The House of Commons held a second of silence Tuesday in honour of Gordon Lightfoot, the long-lasting Canadian singer-songwriter who handed away on Monday.
Lightfoot died on the age of 84 in a Toronto hospital on May 1, in keeping with a consultant for his household. A explanation for demise has not been revealed.
The musician’s demise has sparked an outpouring of tributes from Canadian politicians, entertainers and different main figures, all of whom remarked on Lightfoot’s affect on the nation and its tradition.
“I’ve lost a friend, and Canada has lost an incredible national treasure,” stated one other Canadian music legend, Randy Bachman, throughout a dialog on AM640 Tuesday.
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Bachman spoke about how Lightfoot impressed himself and The Guess Who lead singer Burton Cummings to remain in Canada and write music from their very own expertise, as a substitute of travelling to the United States or England to chase worldwide stardom.
“The music lives on forever,” Bachman stated. “Gordon will live on forever through those songs.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau referred to as Lightfoot “one of Canada’s greatest songwriters and just an extraordinary Canadian icon” whereas talking with reporters in Ottawa Tuesday morning.
“He loved this country with an incredibly deep passion, and he was extraordinarily humble about it as well,” Trudeau stated.
Lightfoot was additionally introduced up throughout query interval within the House of Commons, with Liberal MP Francesco Sorbara highlighting how Lightfoot’s songwriting “captured the hearts of generations of Canadians and fans worldwide.”
Conservative MP Adam Chambers, whose Simcoe North using consists of Lightfoot’s hometown of Orillia, Ont., spoke of the musician’s affect on native and Canadian tradition.
“He is to Canadian music what the Group of Seven is to Canadian art,” he stated.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre referred to as Lightfoot “Canada’s Bard” in a tribute on Twitter Monday night following information of Lightfoot’s demise.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh stated Lightfoot “brought Canada’s stories to people all over the world.”
“He mentored generations of Canadian musicians and artists and will forever be part of our national culture and identity,” he wrote.
Artists and celebrities together with Brian Wilson, Belinda Carlisle, Robbie Robertson and plenty of extra have additionally paid tribute to Lightfoot and shared reminiscences of assembly him or being moved by his songs.
“The world lost one of its great storytellers yesterday,” actor Kiefer Sutherland wrote on social media on Tuesday. “Canada lost part of itself. And I lost a hero.”
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