Life of Ray St. Germain celebrated through music, memories

Tears, laughter and memories were shared as people came in droves to the Calvary Temple church Saturday to honour the life of singer-songwriter, TV host and Métis country music legend Ray St. Germain. 

The 83-year-old died at the end of June after several years of living with Parkinson's disease. St. Germain was remembered through speeches from friends and dignitaries along with musical tributes during the celebration. 

"Ray St. Germain, wow, the love of my life," said his wife Glory during a speech Saturday. "He was a superstar husband and grandfather and friend, a musician, a producer and he would've been very happy that all of you came here for him today and I'm very grateful as well." 

Glory reminisced on the decades spent with her husband, noting the day St. Germain died was June 25, the date she first met him many years ago. Glory told the crowd how she was in a Miss Manitoba pageant when she first met St. Germain 50 years ago.

"Our eyes met and I fell in love with his voice and then I fell in love with him," she said. 

She said the woman who won the pageant — who she's friends with —  recently posted on social media about the anniversary of her victory. While Glory ultimately didn't win, she told the crowd she came away with so much more. 

"Because she's my friend I posted, 'Dear Lorraine, you may have won the Miss Manitoba pageant, but I won the love of my life Ray St. Germain,'" she said.

'Had a way of making you feel like you were the most important person in his world'

St. Germain was born July 29, 1940, in Winnipeg and emerged as a country and rockabilly musician in his mid-teens. He performed with the likes of Johnny Cash and Kenny Rogers and was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010.

The longtime promoter of Métis and Indigenous culture, affectionately dubbed by many as Winnipeg's Elvis, was then inducted into the Order of Manitoba, the province's highest honour, in 2013.

St. Germain was also inducted into the Aboriginal Order of Canada (1985), Order of the Sash – Saskatoon and Prince Albert (1986) and Manitoba Aboriginal Music Hall of Fame (2005). In 2018, he was presented with an honorary diploma by Red River College (now known as RRC Polytech), the highest honour given by the institution.

He performed just weeks before his death, singing a rendition of Elvis Presley's song It's Now or Never from his wheelchair at an honorary street renaming, to the applause of family, friends and fans.

St. Michael Road, in Winnipeg's St. Vital neighbourhood, was given the honorary name Big Sky Country Way, in tribute to St. Germain and his nationally syndicated TV show that aired for 13 years.

"Ray was such a great Manitoban who contributed so many wonderful tunes," said Premier Wab Kinew in a video tribute played at the service. "Great memories, inspiring stories and good laughs to people all across this province." 

Former Canadian politician Gerry St. Germain hailed him as one of the most inspirational Métis leaders and legends in Canada. He said St. Germain made Métis men and women proud of their heritage.

"We do have the same family name, but a lot ends there," said St. Germain.

"Ray was committed to his Métis roots and his talents as an entertainer resonated across the country," he said. "A great voice, a vibrant personality and a natural leader." 

Manitoba Métis Federation President David Chartrand said St. Germain's energy was infectious.

"It hit me when I walked in here, my friend is gone," said Chartrand. "I won't see that face anymore, that smile, that thing that gives me that warmth inside my heart." 

"It was automatic every time I saw Ray it made me feel good, no matter how my day was." 

And Naomi Clarke who co-hosted Métis Hour x2 on NCI FM with St. Germain said he had the gift of lifting up everyone around him. 

"He had a way of making you feel like you were the most important person in his world and that you were worthy of being in his world," she said. 

It wouldn't have been a celebration of St. Germain's life without musical tributes either.

Winston Wuttunee drummed for the crowd and was followed by a performance by fiddler Patti Kusturok. 

St. Germain's children also performed and the celebration of St. Germain's life ended with a toe-tapping rendition of Do Lord, in which family members joined together on stage to perform.