A few years ago, there was an episode of the animated comedy Family Guy, where whenever people were touched by Peter Griffin, they were transformed into Robin Williams.

The same sort of thing happened on Halloween at Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School. But instead of the late comedian, students did double- and triple-takes, spotting upwards of 40 duplicates of the late Tragically Hip frontman, Gord Downie, walking the halls and teaching classes at the Linwell Road high school.

And it was all for a good cause, according to special education teacher Karen Van Ophem.

“I saw Mr. Downie a few years ago on WE Day in Toronto,” Van Ophem said. "He talked a lot about his fund for Indigenous reconciliation.”

She said that it was a highly visible way to drive home a point about issues faced by Indigenous people.

Downie, prior to his death just over a year ago, was outspoken about Indigenous issues, including victims of the residential school system, where many Indigenous children were subjected to beatings and the stripping away of their culture and identity. He released The Secret Path, a book and album about Chanie Wenjack, a 12-year-old Indigenous boy who died while on the run from one such school.

“It really inspired the students,” Van Ophem said.

As it turns out, she was also inspired. When it came time to figure out what staff could do for Halloween and have a bit of fun and bonding, the idea of teachers outfitting themselves in Jaws t-shirts and fedoras was brought up.

“Everybody jumped at it,” said Holy Cross principal Andrew Boon. “They got into it completely, or as the Hip would say, fully completely.”

Boon, of course, was referring to the title of the Kingston quintet’s 1992 album that has gone on to be a classic in Canadian music circles.