“We’re in good hands, folks, real good hands”, said Downie, who revealed earlier this year that he has terminal brain cancer.
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Nearly instantly, the scores of fans that gathered to watch the televised concert on the main street of the small Ontario community pulled out their phones to start capturing the moment.
Before the show started, Trudeau’s official photographer posted a photo on Twitter of the prime minister embracing Downie.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had a coveted spot in the audience, Downie mentioned him during the concert a couple times and the two even shared a hug.
The beloved Canadian band the Tragically Hip have played what is believed to be their last concert, which got under way with flag-waving fans breaking into an impromptu rendition of the national anthem, O Canada.
Since that first show, Strong has seen the Hip live in concert six or seven times.
The final show in the Tragically Hip’s Man Machine Poem tour in Kingston was broadcast live by the CBC.
For the thousands that couldn’t get tickets to the final show flocked to the town’s square where the concert was shown on big screens.
It was one of a few moments that brought any number of Hip fans in the group of onlookers to tears. “I can’t say thank you enough to Gord Downie and The Tragically Hip”.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has said Downie had “been writing Canada’s soundtrack for more than 30 years”, attended.
But he also said Mr Trudeau was “going to take us where we need to go”.
Downie has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, and fans across Canada and overseas gathered at viewing parties to tune in and bid him farewell.
“Thank you, people, for keeping me pushing and keeping me pushing”, he said, which prompted a “Gordie!” chant from the audience. “We’re still trying to figure out what makes us Canadian, and we have one of the loudest neighbors in the world, so this band helped a country, and Gord helped people lyrically, slowly start to try to define themselves”.
In Rio, the Canada Olympic House hosted a party for Canadian athletes who wore their red team jackets. Downie has had to rely on a teleprompter for the lyrics, but the band’s final performances “were exceptional”, said Broken Socials Scene’s Drew.
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“They tell a lot of stories that everyone knows and a lot of stories that people aren’t familiar with and they let us explore our past”.
