By Gazette Staff
October 9th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Act one of this special evening is a musical sharing of The Secret Path, the Canadian multimedia storytelling project created by The Tragically Hip’s Gord Downie and friends to promote awareness, education and thoughtful reconciliation.
Gord Downie began Secret Path as ten poems incited by the story of Chanie Wenjack, a twelve year-old boy who died on October 22, 1966, in flight from the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School near Kenora, Ontario, walking home to the family he was taken from over 400 miles away. Gord was introduced to Chanie Wenjack (miscalled “Charlie” by his teachers) by Mike Downie, his brother, who shared with him Ian Adams’ Maclean’s story from February 6, 1967, “The Lonely Death of Charlie Wenjack.”
The stories Gord’s poems tell were fleshed into the ten songs of Secret Path with producers Kevin Drew and Dave Hamelin. Recording took place over two sessions at the Bathouse in Bath, Ontario, November and December 2013.
Local musician and producer Joe Lapinski has come on as Musical Director for a live sharing of The Secret Path. He has specially curated a band that includes the legendary Canadian drummer Dave Clark (Rheostatics, Woodshed Orchestra, and Gord Downie & The Country of Miracles), Ian de Souza on bass, Dr. Pee (Gord Downie & The Country of Miracles/ Dinner is Ruined) on piano and lead vocals/ ukulele shared by Laurel Minnes (Minuscule).
Act two will include a sharing of some of the Hip and Gord’s most beloved tunes, including special performances from community and guest artists: the Halton Youth Symphony Orchestra, Jarrod Haddock and Hayley Verrall, as well as performances from Minuscule, Dinner is Ruined and Tony Dekker (Great Lake Swimmers).
Representatives from the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund will also be present at this special annual fundraising event.
In Support of
Fri, Oct 10, 2025 | 7:30pm
Venue
Main Theatre
Ticket Prices
Reg: $37.50 – $57.50
Mem $32.50 – $52.50
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