look so canadian and there he is in his own attire just being Gord…SO Canadian that !
the time i saw him live (1994) he was ranting and pacing on a stage ripping up his set list and telling us if we were true canadians we would all pay more attention to who was running our country. i was 17 and thought i was there just to see a great band. and thought holy man that guy is nuts. but it was also an eye opener. in that moment i realized there was more to the songs our boyfriends sang in my back yard. he was like our Dylan in that if we really listened we might learn something. he could give us all shit and 40,000 people would still sting the lyrics to 50 Mission Cap when the speakers blew.
im going to watch Secret Path this week. it was too soon when he was alive still, too hard. but thats the point. and now itll be harder but i feel like i owe him one.
@BelleMadre Shrugging about it, but selling it…you nailed it with that.
Nice post overall. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. As good as anything I have read or heard, including JT’s response.
@spitfire3dc Thank You <3
He was an active voice for social issues, and threw good parties!
A true blue Canadian.
We’ll miss you Gord.