There are lots of great Canadian artists and musicians who proudly wave the flag.
But no one did it quite like Gord Downie and the Tragically Hip.
He did it subtlety by telling great stories one fascinating line at a time.
My favourite memory of the Hip was at First Ontario Centre in Hamilton while working for Y95 in the 1990s.
I was lucky enough to be backstage before bringing them on for the show that night.
There was this amazing food set up under the stands complete with chef and all the trimmings.
The band and crew were gathered around several picnic tables (complete with nice tablecloths) having dinner.
It was like watching family and friends gather for supper, eating restaurant-grade food at your kitchen table.
It was an interesting glimpse into their life on the road and it was obvious they were enjoying each other’s company.
As the country mourns, I can’t help thinking about those individuals gathered around that table that night, and the loss they must be feeling.
Scott Thompson is the host of The Scott Thompson Show on AM 900 CHML.