Downie, dubbed Canada’s unofficial poet laureate, had glioblastoma, an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer. He died with his children and family close by, according to a statement from his family.

“Gord was my friend,” said a visibly shaken Trudeau. “But Gord was everyone’s friend … our buddy Gord, who loved this country with everything he had. And not just loved it in a nebulous ‘Oh, I love Canada’ way, he loved every hidden corner, every story, every aspect of this country that he celebrated his whole life.”

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Trudeau was one tens of thousands who also took to social media on Wednesday to pay tribute to Downie. Fans, fellow musicians, actors, politicians, the National Hockey League — a broad range reflecting the singer’s wide influence — expressed their heartache and appreciation for the man considered a national treasure.

Formed in the early '80s by five friends from high school, the Tragically Hip became one of Canada’s most successful musical groups. Over the band's 14 studio albums, Downie referenced diverse topics, including poetic and surrealist references to Canadian history and Canadian geography. He penned songs about hockey players and small towns in Ontario and late-breaking stories on the CBC. Significantly, the band was producing these songs at a time in Canada's history when the country seemed ready to embrace more of its own culture.

John Tory, the mayor of Toronto, tweeted that Downie's music was “an essential part of the soundtrack of Canada.”

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The Tragically Hip never caught on in the United States the way it did in Canada, but for some Canadians, that made the band even more special.

Downie learned of his illness last year. The Tragically Hip responded by announcing a 15-date tour that, in effect, became Canada’s chance to say goodbye to the much-loved band.

The Hip, as they are also known, played their final concert in their home town of Kingston, Ontario, on Aug. 20, 2016. It was broadcast live on the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., the country’s state broadcaster, and was an unofficial national event with Canadians gathering in community halls and parks around the country to watch the final show. The Toronto police tweeted — half jokingly — that Canada would be closed on the night of the concert.

Downie was a talented lyricist who was equally well known for his strange and hypnotic stage presence. He was also a published poet, an environmentalist and an activist for indigenous causes.