Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cried, as he delivered a touching eulogy for one of the North American nation’s most-loved musicians.
Gordon Downie, the legendary frontman of iconic Canadian rock band Tragically Hip, passed away on Tuesday (local time), aged 53, after a two-year battle with brain cancer.
The Ontario rocker was not particularly famous outside Canada, but was a hugely recognisable figure in his homeland, and was lauded for his thoughtful lyrics, patriotism and philanthropy.
Speaking on behalf of himself, his wife and Canada, Mr Trudeau wept openly, as he remembered the man he described as a friend. Gord was my friend and was everyone’s friend it’s who he was, our buddy Gord, who loved this country with everything he had.
And not just in a nebulous, I love Canada way, he said, his voice trembling, as the words came out.
He loved every hidden corner, every story, every aspect of this country that he celebrated his whole life and he wanted to make it better. He knew, as great as we were, we needed to be better than we were.
He wept openly remembering Gordon Downie, who passed away from brain cancer. We are less as a country without Gord Downie in it. We all knew it was coming, but we hoped it wasn’t.
Drawing attention to the tears rolling down his face, Mr Trudeau said: I thought I’d make it through this, but I’m not. It hurts. Tragically Hip also delivered a tribute to their deceased frontman.