Tragically Hip front man Gord Downie announced he will be performing at the National Arts Centre on Oct. 18 as one of only two destinations on his “Secret Path” solo tour.
Since his final performance with the band in late August, the musician has announced his new album called Secret Path. It tells the story of Chanie Wenjack, an aboriginal boy who died trying to escape from a Kenora, Ontario residential school in 1966.
Downie released a statement on his website exclaiming the importance of Wenjack’s story, as well as pointing to aboriginal issues in Canada as a whole, saying, “Chanie haunts me. His story is Canada’s story. This is about Canada. We are not the country we thought we were.”
Downie said he started writing the album as 10 poems about the child, which were later adapted into full songs with the help of producers Kevin Drew and Dave Hamelin in 2013.
The album will be released on Oct. 18 with an 88 page graphic novel based on the story. Canadian cartoonist and writer Jeff Lemire—famous for creating comic works like Essex County—will be authoring the novel. In addition, the CBC is airing an hour-long animated film on Oct. 23, which features Downie’s music and Lemire’s illustrations.
Proceeds from his show at the NAC will be donated to The Gord Downie Secret Path Fund for Truth and Reconciliation through The University of Manitoba’s National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation—a foundation which seeks to bring awareness to the history of Canadian residential schools.
Information about purchasing the album, graphic novel and tickets for the tour can be found on Downie’s website at http://www.secretpath.ca/.