During Blue Rodeo’s performance of the song “Hasn’t Hit Me Yet” on Saturday by Lake Ontario, the lyrics became a symbol of unity for Canadians in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to rename the lake “Lake America.”
At the RBC Amphitheatre in downtown Toronto that evening, thousands of fans joined in singing along, particularly emphasizing the line “Out in the middle of Lake Ontario” from the 1993 hit, resulting in a prolonged ovation captured in widely circulated videos online.
Frontman Jim Cuddy described the moment as “glorious” during an interview on CBC Radio’s Metro Morning on Tuesday.
The recent focus on Lake Ontario is due to President Trump’s executive order to rename the lake to “Lake America” after trade negotiations with Canada fell through just days prior.
Jim Cuddy, the lead singer of Blue Rodeo, has been vocal about promoting Canadian solidarity amidst the ongoing trade tensions with the U.S. He notably participated in the “Elbows Up, Canada!” event in Toronto back in 2025.
During the concert, as Blue Rodeo reached the part of the song mentioning Lake Ontario, singer Greg Keelor urged the massive crowd of approximately 16,000 attendees to sing the phrase with a sense of pride and ownership, with the actual lake visible in the background.
The audience enthusiastically belted out the lyrics. “It was just very moving,” Cuddy remarked.
Cuddy Highlights the Need for Canadians to Express Frustrations
Cuddy expressed his bewilderment at the controversy surrounding Lake Ontario’s name, attributing it to the mounting frustration felt by many Canadians amid the trade disputes with the U.S.
“People really need an outlet,” he stated. “We were pleased to offer our song as a means for people to voice their sentiments.”
When asked if Blue Rodeo would consider performing in the U.S. in the current climate, Cuddy emphasized the band’s commitment to solidarity and sticking with their Canadian roots.
“I believe it’s a time to support your team,” Cuddy emphasized. “Artists don’t necessarily need to be overtly political, but they should reflect their true feelings, and that’s what we’re doing.”
Google recently announced that Google Maps users in the U.S. will now see “Lake America” instead of Lake Ontario. Additionally, President Trump has urged Apple to update the name of the lake on its maps.
Meanwhile, both Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford have publicly rejected the name change. Prime Minister Carney emphasized the historical significance of Lake Ontario, tracing its name back over 400 years to the Wendat word “Ontari’io,” which translates to “the lake is beautiful, the lake is big.” He affirmed that it will remain Lake Ontario “then, now, and forever.”
Premier Ford unveiled a new sign for Lake Ontario in Hamilton with the inscription “Lake Ontario Now and Always” as a statement against the proposed name change.
“President Trump may call it whatever he wishes, but the global community will always recognize it as Lake Ontario,” Ford declared.
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