Tears roll down Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's face as he speaks about Tragically Hip singer Gord Downie before caucus on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa on Wednesday, October 18, 2017.
Image Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
October 18, 2017 - 10:30 AM
OTTAWA - A tearful Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Gord Downie, the iconic lead singer of the Tragically Hip who died Tuesday, will be sorely missed.
The prime minister says Downie was a man who loved his country, and now Canada is the less for his absence.
Trudeau says the singer wanted to make the country better.
He says in a statement that Downie had a profound command of language and used words to create landscapes.
Trudeau spoke of Downie's passion and commitment.
In his last months, Downie devoted himself to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, the prime minister noted.
His brief appearance to speak of the singer was emotional.
"We all knew it was coming, but we hoped it wasn't," he said on Parliament Hill before the weekly caucus meeting. "I thought I was going make it through this, but I'm not. It hurts."
MORE COVERAGE:
Tragically Hip singer-songwriter Gord Downie dies at 53
Canadian stars including Steven Page praise Gord Downie's legacy
Indigenous leaders remember Downie's contribution to reconciliation
A look at the life and music of Gord Downie
Glioblastoma, brain tumour that took Gord Downie's life, tough to treat: doctors
News from © The Canadian Press, 2017