Mayor Tory presents Robbie Robertson with Key to the City

Press Release

September 5, 2019

Mayor John Tory today presented Robbie Robertson with a Key to the City at a press conference held at TIFF Bell Lightbox prior to the world premiere of the film “Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band.”

Born and raised in Toronto, Robertson is a Canadian musician, songwriter, film composer, producer, actor and author. He was originally inspired to make music on the Six Nations of the Grand River reserve and began to write songs at a young age. Best known for his work as lead guitarist and primary songwriter for The Band, Robertson is a member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Mayor Tory presented the Key to the City to Robbie Robertson in recognition of his enduring contribution to music and the arts in Canada and around the world.

The mayor awards the Key to the City to inspiring individuals from diverse backgrounds who embody the spirit and potential of Toronto and who have contributed significantly to civic life. The Key to the City is the highest honour that the City can grant to an individual or a group.

Quote:
“Robbie Robertson has inspired Torontonians for decades with his music and incredible talent for songwriting. A Canadian music legend, he has contributed to the establishment of a musical genre known as Americana. It’s a point of pride for our city to witness Robbie’s enduring influence on artists here and around the world. For his contribution to Toronto’s arts and culture industry, I am proud to present a Key to the City to Robbie Robertson.”
– Mayor John Tory

Toronto is Canada’s largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of more than 2.9 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world’s most livable cities. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit  www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cityoftoronto, on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/cityofto or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/cityofto.

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Media contacts:
Don Peat, Office of the Mayor, 647-459-2387, Don.Peat@toronto.ca
Ray Park, Strategic Communications, 416-392-7542, Ray.Park@toronto.ca

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