Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame inducts Sarah McLachlan and Tom Cochrane

As Sarah McLachlan, Tom Cochrane, and members of Blue Rodeo were welcomed into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame on Saturday, each took a moment to acknowledge that creating great music often involves considerable struggle.

“Writing is often a lonely, isolating pursuit,” McLachlan remarked to the audience at Massey Hall in Toronto during her speech. 

“But for me, it’s also incredibly cathartic.”

Cochrane echoed McLachlan’s sentiments, acknowledging that songwriting often takes precious years from those close to its creators. He expressed gratitude to his daughters for their patience.

The writer of “Life is a Highway” suggested that the creative process can lead to miraculous outcomes. “Songs have a beginning and an end—like lives,” he noted. “And, like the people we love, we don’t forget them.”

The evening was punctuated by the inductees’ iconic tunes, prompting fans to dance as Sam Roberts, Metric, and Lights delivered emotional tributes. The husband-and-wife duo Whitehorse performed a poignant acoustic-electric rendition of McLachlan’s “Sweet Surrender,” while a barefoot Brett Emmons of the Glorious Sons gave a powerful interpretation of Cochrane’s “Big League.”

Nelly Furtado reflected on how McLachlan inspired her early career during one of the Lilith Fair tours, praising her relentless efforts to raise funds for various charities. The two concluded by performing a harmonious duet of “Angel,” with Furtado positioned near McLachlan’s piano.

In addition to the poignant reflections on the challenges of creation, the night was laced with humour, particularly during the induction of Blue Rodeo songwriters Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor. Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies, in a video message, likened the duo to being as inseparable as maple syrup and pancakes.

Keelor kept the laughter going when he approached the podium with a thick notepad of handwritten notes, assuring the audience it wasn’t as lengthy as it appeared. He then pointed out McLachlan in the crowd, seated beside her daughter Taja, saying, “I once stated that when I die, I want Sarah McLachlan to sing at my grave. So I think I will die in my seat tonight.”

Country artists Tim Hicks and Tenille Townes delivered a vibrant tribute to Blue Rodeo, quite literally dressed in blue—Hicks in a denim jacket and Townes in blue leather trousers—as they performed a powerful version of “Til I Am Myself Again.”