A boisterous celebration of youth empowerment took on a solemn tone as Gord Downie appeared at We Day to continue championing the cause of reconciliation with Canada's indigenous peoples.

Justin Trudeau was invited by The Tragically Hip to attend the final stop of the band's Man Machine Poem tour, and the prime minister paid for his ticket out of pocket.

The Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research has so far raised $265,000, and donations are still pouring in.