
Tom Cochrane performs during the first intermission as the Winnipeg Jets and Edmonton Oilers alumni teams face off at the NHL Heritage Classic in Winnipeg, Saturday, October 22, 2016. (Trevor Hagan/Canadian Press)
He praised Manitoba’s vibrant culture and arts scene and the toughness shown by people in the province.
“We don’t put up with a lot of nonsense in Manitoba.… We’re gritty,” he said.
“I love the people. It’s kind of etched on my soul and let’s face it, some of the greatest musicians in the world come from here.”
Cochrane has received a variety of honours, including eight Juno Awards in total and a Grammy nomination in 1993 for Life is a Highway, which topped the Canadian music charts and reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.
He was awarded the key to the city of Winnipeg in June 2012, in part to recognize his efforts to raise money for ALS patient support and research. He was named to the Order of Manitoba in 2015 and was inducted into the Canadian Walk of Fame in 2005 and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2003.
Most recently, Cochrane performed at the NHL Heritage Classic and alumni game at Investors Group Field on Oct. 22-23.