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VIDEO: Remembering Gordon Lightfoot, the 'reluctant superstar'

Canada lost a musical icon one month ago today; two close friends shared their memories of Lightfoot on a recent episode of Village Media's Inside the Village podcast

It has been one month since Canada lost a musical icon.

Gordon Lightfoot passed away on May 1 at the age of 84. As requested, the legendary folk singer was laid to rest in his beloved hometown of Orillia, the city where his artistic journey began as a choir boy at St. Paul's United Church.

Lightfoot's death triggered an outpouring of affection across the country and beyond — and countless memories of a poetic songwriter who was as modest as he was talented. 

Two friends who knew Lightfoot better than most — Pam Carter, president of the Mariposa Folk Festival and Foundation, and Karen Hilfman Millson, a retired minister who was the officiant at his private funeral — were guests on a recent episode of Village Media's Inside the Village podcast.

"He was generous and humble to a fault," Carter said on the podcast. 

"His family described him as a reluctant superstar," added Hilfman Millson. "He was really interested in just being a showman. It was the longest time before he allowed anything to be put in Orillia that was in his name. He resisted that for the longest time."

You can watch the full episode HERE.

Hosted by Scott Sexsmith and Michael Friscolanti, the Editor-in-Chief of Village Media, Inside the Village is a news and current affairs podcast that provides a weekly window into some of the best local journalism from across our chain of Ontario newsrooms. Produced by Derek Turner, the program also explores bigger-picture issues that impact people across the province.

Every episode is available HERE. If you prefer the audio version, it is available wherever you find your favourite podcasts.

You can reach us at [email protected].

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