…One of the Hip’s unreleased songs is a beloved bootleg called ‘Montreal’. That’s so important and seemingly simple: women get to be people, not just a prop of male fantasy or wish fulfilment. She writes: “For the most part, Downie’s lyrics afford women agency. In many ways, the environment is also the underdog - so, it’s an easy fit.”Īndrea Warner notes Downie’s feminism. That experience, combined with my rock and roll roots gives me something of an affinity for the underdog. As a musician, I travel widely around the country and talk to a lot of people, from all walks of life. Downie told the audience, “First Nations…that’s Canada’s capital”.Įxplaining how he became engaged in environmental issues, Downie has said: “I grew up on the lake and spent most of that time outdoors. Waubgeshig Rice (a CBC Ottawa reporter from Wasauksing First Nation) tweeted Downie’s comment last night about being in the “nation’s capital” for this concert. Author Joseph Boyden writes: “As my dear friend Gord Downie said when he and the rest of the Tragically Hip came to James Bay to perform their first high school gym show in 25 years, our nation is only as good as how we treat our most vulnerable, as how we respond to those most in pain.”ĭownie has also stated: “I stand in support of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nations and all Canadians who find themselves with no voice in our present version of democracy, who are trying to come up with the entry fee that gets them a seat at the table where their pollution future is being discussed.” That we know what’s best for the world.'”ĭownie has visited Attawapiskat First Nation a number of times. Writer Chris Koentges has noted: “Hectored by a CBC host in an interview in 2009, said: ‘I would want no part of propagating or galvanizing or burnishing some of the stupid mythology in this country. It’s not surprising then that Downie was also one of the “initiating signatories” of the Leap Manifesto. It’s hard sometimes to use the capital you have as a beloved rock band and put it to various causes, especially when they’re a bit more controversial, like energy issues.”Īt the “Rock the Line” concert in October 2013, Downie described the 300,000 barrel per day Line 9 tar sands pipeline as a “pollution delivery system”. They came to the Line 9 show I put on a few years ago. They’re really great leaders on that front. They don’t wait to see what someone else will do. They’ve done a lot of generous fundraising and they get the word out for various Kingston community initiatives for kids camps or health care stuff. Musician and activist Sarah Harmer has commented: “I really admire character as citizens. It was a memorable concert and additionally moving given the band’s singer and lyricist Gord Downie is courageously facing brain cancer.īelow is a brief summary about his politics (which includes water protection, health care, pipeline opposition, Indigenous solidarity, prisoner rights, and more). On April 4, 2017, the Canadian Cancer Society recognized The Tragically Hip with a commemorative plaque in honour of their support for cancer clinical trials at the Canadian Cancer Trials Group, which is housed at Queen’s.I went to see the Tragically Hip play in Ottawa last night. That summer, the band embarked on a final tour and raised funds in support of brain cancer research. Days later he announced that he had been diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Downie was absent from the convocation ceremony. Over the next three decades the band remained connected with the university and in May 2016 Queen’s conferred honorary degrees upon them. During his time at the university he and fellow band members Gord Sinclair (Artsci’86), Rob Baker (BFA’86), Paul Langlois and Johnny Fay formed The Tragically Hip. Downie graduated from Queen’s in 1986, majoring in film studies. “Apart from his enormous musical contributions with Kingston’s own The Tragically Hip, Gord devoted much of his energies during his final years to causes close to him, particular those connected with Indigenous reconciliation.” “I’m saddened to learn of Gord Downie’s death after a long and brave fight against cancer,” says Principal Daniel Woolf. In his memory, flags on campus have been lowered. Downie died Tuesday night in Toronto from brain cancer. Queen’s University is mourning the death of Gord Downie (Artsci'86, LLD'16), lead singer of The Tragically Hip, a Queen’s graduate and honorary degree recipient. Mr Downie died Tuesday night in Toronto from brain cancer. Gord Downie (Artsci'86, LLD'16) performs during The Tragically Hip's final tour.
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