Gord Downie's Secret Path in Concert
Secret Path is a multimedia project including a documentary, musical tour and an animated film. An adaptation of Gord Downie’s music and Jeff Lemire’s graphic novel, it tells the wrenching story of Chanie Wenjack, a 12-year-old boy who died fifty years ago, after running away from an Indian Residential School near Kenora, Ontario. Secret Path in Concert was filmed at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto on October 21, 2016 with more than 30 members of Chanie Wenjack’s family in attendance capturing Gord Downie’s remarkable and emotional Secret Path live performance with musicians Kevin Drew (Broken Social Scene), Kevin Hearn (Barenaked Ladies), Josh Finlayson (Skydiggers) Dave Hamelin (The Stills) and Charles Spearin (Broken Social Scene), interwoven with intimate backstage moments and footage from The Secret Path animated film.
The CBC aired Secret Path in October of 2017.
Secret Path in concert won the award for Best Variety or Entertainment Special and Best Sound in a non-fiction program at the 7th Canadian Screen Awards.
Distribution Partner: CBC
About the Creator
Gord Downie, who died in 2017, was the lead singer of the rock band The Tragically Hip, widely regarded as one of the most influential and popular artists in Canadian music history. Secret Path is based on his fifth and final studio album of the same name. The album won multiple Juno Awards and Downie won the Songwriter of the Year award. The album was also a nominee for a Polaris Music Prize.
