Bold claim: Stompin’ Tom’s legacy deserves a monument in Saint John, and supporters are turning that belief into a waterfront push. But here’s where it gets interesting: the idea isn’t just about a statue—it’s about reclaiming a hometown origin story that many locals feel the city has overlooked. A dedicated group of New Brunswick residents is urging the Saint John council to install a statue of the Canadian music icon on the city’s waterfront to honor his roots and his impact on Canadian culture.
The subject is Charles Thomas Connors, better known as Stompin’ Tom, famed for The Hockey Song, a tune that has become an intrinsic part of Canadian sports culture. He would have turned 90 this week, and his most recognizable chorus—“the good ol’ hockey game”—has echoed through hockey arenas since the early 1990s. While a statue already stands in Sudbury, Ontario (erected in 2015 after his death), Greg Hemmings and three collaborators want to celebrate Connors’ birthplace: Saint John.
Hemmings explains the appeal: when he thinks of artists who embody Canada’s spirit, grit, and pride, Stompin’ Tom tops the list. He argues that Connors’ music is woven into Canada’s DNA and that highlighting his Saint John origins would both honor the city and tell its story to residents and visitors alike. Connors was born at Saint John’s General Hospital on Feb. 9, 1936, and spent his early years there before his family faced economic hardship and relocation. His mother, a Protestant, and his father, who was Catholic, had limited involvement in his life due to religious and other strains. Connors’ challenging childhood included periods apart from his family and time in an orphanage before adoption. Hemmings frames Connors’ early life as a quintessential Saint John story—one of hardship, grit, and the ability to rise from humble beginnings.
The push to install a statue is led by Hemmings along with Mike Bravener, Jason MacLean, and Scott Gogan. They see the project as a celebration of Connors’ enduring commitment to Canadian music, including his 1978 public stance against the Juno Awards, which he returned after feeling the ceremony favored artists who spent more time outside Canada. He even left instructions for not having his memorialize him at the Junos after his death in 2013. The proposed waterfront statue would be highly visible to locals and tourists, aligning with the city’s desire to boost waterfront vitality through art and culture.
Residents perceive the statue as a chance to spotlight a local hero who represents authenticity and resilience. Some supporters envision the project energizing the harbourfront, drawing visitors, and enriching the cultural landscape. The group aims to present the proposal to Saint John’s city council on February 23, with plans to unveil the statue by October to coincide with a New Brunswick Country Music Hall of Fame event that month. A local sculpture option would be ideal, Hemmings notes, hoping to involve a regional artist if possible.
While the proposal has supporters, it also invites discussion about whose stories are celebrated in public spaces and how such tributes shape a city’s identity. Does commemorating a hometown icon in a prominent waterfront location strengthen community pride and tourism, or could it spark debate over artistic appropriation or the selection process for public monuments? What do you think: should Saint John honor Stompin’ Tom with a landmark statue on the waterfront, and what considerations would make such a monument most meaningful to residents and visitors alike?
