Music
Rush will finally be awarded Toronto's Key to the City
by Richard Howard
September 16, 2016
Better late than never.
As a stellar ambassador to Toronto, nobody (who’s not a hip-hop-hating dummy) had any complaints about Drake being awarded the key to the city back in February. There were questions, though, about why other clearly deserving artists had been overlooked for years (and in many cases, decades). One of those slights is going to be righted this weekend, however, as the pioneering prog rock band Rush will be awarded the honour on Saturday.
Already members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Order of Canada, Rush was a no brainer to be granted the ‘Key to the YYZ’ which awards “inspiring individuals from diverse backgrounds who embody the spirit and potential of our city and have contributed significantly to civic life.” In fact, the award will coincide with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson’s most recent philanthropic endeavour: the Lee-Lifeson Art Park is a new green space in the rockers’ childhood neighbourhood of Willowdale that will include art-themed installations. Cool-guy mayor John Tory was effusive in his announcement.
