Hundreds of Gordon Lightfoot fans pay respects to late Canadian musical icon

The legendary Canadian artist died May 1 at the age of 84 from natural causes.

More than 1,000 fans poured through a public visitation Sunday in Gordon Lightfoot’s hometown in central Ontario to say goodbye to the folk singer-songwriter.

As rain fell, a line grew on the street outside St. Paul’s United Church in Orillia, Ont., where Lightfoot once sang as a choir boy.

Inside, each person had a moment with the late musical legend as the line slowly passed by his closed casket. It was adorned with a large bouquet of red roses, as well as a single pink one.

Within the bouquet, a card handwritten by his widow, Kim Lightfoot, read: “My heart’s treasure.” For the first hour, she greeted visitors near where they entered the building.

Throughout the visitation, which is to run until 8 p.m. Sunday, a continuous flow of Lightfoot’s songs played over the sound system.

Two hours after it began, security for the event estimated nearly 1,700 people had gone through the church.

Steve Porter and his wife, Diane Porter, were first in line at the church at 10:30 a.m., two and a half hours before the doors opened. Not knowing how big the crowds would be, they wanted to show up early to pay their respects.

“I feel like I’m honouring Gord in my own little way,” he said while standing in line.

“I’m representing my family and my ancestors who are all gone and who loved him dearly.”

Myeengun Henry travelled from the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation near London, Ont, with a gift of tobacco to honour Lightfoot.

He also carried an eagle feather in hand, which he said was a symbolic gesture of the highest-flying bird.

“It can see the farthest and I kind of relate that to Gord,” he said.

“He could see things other people couldn’t and the eagle feather is perfect for thinking about Gordon. [He] sent the truth to many people and so I have so much respect for his legacy.”

Antonette Dinovo and her husband, Vince Dinovo, travelled a couple of hours from Markham, Ont., outside of Toronto.

Antonette said they planned to visit a local record store and walk through nearby Mariposa, home of the music festival where Lightfoot often performed.

“I think it’s important to be here today,” she said. “It represents the loss we feel and a celebration.”

Many local establishments took those sentiments to heart. Several bars and one of the local record stores planned to recognize Lightfoot’s influence through live music performances this weekend.

David LaBute, who drove four hours from Windsor, Ont., for the weekend with his friend, said the spirit of Lightfoot could be felt in the streets of the city.

“There are tributes all over the place,” he said. “It’s really nice to see a town take ownership of one of their own.”

‘An emotional day,’ longtime friend says

Rick Haynes was Gordon Lightfoot’s bassist, and a longtime friend. He said it was “an emotional day” for him.

“There’s a lot of memories connected to Gordon around Orillia here today, as well as thousands of his fans, so … it’s very surreal and poignant,” Haynes told CBC News.

Gordon Lightfoot was ‘a loyal and good friend,’ longtime bassist says 

Rick Haynes, who attended the public visitation for his friend Gordon Lightfoot in Orillia, Ont., described the late Canadian troubadour as humble and shy, an adventurer up for any challenge and one of the greatest songwriters who ever lived.

Haynes said he’s reflecting on 55 years with Lightfoot “and all of the good times we had, and he has said ‘it’s been a great ride.'”

“It’s been a real honour to have worked for Gordon all these years,” he added.

Haynes described his friend as “a very humble man,” an adventurer, a philanthropist and “a very shy person. Some people mistook that for being aloof or arrogant, but he wasn’t aloof or arrogant at all. He was shy and humble.”

At 2 p.m., church bells at St. Paul’s rang 30 times, 29 for the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald and once in honour of Lightfoot.

After Lightfoot’s death on May 1, Orillia residents began placing flowers on two monuments to the singer in the city.

On Saturday, a previously planned concert tribute to his career at the Orillia Opera House became a celebration of his life and career.

Elsewhere, a book of condolences can be signed at Toronto’s Massey Hall, a venue where Lightfoot frequently performed throughout his career. It’s to be available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A private funeral is to take place in Orillia, where he will be buried alongside his parents.

 

With files from CBC News