Canada rock band frontman Gord Downie appointed Order of Canada member

The Rideau Hall  ceremony on Monday was attended by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau and other dignitaries. Performances by indigenous singers and a speech by Métis actor Tom Jackson, an officer of the Order of Canada, were part of the event.

Downie was among 30 people who received the Order of Canada, the Meritorious Service Decorations (Civil Division), the Polar Medal or the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers for their leadership and his strong advocacy for indigenous people.

Only last year Downie announced that he had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.

Besides being acknowledged as a musician, Downie was also honoured for his social activism, moving the country along the path to reconciliation and raising awareness about the history of residential schools for indigenous people.

In Secret Path, his recent solo album and graphic novel, Downie tells the story of the death of an Ojibwe First Nations boy, Chanie Wenjack, in 1966 during his attempt to escape a residential school.

​Other arts figures honoured included: Children's and youth author Jacqueline Guest, Actor, activist and former MP Tina Keeper, Royal Winnipeg Ballet artistic director André Lewis and the late Mary Richard for creating the ballet Going Home Star – Truth and Reconciliation, Writer and theatre actress Julie Pellissier-Lush and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, documentary filmmaker and director of Angry Inuk.

​Downie's Tragically Hip bandmates were also appointed members of the Order of Canada and will reportedly receive the honour at a later date.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)

Image of Gord Downie: Wikipedia