A local group of volunteers, Tragically Hip fans all, has organized a public event in Prince George to watch the band's final concert.
The concert is being held Saturday night in The Tragically Hip's hometown of Kingston. It is a celebration of iconic frontman Gord Downie who has been diagnosed with incurable brain cancer.
CBC Television will be broadcasting the event, and certain cities in Canada have arranged public viewing parties. Prince George is one of them. It will start with a public barbecue at Canada Games Plaza followed by the concert itself on a big screen at the Ramada Ballroom.
"The Hip have provided the soundtrack to so many of our lives over the past 30 years," said Matt Hutcheon, a Kingston native who now resides here. "This is a chance for fans in Prince George to show how much The Hip mean to them, as well as participate in the fundraising towards brain cancer research in Gord's name."
Hutcheon was helped in the arrangements by another Hip fan, Mick Harper. "A variety of activities are planned to help raise funds for brain cancer research in Gord's name," Harper said.
"Funds raised will be donated to the Prince George branch of the Canadian Cancer Society. It's all bittersweet, of course, but this is an incredible celebration and I hope the people who come to this will just share the admiration and love for the songwriting genius who described the soul of Canada like no one else."
On Saturday, a Prince George city council member will officially proclaim Aug. 20, 2016 to be Tragically Hip Day in our city.
Planned activities include a fundraising barbecue, a message board where fans can write notes which will be sent to the band afterwards, a photo booth, the participation of supportive partner groups, a lot of Tragically Hip music in the air, and a raffle for a Tragically Hip prize pack including two tickets to the concert viewing at the Ramada later that night.
The plaza component will take place between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. then the viewing party runs from 4:30-8:30 p.m. at the Ramada.
Seeing the concert is free of charge, but you must get a ticket to attend, due to the anticipated high demand. Those tickets are available on the eventbrite website. Representatives will be on hand at the Ramada to collect donations to brain cancer research if attendees are moved to do so during the concert.
