Manitobans celebrate the life of Vince Fontaine
Manitobans gathered to celebrate the life of Vince Fontaine, an icon in Manitoba's music and Indigenous communities.
Band members from Eagle & Hawk and Indian City performed in the Oodena Circle at The Forks to bid farewell to their friend.
Fontaine passed away suddenly on Tuesday at the age of 60 due to a heart attack.
His niece, and MLA for St. Johns, Nahanni Fontaine, said it was important for the family to bring the community together in his honour.
"It was through his music that he tried to connect community. That was the most important thing. That was the motivation for the work that he did and the music he produced."
Fontaine was a staple of the Indigenous music community in Manitoba and across Canada. He released more than ten albums and played around the world.
His musical talent earned him a Juno Award, and in 2012 he was inducted into the Manitoba Aboriginal Music Hall of Fame.
Nahanni said the outpour of support has helped the family through this difficult time.
"We've gotten messages from everywhere here in Manitoba, Winnipeg, and across Canada. But I've received messages as far as Germany and Austria."
Jay Bodner is a singer and rhythm guitar player for Eagle & Hawk and played alongside Fontaine for 25 years.
He said throughout his career, Fontaine worked hard to bring Indigenous music to the forefront.
"Not just from Winnipeg, but throughout North America. Pushing Indigenous music into the mainstream, and that's been one heck of a job."
The musical performances drew a big crowd as the band played songs from Fontaine's 25-year catalogue.
"We're going to try to span right from 1997 to the current Indian City album today in ten songs," said Bodner.
Nahanni said one of Fontaine's gifts was his compassion for others and the love and support he gave to all who knew him.
"He was the rock of our family, and he was always there for us, like he's always been there for the community, and he's going to be deeply, deeply missed."
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Fontaine's wife and three children cover the costs associated with the burial.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada Post cracks down on Nunavut loophole to get free Amazon Prime shipping
Amazon's paid subscription service provides free delivery for online shopping across Canada except for remote locations, the company said in an email. While customers in Iqaluit qualify for the offer, all other communities in Nunavut are excluded.
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
Potentially toxic chemicals hide in our drinking water and countless household objects, and they're not going anywhere
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
'It was violent': Police tear down U of A pro-Palestinian encampment Saturday morning
Multiple people at the protest camp torn down at the University of Alberta campus Saturday say police's actions against protesters were "violent" and "disproportionate."
'I am angry': Alberta farmers will continue fight over world class motorsport resort
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
Election deniers: West Virginia voters must pick from GOP candidates who still dispute 2020 election
When West Virginia Republicans vote in Tuesday's primary, they will have a hard time finding a major candidate on the ballot in any statewide race who openly acknowledges that U.S. President Joe Biden won the 2020 election.
Adopted daughter in the Netherlands reunited with sister in Montreal and mother in Colombia, 40 years later
Two daughters and a mother were reunited online 40 years later thanks to a DNA kit and a Zoom connection despite living on three separate continents and speaking different languages.
Man ticketed after allegedly trespassing again at Drake's Bridle Path mansion to get his bike
A man who tried to access Drake’s Bridle Path mansion earlier this week returned to the property Saturday and was apprehended again for allegedly trespassing, Toronto police say.
'Reimagining Mother's Day': Toronto woman creates Motherless Day event after losing mom
Mother's Day can be a difficult occasion for those who have lost or are estranged from their mom.