March 29, 2024 03:51 (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
PM Modi has mastered art of manipulating democracy, hurting Constitution: Mallikarjun Kharge | Mafia-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari dies of cardiac arrest at 63 | NIA arrests key conspirator in Bengaluru cafe blast case | Actor Govinda returns to politics after 14 years of 'vanvas', joins Eknath Shinde camp | 'To browbeat and bully others is vintage Congress culture': PM posts after 600 lawyers write to CJI
Canada rock band frontman Gord Downie appointed Order of Canada member

Canada rock band frontman Gord Downie appointed Order of Canada member

India Blooms News Service | | 21 Jun 2017, 02:17 am
Ottawa, June 21 (IBNS): In recognition of his outstanding indigenous leadership, rock band The Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie was appointed a member of the Order of Canada at a ceremony in Ottawa.

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

 

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.