The Canada Atlas

Learn / People who shaped Canada

Gord Downie

Singer and songwriter · 1964-2017

Gord Downie
Ryan Merkley · CC BY 2.0

Fronted the Tragically Hip, and spent his last year telling the story of a boy who died running home.

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Life story

  1. February 6, 1964 · Amherstview, Ontario
    Born at Amherstview near Kingston
  2. 1984 · Kingston, Ontario
    Formed the Tragically Hip in Kingston
  3. 1992 · Kingston, Ontario
    Fully Completely established the band as a national institution
  4. August 20, 2016 · Kingston, Ontario
    Played a final concert in Kingston watched by about a third of the country
  5. October 18, 2016 · Ogoki Post and Kenora, Ontario
    Released Secret Path about Chanie Wenjack, who died fleeing a residential school
  6. October 17, 2017 · Toronto
    Died at Toronto

Sources