Watch Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s tearful tribute to The Tragically Hip’s Gord Downie (Report)

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has paid tribute to The Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie, who has died aged 53.

Downie had been diagnosed with an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer called glioblastoma, which was discovered after he suffered a seizure in December 2015. He passed away last night (October 17).

Following Downie’s death, Trudeau spoke on live TV. “Gord was my friend, but Gord was everyone’s friend,” he said. “We are less as a country without Gord Downie.”

Watch in the clip beneath:

Trudeau has also released an extended statement following Downie’s death. Read that below:

“For almost five decades, Gord Downie uncovered and told the stories of Canada. He was the frontman of one of Canada’s most iconic bands, a rock star, artist, and poet whose evocative lyrics came to define a country.

The Tragically Hip’s music invited us to explore places we had never been – from Mistaken Point to Churchill – and helped us understand each other, while capturing the complexity and vastness of the place we call home.

Gord’s command of language was profound. He painted landscapes with his words, elevating Canadian geography, historical figures, and myths. When he spoke, he gave us goosebumps and made us proud to be Canadian. Our identity and culture are richer because of his music, which was always raw and honest – like Gord himself.

In the wake of his diagnosis, Gord only fought harder for what he believed in: social justice, environmentalism, and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. Before passing, he shined his light on the story of 12-year-old Chanie Wenjack who died from hunger and exposure…