The title doesn’t quite tell the whole tale. In the past week, Canadian music lovers are mourning the passage of one of the greatest singer songwriters we have seen. Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip passed away this week and as Mary said to me upon hearing the news, “They were the sound of my university life.” What has been more amazing to me has been the media attention that his battle with terminal brain cancer has garnered. Certainly, his story is tragic, if for no other reason that at 53 years old, he left behind a wife and family and like so many other Canadians, he didn’t reach his full life plan. This story is one told daily by hundreds of Canadians who battle disease and sometimes lose so what makes him different? The answer of course was his footprint on Canadiana and the audio legacy he left behind. Most of us leave a footprint on the family and friends we touched along the path of life. His arc allowed him to touch so many more with his committment to cancer research along the final months of his life.

This raised a fascinating question this weekend, while sharing a dinner party with our friends Michelle and Alan. The question was posed, “If Gord Downie’s life made Canada stop for a few days, which other Canadian passing would reach the same impact?” From there, we needed to set some parameters to guide this wine fuelled debate.

Criteria:

1. They must be 50+ and be in the stages of life where a passing could become probable. Although a plane crash carrying Justin Beiber would make world-wide news, the probability was not likely, nor predictable.
2. They must have been relevant to us Canadians for 20+ years. Someone who has entered our conscious in the latter years of their life, cannot be held in the same reverence as someone who spans generations of families.
3. The criteria were that their passing would be major news on Canadian media for 3 or more days while they had to make news in the US or world markets for at least a day. Of course, this became a limiting step on scientists or writers who may not have the national media notoriety needed.
4. No Prime Ministers allowed. Of course, they would grab attention all over the world regardless of how long ago they were in office. No debate needed here.

This was no easy task to run through the names of people who would stop the Canadian clock if they passed away today. We narrowed the list from hundreds, down to 50 and then to a dozen, who we agreed would have an impact.

 

Honourable Mention:

Howie Mandell

Pamela Anderson

Keanu Reeves

In their own way, they all have reason to be within the top 12 but fell just outside of it. Howie Mandell has seen a resurgence in his reality TV career but really never was huge 20 years ago. Pam Anderson was massive during her Baywatch days but doesn’t fully resonate today. Keanu Reeves is the most interesting of the discussion because he was huge 20 years ago and again today but ultimately was too average in the middle to get 3 days worth of Canadian press because of it.

Canadian Legends:

Alex Trebek

The man is truly an institution in the game show industry. He continues to be relevant within the vernacular of Canadians as well as within any trivia contest you may play. The man has made a complete persona out of smug let apologetic answers to useless trivia. You are lying if you say you haven’t mimicked him when answering with “Ooh no, is was What was the Pythagoras Theorem.”

Donald Sutherland

We had our struggles separating the two Sutherland boys but ultimately Papa Sutherland met the criteria. He was relevant in the 70’s with MASH and Kelly’s Heroes and remains the same today with THe Hunger Games. At 82 he is now reaching legendary status with accolades planned to present him with a honourary Oscar for lifetime achievement. You don’t earn the golden statue without being great.

Neil Young

Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and his solo career make him a surefire hall of fame Canadian. The man is one of Canada’s greatest singer songwriters and continues to be a draw in concert well into his 70’s. Heart of Gold is one of the best songs sung by a Canadian artist and the man owns countless Grammy’s and Juno’s. Revere his magic while you still can.

Canadian Gold:

Shania Twain

I had no idea how worldly popular this artist was until this debate. She has 5 Grammy’s with 4 number one hits on the US charts and was THE biggest country star of the 1990’s. She remains relevant today with sell out concerts to new generations of fans and appearances on the Voice. Replay some of her hits and you will remember why she is the biggest Canadian cross-over star.

Bryan Adams

For people born in the 70’s and who grew up in the 80’s, Bryan Adams was Canadian music. The remainder of the 80’s stars who came after him should kiss the ground he walks on. His 13 number one hits including “Everything I do, I do it for you” lasting an incredible 16 weeks at number 1 in the US, make him an untouchable. Tack on 15 Grammy nominations and several Golden Globe and Oscar nominations for soundtracks and you realize what a gift he is.

Bobby Orr

You could debate that Bobby Orr had the greatest 10 year career of any pro athlete in any sport, ever. He is revered by a generation of hockey fans who will not accept any argument that there is anyone better. He is the only defenseman to lead the league in scoring, twice and scored an incredible number of points in a career shortened by knee injuries. He had 8 Norris trophies for best defenseman  and left us with countless highlights of a player who was before his time in skill. Number 4, Bobby Orr!

Don Cherry

The man has been the Canadian TV star for the past 30 years. Incredible considering he is literally on the tube for 6 minutes a week but has become appointment TV for millions every Saturday night. His crazy pattern suits and high collar dress shirts are part of the image as much as the bold statements and personal attacks on any other nationality except Canada. That stance alone has made him a God to hockey fans and the world would come to stop should he not be on air next Saturday night.

The royalty of Canadiana:

Michael J Fox

He was only the sweetheart of American comedy TV in the 1980’s. Hit shows such as Family Ties, Spin City and the epic Back to the Future Trilogy make him a legend of modern TV. His public battle for and against Parkinson’s disease make him completely relevant to today’s Canada. He has handled this debilitating disease with the grace and honour that all of us can be proud of and all the while, he continues to act his way through role in movie and TV. True class.

Jim Carrey

For most of the 1990’s, Jim Carrey was the biggest comedy star on the planet. starting with his classic role on “In Living Colour” and through massive hits like “The Mask”, “Ace Ventura”, and “Dumb and Dumber”, he became a legend. Countless hits followed, many with critical acclaim including a Golden Globe award. The man could star in a movie about building sand castles or ice fishing and have it gross $100 million. That’s truly the sign of a star. His shines brightly for all Canadians.

Celine Dion

Simply said she is one of the biggest recording stars on the planet and proudly Canadian. She was massive worldwide with her hits and her Vegas show pulls people in year over year to catch a glimpse of her brightest moments. Titanic was a huge hit but her music within it is as much a part of its legacy as the movie ever was. She gracefully managed her life through the death of her husband and continues to be relevant to the newest of her fans with her voice attached to the best of the TV reality shows. There will not be a greater music star in our generation.

Wayne Gretzky

He is Canada. He brought the country something special when the Oilers won all of those Stanley Cups in the 1980’s. What we didn’t know then that we do know now is that through those years he became the face of the country around the world. His hockey accolades aside (and they are mind boggling), he became a national treasure whether you cheered for other teams or not. Today he is back involved with the Oil and continues to say and do the right things in the mold of the Greatest living Canadian would. The Great One is really the Greatest One.

You may agree or disagree but that’s what makes this such a fun topic. Have your own debate and let us know what you think.