The initiative was a collaboration between charity organization United Way KFL&A and Tourism Kingston. Photos courtesy Visit Kingston
The installation includes a bowler hat, crafted from steel and aluminum, with a violet band and custom feather.
On Sunday, October 6, a new sign honouring Canadian rock band, The Tragically Hip, was unveiled at Slush Puppie Place (1 The Tragically Hip Way) in Kingston, Ont. The event marked the latest tribute to the band in their hometown. The sign, which spells “THE HIP,” allows visitors to enter the “I,” becoming part of the display.
The initiative was a collaboration between charity organization United Way KFL&A and Tourism Kingston. “We’re thrilled to offer this installation at the site of The Hip’s final show on August 16, 2016, for fans to honour the band,” said Megan Knott, CEO of Tourism Kingston.
The sign was fabricated by local business, Assembly Plus Kingston, with design and assembly managed by DKS Design Inc. It features an internal steel frame and aluminum letters, measuring 8.5 m x 1.8 m (28 ft x 6 ft). Weighing more than 453 kg (1,000 lb), the installation also includes a bowler hat, crafted from steel and aluminum, with a violet band and custom feather.
Before its permanent installation, the sign was featured at two screenings of The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts on October 1 and 2. The screenings, part of a fundraiser for the United Way KFL&A, included appearances by band members Rob Baker, Paul Langlois, and Gord Sinclair, along with director Mike Downie and executive producer Jake Gold.
Joanne Langlois, 2024 campaign chair of the United Way KFL&A, proposed the sign’s creation as part of the event. “This sign recognizes the impact The Hip has had on our community,” she said.
Members of The Tragically Hip, their families, and local dignitaries participated in the unveiling ceremony. The sign is now permanently located outside Slush Puppie Place.
Paul Langlois is a member of the band. Photo courtesy Slush Puppie Place
