An historical event took place in Canada on Saturday evening, and thanks to the volunteers at the Kamsack Playhouse Theater, anyone wishing to watch this event on the big screen was given that opportunity.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) provided the means for Canadians to collectively watch live streaming feed of the final Tragically Hip concert in their Man, Machine Poem tour, held at the Rogers K-Rock Centre in Kingston, Ont.
Whether one likes them, doesn’t like them, loves them or has never heard of them, the Tragically Hip is an iconic Canadian band that has been performing for three decades. Led by front-man Gord Downie, who has been described as “the Canadian William Shakespeare,” the band is known for having “taught us about character.”
Downie, the lead singer and lyricist for the Tragically Hip, was diagnosed with an aggressive, incurable form of brain cancer called glioblastoma in December of 2015. Downie has since undergone surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, but was still able to join his band-mates of more than 30 years for a summer tour. The tour started on July 22 in Victoria, meandering eastward through major Canadian cities, until wrapping up in the band’s hometown of Kingston, Ont. on August 20, concluding the 10 concert tour.
Although the anticipated crowd did not show up at the Playhouse in Kamsack on Saturday night, the organizers of the event were not disappointed.
Jack Koreluik, one of the Playhouse volunteers at the event, said that the group will certainly be open to hosting more such live stream events at the Playhouse in the future.
“The facility is here; technology is available and if the opportunity presents, we will open the doors.”
Two women in Saturday’s audience were Karen Miller of Benito and her sister, Alice Bell, visiting from Perth, Western Australia. Enjoying some time at their cabin at Madge Lake, they had heard of the live stream concert earlier in the day and had decided to come out “just to enjoy Kamsack.”
“Kamsack is a great place to visit,” Miller said. “We come here every chance we can because all of your shopkeepers are so friendly, especially Lil, Donna and Loreen at Buck’s Dollar store. We just love the friendly people at the Co-op grocery store and at Field’s.”
