Mayor Katz presents key to the city to Tom Cochrane

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This article was published 18/06/2012 (4860 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Lynn Lake-born singer-songwriter Tom Cochrane is the latest recipient of the key to City of Winnipeg, a ceremonial honour presented by the mayor’s office.

The 59-year-old musician, who’s in Winnipeg to perform at the Red River Exhibition, received the key outside city hall this afternoon as part of a ceremony to mark a month of awareness about ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the degenerative neurological disease.

Cochrane’s wife Kathleen, a former St. Vital resident, has organized fundraising concerts on behalf of ALS awareness, research and patient services. The musician has performed at some of those concerts and also lost his father to Parkinson’s disease, another degenerative neurological illness.

Speaking outside city hall, Cochrane said the inconveniences most people experience every day pale in comparison to what people ALS experience, given the gradual loss of motor coordination and even the ability to speak or swallow. He said he is happy his musical career allows him to place a spotlight on causes he cares about.

Coming to Winnipeg is like coming home, Cochrane said. His family left Lynn Lake when he was four.

Along with possessing the key to the city, the musician has an honourary doctorate from Brandon University and a spot on the Canadian Walk of Fame. He’s also an officer of the Order of Canada, a multiple Juno winner and a member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

In a short introduction, Mayor Sam Katz praised Cochrane’s work in raising awareness about ALS.