Neil Peart memorial to be built after Rush and fans raise $1 million
It will feature two bronze statues of the legendary drummer
A memorial immortalising Rush drummer Neil Peart will be built at Lakeside Park in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada after the project hit its $1 million (£535,000) fundraising goal.
Following their recent homecoming concerts at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena as part of their reunion Fifty Something Tour, Rush’s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson personally handed a $785,000 (£420,000) cheque to the Neil Peart Commemorative Task Force Fundraising Sub-Committee.
Rush raised the money by donating a portion of the proceeds from their VIP experiences and packages on the hugely successful tour.
Geddy Lee also pledged $1 from every ticket sold during his "My Effin' Life" book tour in autumn 2023 to support the memorial.
Rush fans have also been donating directly to the memorial fund, including the opportunity to purchase a commemorative panel to leave a permanent personal tribute engraved on the memorial. Spots are limited and the campaign closes on 15th October 2026.
Set to be created by artist Morgan MacDonald of The Newfoundland Bronze Foundry, the memorial will feature two bronze sculptures of Neil Peart in his younger and later years, linked by a pathway with interpretive panels.
It's hoped that it will open to the public by September 2027.
"After years of dedicated work by the Neil Peart Commemorative Task Force and the incredible community support that brought us near the finish line, this remarkable contribution from Rush secures our $1-million fundraising goal," says Eric Lamothe, City Manager, Community Programs and Parks.
"This public art memorial will be far more than a tribute to Neil Peart; it elevates the park into a world-class cultural landmark. We are thrilled to see a space that is already a beloved destination for residents and tourists become a global beacon for enthusiastic music fans to gather, reflect, and celebrate an icon for generations to come."
Neil Peart, who died on 7th January 2020 following a three-and-a-half-year battle with brain cancer, was brought up in Port Dalhousie and lived very close to Lakeside Park.
In 1975 he penned the highly nostalgic lyrics to Rush’s song of the same name, ‘Lakeside Park’, which was lifted from Rush's third studio album ‘Caress of Steel’.