Gord Sinclair performs as part of Queen’s virtual Homecoming events
Queen’s Homecoming will be celebrated virtually this year, and Gord Sinclair, legendary bassist for the Tragically Hip, will celebrate with Queen’s alumni this weekend by playing an exclusive virtual set in honour of the annual event.
According to the Homecoming website, Queen’s has condensed all of the magic of a traditional homecoming weekend into one exciting day. Taking place on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020, alumni can attend many different virtual events. A full list of what’s happening can be found on the Queen’s Homecoming website.
“We are honoured to have Gord Sinclair join us for what promises to be the highlight of a jam-packed day of Homecoming events” said Leigh Kalin, Associate Vice-Principal Alumni Relations & Annual Giving. “Not only is Gord one of our most celebrated alumni, but he is also one of our country’s most beloved artists. His Homecoming performance is not to be missed.” .
Sinclair, himself a Queen’s alumnus (Artsci’86), will be part of the afternoon lineup, according to a release from Queen’s, dated Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020. He will be playing a mix of Tragically Hip classics and songs from his debut solo album, Taxi Dancers. Queen’s says the performance will be followed by a live question-and-answer session with CBC Radio’s Shelagh Rogers, who will be co-hosting Homecoming with Rico Garcia, president of the Queen’s University Alumni Association.
“With each day we are seeing the excitement for Homecoming grow,” Kalin continued. “The lineup was already really strong, but today’s announcement of Gord Sinclair’s participation has definitely created a buzz — Gord is not only Kingston royalty, but he is truly a special friend of Queen’s. We know that our alumni are going to really enjoy this exclusive appearance and having a chance to connect with him.”
Having Gord Sinclair play on this date is especially poignant as it will be the third anniversary of the death of his Tragically Hip bandmate, Gord Downie. Downie passed away from brain cancer on Oct 17, 2017, slightly more than a year after the Tragically Hip’s last show, which took place here in Kingston, in August 2016.
This year marks the first time Homecoming will be an entirely virtual event. This will allow for greater accessibility and the participation of alumni from around the world. Queen’s says programming has been updated with events only possible in a virtual environment, but will still feature many of the traditions that alumni have always celebrated, such as a Tricolour Guard tribute, an alumni award recognition ceremony, and musical performances by the Queen’s Band and local favourite, Jay “Smitty” Smith. Faculty sessions will close out the day, allowing alumni to reconnect with former classmates and faculty.
“Alumni are an integral part of the Queen’s community, and we want to make sure they feel recognized and connected to the university over Homecoming weekend, even if they can’t be on campus,” says Karen Bertrand, Vice-Principal (Advancement). “There will be a wide variety of virtual events, so there’s something for everybody who takes part.”
“Queen’s alumni live all over the world and a virtual Homecoming makes the event accessible to many of those who would not normally be able to join us in person,” Bertrand continued. “We see this event as an opportunity to connect with more alumni than ever before.”
Find out more and register for virtual Homecoming on the Queen’s Alumni website.