Rush's Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson Donate $785,000 to Neil Peart Memorial in Ontario, Reaching $1 Million Goal

Rush members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson have presented a CA$785,000 donation to support a permanent memorial honoring their late bandmate Neil Peart in St. Catharines, Ontario. The contribution brings the fundraising campaign for the Neil Peart Memorial at Lakeside Park to its CA$1 million goal, the city announced on September 22, 2026.

The donation was funded through a portion of the proceeds from VIP experiences and packages sold during Rush's Fifty Something Tour. Lee and Lifeson presented the cheque to the Neil Peart Commemorative Task Force and city officials following the band's four-concert run at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, which concluded on August 13. Lee had previously contributed $1 from every ticket sold during his 2023 My Effin' Life book tour.

The memorial will feature two larger-than-life bronze sculptures of Neil Peart, connected by a pathway with interpretive elements exploring his life and musical career. Designed by Canadian sculptor Morgan MacDonald of The Newfoundland Bronze Foundry, the installation will stand beside the Neil Peart Pavilion at Lakeside Park, where the Rush drummer spent time during his youth.

The location has a direct connection to the band's history. Peart, who grew up in St. Catharines, drew inspiration from his childhood experiences in Port Dalhousie when writing “Lakeside Park,” from Rush's 1975 album Caress of Steel. The drummer and primary lyricist died on January 7, 2020, at the age of 67.

Read: Rush's Neil Peart Documentary No One's Disciple Features Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and All-Star Drummers

The fundraising campaign will officially close on October 15, 2026, allowing fans to make additional contributions or purchase commemorative panels with personalized inscriptions. According to the City of St. Catharines, the memorial is tentatively expected to open in late 2027.

Watch Rush’s official “Fly By Night, below:

IMAGE CREDIT: Clayton Call