OTTAWA — There was an uncommon slowness in Justin Trudeau's step Wednesday morning as he walked toward the weekly Liberal caucus meeting on Parliament Hill, his thoughts weighed heavily with the news that Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie had died.
"I thought I was going to make it through this but I'm not," the prime minister said, his voice cracking with emotion, tears streaming down his face.
"It hurts."
A couple of hours before, the Hip had announced that their lead singer died Tuesday night at the age of 53 after a more than year-long battle with brain cancer.
"We all knew it was coming, Trudeau said. "But we hoped it wasn't."
Trudeau added that Canada was less of a country for having lost Downie.
There was a personal connection between the prime minister and the musician that was only seen publicly on a few occasions.
As his band wrapped up a 15-stop farewell tour in Kingston, Ont., in the summer of 2016, Downie called out to Trudeau, who was in the audience, urging him to take action on behalf of Canada's Indigenous peoples, to make their lives better.
Canada's identity & culture are richer for Gord Downie's work.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 18, 2017
Before that show, Trudeau embraced Downie backstage and later described the bittersweet moment as both a celebration of Downie's life and a chance to say goodbye.
In the months that followed, it was evident that Trudeau had taken the singer's message to heart as his government took several steps to reconcile with Indigenous communities over the treatment of aboriginal children and families under the residential schools program.
On Wednesday, through tear-welled eyes, Trudeau commended Downie for his love of country, his profound ability to use words to create landscapes and his dedication to the plight of Indigenous Canadians.
"Gord was my friend, but Gord was everyone's friend," Trudeau said. "He knew, as great as we were, we needed to be better than we are," he added.
Gord Downie, you are and will always be one of our greatest Canadian icons. Your musical legacy and strong advocacy will always live on.
— Mélanie Joly (@melaniejoly) October 18, 2017
"Our buddy Gord, who loved this country with everything he had, and not just loved it in a nebulous 'oh, I love Canada way,' he loved every hidden corner, every story, every aspect of this country that he celebrated his whole life."
Conservative MP Tony Clement, a musician himself, lamented that it was his unfulfilled dream to perform with Downie.
"It's always been a desire of mine to play with him at some point, but they’re incredibly influential to anyone Canadian who has picked up a musical instrument, there’s no question about it," Clement said. "I could do a fairly poor version of Ahead by a Century."
So sad to hear of Gord Downie's passing. His music brought Canadians together, and he’ll forever be a legendary figure in Canada. pic.twitter.com/CKhx1gMyOD
— Andrew Scheer (@AndrewScheer) October 18, 2017
Clement also called on the government to consider a state funeral for the iconic singer.
"I think they should really consider it, I really do," he said. "I think he matters that much to Canadians."
Downie's death went beyond Ottawa's political realm, with Library and Archives Canada tweeting a line from the Tragically Hip song "It's a Good Life If You Don't weaken."
"For a good life, we just might have to weaken; And find somewhere to go; Go somewhere we’re needed."
INDIGENOUS LEADERS PRAISE GORD DOWNIE AS FRIEND, ALLY ON RECONCILIATION
OTTAWA — Indigenous leaders praised Gord Downie's contribution to reconciliation as they mourned the musician's death.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler said Wednesday he knew Downie's death was coming but he said it is still incredibly sad to know he's no longer alive.
In addition to the music he produced over the years, Downie will be remembered for his advocacy for Indigenous communities in the North and notably his project "Secret Path", Fiddler said.
Our hearts break on news of the passing of Wicapi Omani, “Walks Among the Stars”, Gord Downie an ally & friend. pic.twitter.com/9gPIdX1qrO
— Perry Bellegarde (@perrybellegarde) October 18, 2017
That solo project honoured 12-year-old Chanie Wenjack, who died in 1966 after running away from a residential school near Kenora, Ont.
"Gord often said he was struck by that story and he couldn't let go of it," Fiddler said in an interview. "He wanted to make it his mission to share that story with the rest of the country."
He also remembers when he was with Downie and Wenjack's sister Pearl last fall in Marten Falls First Nation, in northern Ontario.
"Unlike the rock star on stage with his music, he was very quiet," Fiddler said.
"I think one of the things I've said about Gord is just how humble he was. He did his work with humility and respect."
Downie's death is an "incredible loss to Canada", Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett said as she thanked him for the role he played in reconciliation.
"He put it so rightly when he said we've got 150 years behind us to learn from and 150 years ahead of us and we better just get to work," Bennett said on Parliament Hill. "I think Gord Downie will be with us as we do that work."
It was unbelievably important someone of Downie's stature set an example for all Canadians, she added.
Heartbroken to hear of death of Gord Downie. He wasn't just an amazing artist he was caring loving guy who knew a better world was possible
— Charlie Angus NDP (@CharlieAngusNDP) October 18, 2017
"It has really ... galvanized way more people to think that it is not somebody else's problem," Bennett said.
"I think that we know that as he goes to the spirit world, he will still guide us on this project of reconciliation which isn't just for Indigenous people, that non-Indigenous people have a tremendous role to play as we come out of this dark chapter of colonization and racism."
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde said Downie was "an ally and friend" and referred to him in a as the man who "Walks Among the Stars" — a name given to the singer in late 2016 at an emotional ceremony at a special chiefs assembly in Gatineau, Que.
A frail-looking Downie wept openly at the event, wiping tears from his eyes.
He was also given an eagle feather, swaddled in a star blanket by Bellegarde and his wife and showered in gifts such as moccasins and blankets.
"I honour the life and work of Gord Downie, a dedicated and accomplished artist who used his profile to advance reconciliation and build support for First Nations peoples," Bellegarde said Wednesday in a statement.
