Gord Downie on the Sam The Record Man sign:
November 4th, 2013
“Dear Ryerson U;
My name is Gord Downie, I am a singer. I have lived in Toronto for almost thirty years and long enough to remember ‘SAM The Record Man’. I always thought of Sam’s as more than just a music store. Sam’s was a meeting place. Kids from the city, kids from outside the city, indeed, kids from all across Canada knew what was meant by merely saying; ‘I’ll meet you at Sam’s.’
Everybody knew what that meant, everybody knew where that was, and if they didn’t, they had only to look for ‘the big Sam’s sign’. Kids would gather on a Saturday, browse the bins, listen to music, talk their ideas, make their plans.
I can think of no better icon, no better beacon, no better sign downtown for young people to rally around, to meet under. I can think of no other place in Toronto that would ‘get this’ – that would understand the importance of this – more than Ryerson University.
Dear Ryerson, please go with your initial impulse to purchase, save and proudly display this sign. It is a good one. For all kids past, present and future.”
– Gord Downie
