Today is an undoubtedly tragic one in Canadian history as we say goodbye to the Tragically Hip's Gord Downie, who died at the age of 53 following a battle with brain cancer. To put his national acclaim into perspective, we now have footage of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offering a tearful goodbye to the singer on television.
Trudeau spoke out about how we lost "our buddy Gord," praising the frontman for his love of Canada as an entire country. "He wanted to make it better," Trudeau said. "He knew as great as we were, we needed to be better than we are."
He then referenced Downie's fight for Canada to repair relationships with indigenous communities. Last year, at the Tragically Hip's final show, Downie famously called on Trudeau to fix those relationships. "This is something that I've certainly drawn inspiration and strength from," Trudeau added.
"We are less as a country without Gord Downie in it," Trudeau concluded.
Watch the tearful statement below.
Dive into Downie's storied back catalogue with the complete Tragically Hip vinyl collection and the deluxe edition of Downie's 2016 solo album Secret Path.
Trudeau spoke out about how we lost "our buddy Gord," praising the frontman for his love of Canada as an entire country. "He wanted to make it better," Trudeau said. "He knew as great as we were, we needed to be better than we are."
He then referenced Downie's fight for Canada to repair relationships with indigenous communities. Last year, at the Tragically Hip's final show, Downie famously called on Trudeau to fix those relationships. "This is something that I've certainly drawn inspiration and strength from," Trudeau added.
"We are less as a country without Gord Downie in it," Trudeau concluded.
Watch the tearful statement below.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: "We are less of a country without Gord Downie in it." pic.twitter.com/40eE69qCtM
— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) October 18, 2017
Dive into Downie's storied back catalogue with the complete Tragically Hip vinyl collection and the deluxe edition of Downie's 2016 solo album Secret Path.