Photo : Courtesy of Solotech
NAMM Historian Dan Del Fiorentino ( left ) & CMT Publisher Jim Norris
Gord Downie Named Canadian Press Newsmaker of the Year
Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie , whose cancer diagnosis created a national outpouring of grief and affection for the band , was named the Canadian Press Newsmaker of Year for 2016 .
The band announced in August that Downie had been diagnosed with brain cancer , but that they would go ahead with one last national tour . The outpouring of support for Downie and The Tragically Hip that the news created was unprecedented . The sold-out Man Machine Poem Tour culminated in a final concert in the band ’ s hometown of Kingston , ON that was televised by the CBC and seen by 11.7 million people across Canada , with many towns and cities staging public screenings .
After the tour , Downie released Secret Path , a multimedia project that included an album , film , and graphic novel , that tells the story of Chanie Wenjack , a 12-year-old aboriginal boy who died in 1966 after running away from a residential school . Over the last six months , Downie has made improving the lives of Canada ’ s aboriginal peoples a focus of his work . In December , Downie was recognized during the Assembly of First Nations special assembly and was anointed the “ Man Who Walks Among the Stars .”
Through his foundation , more the $ 1 million has been raised for brain cancer research since Downie ’ s diagnosis .
CMT Publisher Jim Norris Receives NAMM Special Service Award
While at the 2017 NAMM Show in Anaheim , CA , Canadian Music Trade Publisher Jim Norris was presented with a Believe in Music special service award by NAMM .
In presenting the award , NAMM Historian Dan Del Fiorentino said it was to recognize Norris ’ s “ many years of excellent service in the music products industry ” and for the support he has provided to the NAMM Oral History program . Fiorentino also referred to Norris and CMT as the “ gateway to the Canadian MI industry .”
In return , Norris thanked NAMM for its outstanding work and contributions to the MI and audio industry in North America .
For more information , visit www . namm . org .
Yamaha , Long & McQuade Help Fulfill Teenage Cancer Patient ’ s Wish
With the help of Yamaha Canada Music and Long & McQuade ’ s location in Moncton , NB , the Children ’ s Wish Foundation was able to fulfill the wish of a baby grand piano for a teenager fighting cancer . Emilie Holmes-David , 14 , lives in Pigeon Hill , NB , and is currently battling rhabdomyosarcoma , an aggressive form of cancer that attacks the soft tissue . According to the CBC , while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment , she would often visit the Long & McQuade near the hospital and began teaching herself to play on the baby grand piano in the store .
When she was granted a wish by the Children ’ s Wish Foundation , she said that particular baby grand piano was what she wanted . Kelly Hare , the provincial director of the organization , told the CBC the gift was possible with help from Long and McQuade , Geldart Moving , and Yamaha Canada Music .
“ It ’ s like therapy ,” Holmes-David told the CBC in French of her love of music . “ I ’ m excited to just play on it .”
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Emilie Holmes-David on Global TV New Brunswick
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CANADIAN MUSIC TRADE 21
Screengrab : GlobalNews . ca