The iconic Canadian rock band RUSH, along with their fans, have successfully pushed the fundraising campaign for the late Neil Peart Memorial at Lakeside Park in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada to a spectacular finish – achieving the project’s $1-million target.
The fundraising effort for the Peart memorial will officially wrap up on October 15, 2026. This gives fans a chance to contribute to the memorial and also purchase a commemorative fan panel that allows them to leave a lasting personal tribute engraved on it. Spots are limited.
RUSH’s Geddy Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson presented a cheque for $785,000 to the Neil Peart Commemorative Task Force Fundraising Sub-Committee and City staff after wrapping up their recent concert run in Toronto at Scotiabank Arena on August 13. During their “Fifty Something” tour, RUSH allocated part of the proceeds from VIP experiences and packages towards the Neil Peart Memorial in Lakeside Park in St. Catharines, making RUSH fans an essential part of this public tribute to the legendary drummer. Lee also pledged $1 from every ticket sold during his “My Effin’ Life” book tour in fall 2023 to support the memorial.
“After years of dedicated work by the Neil Peart Commemorative Task Force and incredible community support that got us close to our goal, this significant contribution from RUSH secures our $1-million fundraising aim,” said Eric Lamothe, City Manager of Community Programs and Parks. “This public art memorial will be more than just a tribute to Neil Peart; it will enhance the park into a world-class cultural destination. We’re excited to see an already cherished location for locals and tourists become a global spot for enthusiastic music fans to come together, reflect, and honor an icon for future generations.”
The City Council formed the Neil Peart Commemorative Task Force following Peart’s death on January 7, 2020. In September 2024, they hosted an official launch event at Lakeside Park announcing the start of fundraising efforts aimed at honoring Peart with a public artwork.
Through a competitive selection process in late 2022, Morgan Mac Donald from The Newfoundland Bronze Foundry (Morgan Sculpture Inc.) was chosen by the task force to design the memorial next to the Neil Peart Pavilion at Lakeside Park. The winning concept features two larger-than-life bronze sculptures of Peart connected by a pathway that provides experiential and interpretive elements showcasing his personal life as well as his career highlights with RUSH. You can watch a video rendering of this design below.
“Our goal has always been to create a physical tribute that reflects Neil’s vast influence and strong ties to St. Catharines. He was an amazing lyricist and Canadian poet; ‘Lakeside Park’ was essentially his love letter back home. There’s something incredibly moving about standing here while experiencing what inspired those lyrics,” shared Meg Symsyk, Chair of the Neil Peart Commemorative Task Force. “We’ve already seen RUSH fans from around the globe visiting Lakeside Park and checking out the pavilion. This memorial will strengthen that connection even more by creating a lasting place where fans, locals, and visitors can celebrate both Neil as well as his impactful music.”
A staff report is set to be presented at a City Council meeting in September outlining upcoming steps regarding this project. City officials tentatively expect that construction on the Neil Peart Memorial at Lakeside Park could wrap up by late 2027.
Peart had strong connections with St. Catharines where he grew up during his formative years. As an inductee into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and recipient of Canada’s Order of Canada award, he’s often celebrated as one of history’s greatest drummers ever. Throughout his lifetime he fondly reminisced about summers spent in Port Dalhousie which served as inspiration for RUSH’s hit song “Lakeside Park.”
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