Tragically Courageous

When The Tragically Hip announced lead singer Gord Downie's terminal brain cancer in May of 2016  Canadians were shocked. The guy was only 52, and the band was still active and beloved. I found it off-putting that people began to eulogize this icon of the rock scene as though he were already dead and buried, and I said so on social media. It seemed to be a macabre response to what was a difficult time in the life of Downie's family.

Remarkably, Downie made the best of the next year and a half until his death today. There was the memorable cross-Canada tour, culminating in a concert in Kingston, the band's hometown.



Then there was the powerful project to honour a First Nations boy named Chanie Wenjack who died in 1966 while trying to return home after escaping from a residential school. There is a graphic novel called Secret Path which tells the story. It's written by Downie and illustrated by Jeff Lemire. When we watched the animated television adaptation Ruth, my wife, commented that this should be required viewing for older school children in Canada and I agree (as always!) Gord Downie also released a musical project called Secret Path, on this day a year ago. All proceeds from the album and book are being donated to the University of Manitoba's National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. It was touching to watch an ailing Downie connect with Chanie's family members in their home setting.

For all The Hip's musical success through the years, with unapologetically Canadian themes, the Secret Path project may be his greatest gift to this country. As we struggle toward truth and reconciliation and frankly make a hash of it, we can be grateful that he used his waning strength and considerable creative abilities to raise the issues before Canadians and presumably fans from other countries.

As denominations which participated in the tragedy of the residential schools look for ways to reconcile, The Secret Path might be an avenue for exploration within congregations.

God be with Gord Downie's family, friends (including members of the Wenjak family), and his life-long band-mates.

Thoughts?