On October 19th, Secret Path Live returns to Roy Thomson Hall. Featuring the original Secret Path band, surprise guests, dancers and artists will come together to create a fully immersive and cultural experience that celebrates Indigenous cultures and commemorates the lives of Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack.
The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF) is thrilled to announce the stellar, award-winning artists that will perform that evening: Buffy Sainte-Marie, Sam Roberts, Tanya Tagaq, July Talk, William Prince, Whitehorse, and Tom Wilson.
Secret Path Live brings to life the true story of Chanie Wenjack as told in Gord Downie’s JUNO Award-winning album, Secret Path, through the illustrations of Jeff Lemire, and animation of Justin Stephenson. This special show brings awareness to the true history and legacy of Canada’s residential school system.
Artists will be backed by the original Secret Path band that performed with Gord Downie on the same stage three years prior; including Kevin Hearn (Barenaked Ladies), Kevin Drew (Broken Social Scene), Josh Finlayson (Skydiggers), Dave Hamelin (The Stills), and Charles Spearin (Do Make Say Think).
Secret Path Live takes place during Secret Path Week (October 17-22); a national movement commemorating the lives of Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack and calling on all Canadians to answer Gord’s call to “Do Something” to forward reconciliation.
“The Secret Path project was incredibly important to Gord. His passion and tenacity to help tell Chanie’s story never wavered and our hope is that it will continue to inspire Canadians to get involved and support this country on the path towards reconciliation for years to come,” says Mike Downie, co-founder and DWF board member. “This night is one small example of what my brother Gord dreamed of for this country – Indigenous and non-Indigenous coming together to create a more complete, inclusive and equitable country.”
This benefit concert supports the programming at the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF). DWF continues the conversation that began with Chanie Wenjack’s residential school story and seeks to aid our collective reconciliation journey by building awareness, education, and connections between all Canadians.
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW: roythomsonhall.com/tickets/secret-path-live
About the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF)
Inspired by Chanie’s story and Gord’s call to build a better Canada, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF) aims to build cultural understanding and create a path towards reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. DWF’s work centres around improving the lives of Indigenous people by building awareness, education, and connections between all Canadians. www.downiewenjack.ca @downiewenjack
About Secret Path Week (Oct 17-22)
Secret Path Week is a national movement commemorating the legacies of Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack and takes place annually between Oct 17th and 22nd. This is a special week as October 17th and 22nd respectively mark the dates that Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack joined the spirit world. The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund calls on all Canadians to use this week to answer Gord Downie’s call to action, to “Do Something” by creating a reconciliACTION and furthering the conversation about the history of residential schools.