The passing of Gord Downie is weighing heavily on the minds of many people in Niagara.
St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik has seen The Tragically Hip in concert many times, and even met Gord Downie on several occasions.
"There's just this sense of understanding and knowing that sort of a lot of folks have a struggle to grab onto, and so yeah, there was a sense of calmness anytime I was around him."
Sendzik will remember Downie for more than just music.
"His commitment to the First Nations and where we need to go as a country and I just hope that that's one of the lasting legacies beyond his music that we all as a country and a community embrace and it will be part of his lasting legacy on our community."
The Meridian Centre also paying homage to Downie.
Downie and the Hip performed at the Meridian Centre in February of 2015, shortly after it opened, as part of their Fully and Completely Tour.
The Meridian Centre also livestreamed the Tragically Hip's last performance last summer.
Their post on Facebook reads: "He was one of the rare ones, so effortlessly himself. We are honoured that he graced our stage with the quintessential sound of Canada. He said, 'I ponder the endlessness of the stars.' May you discover them Gord, Fully and Completely"
Meridian Centre
Our brother station, 97.7 HTZ FM, held an event as part of a promotional tour for one of Gord Downie's solo records. Music Director and On-Air Personality Paulie Morris says there was no ego, no 'rock star' mentality - just a guy who loved music.
"He showed up and when he arrived they had blocked off the street, they had ball hockey nets up - ready for Gordie to play ball hockey with everybody. And he handles it graciously. I'm not sure if he really - if that's what he wants, but he handles it graciously. And there were probably 20-30 guests in this guy's house here in St. Catharines and he [Gord] spoke with everybody. Gord Downie was not comfortable in some of those situations because there's so much 'Oh I love you,' and all the rest and sometimes an artist just wants to say hello. I found him to be incredibly shy."
Photo courtesy Greg Campagna
Downie was 53 when he passed away after a battle with terminal brain cancer.
A statement on Downie's Twitter account says his children and his family were close by when he died.