Gord Downie dies: Tragically Hip singer's music was Canada's "secret"

http://www.cbc.ca/news/thenational/gord-downie-dies-tragically-hip-singer-s-music-was-canada-s-secret-1.4360993

Canadian rock band Tragically Hip's frontman Gord Downie has died following a battle with brain cancer. He was 53.

The gifted lyricist - who was dubbed the country's unofficial poet laureate - had been diagnosed with an incurable glioblastoma in May 2016.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau led the national mourning for the star with a tearful public statement.

"He loved every hidden corner, every story, every aspect of this country that he celebrated his whole life," Mr Trudeau said, his voice breaking, on Wednesday. "We are less as a country without Gord Downie in it. We all knew it was coming, but we hoped it was not."