Neil Peart spent his teenage summers working the midway at Lakeside Park in St. Catharines, Ontario. He later turned those memories into a Rush song. Now the park is getting a permanent tribute to the drummer, and his bandmates made sure of it.
Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson have donated $785,000 to the Neil Peart memorial campaign, pushing it past its $1 million goal. The city expects the memorial to open in late 2027.
The short version
Lee and Lifeson gave $785,000, drawn from VIP package proceeds on Rush's "Fifty Something" tour.
Community fundraising had already raised about $215,000, bringing the total to the $1 million target.
The memorial will feature two bronze statues of Peart at different stages of his life.
Fans can still contribute and buy commemorative panels until Oct. 15.
The memorial is expected to open in late 2027.
How the money came together
The campaign started after Peart died of brain cancer on Jan. 7, 2020, at age 67. A fan petition gathered more than 20,000 signatures, and the city later named a pavilion in the park after him. Funding the statues took longer.
Lee and Lifeson presented the cheque after Rush's Toronto concert in August. It combined proceeds from the tour's VIP packages with money Lee had set aside from his 2023 "My Effin' Life" book tour, where he donated $1 from every ticket sold.
What fans will see
Sculptor Morgan MacDonald of the Newfoundland Bronze Foundry is creating two bronze figures. One shows a young Peart holding a book and drumsticks, a nod to the reader and lyricist he became. The other shows him later in life with a snare drum. A connecting pathway will include displays about his life and music.
City manager Eric Lamothe said the memorial "elevates the park into a world-class cultural landmark."
A park with a song
Peart grew up in St. Catharines, and his summers at the Port Dalhousie amusement area inspired "Lakeside Park" from Rush's 1975 album Caress of Steel. Lifeson also shared a lighter memory of Peart's 1974 audition, recalling that his first thought was, "There's no way this guy's cool enough to be in our band."
Why it matters
Drummers: Peart shaped how generations approach the drum kit, from huge setups to composed parts. A permanent public tribute is rare for any musician, let alone a drummer.
The industry: Rush turned VIP ticket packages into a legacy project. It's a model other artists and brands could follow.
Fans: The Oct. 15 deadline is the last chance to buy an engraved commemorative panel with a personal tribute.
What's next
With funding secured, the focus moves to casting and construction ahead of the late-2027 opening. Expect St. Catharines to become a stop for Rush fans and drummers from around the world. MI Insider will share updates as the project moves forward.
Sources: Drumming News Network (Sept. 24, 2026), That Eric Alper (Sept. 23, 2026), Yahoo News Canada and Louder. Donate or buy a panel at the City of St. Catharines memorial page.