As the nation woke up to news that Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie died from brain cancer Tuesday night, tributes for the beloved Canadian icon began pouring in across social media.
The band posted a statement announcing Downie's death early Wednesday.
In less than two hours, #TragicallyHip, #RIPGord, and #RIPGordDownie were already top trending hashtags on Twitter.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and comedian Rick Mercer were just a few of the notable public figures and everyday fans who expressed their condolences.
I am in Algiers but my heart is back home - just heard the news thinking of #Gord playing Fidder's Green on my phone https://t.co/dqOdrNbZkH
— Paul Dewar (@PaulDewar) October 18, 2017
Gord Downie's legacy extends beyond his music. He raised unprecedented awareness for glioblastoma. Our condolences to his family & friends. pic.twitter.com/igl5dOqNAs
— Sunnybrook Hospital (@Sunnybrook) October 18, 2017
His loss was felt especially in Kingston, Ont., where the band was formed in 1983.
The singer had been diagnosed with gliobastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, in 2015. The Tragically Hip officially announced Downie's illness in May 2016, just before they started their final tour.