The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Fred Hutton, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation:

Speaker, I rise in this honourable house today for the very first time as Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts, and Recreation on a sad note. Today, I would like to pay tribute to a favourite son of Newfoundland and Labrador, acclaimed musician Mark Hiscock.

Mark was a founding member of Shanneygannock and was one of the finest and most celebrated button accordion players in the province, if not the entire country. Mark’s untimely passing has left a gaping hole in our musical community – one that may never be filled.

Speaker, from the time he was a young man, Mark was drawn to music. As his passion and artistry grew, so did his contributions to this province. He had a love for traditional Newfoundland and Labrador music and told the stories of this place and our people through his soulful voice and instrumental talents. He has helped to preserve the heritage and culture of this province and we’ve seen generation after generation connect with his music. Last week at the East Coast music awards, many artists paid tribute to Mark’s legacy.

I think I can speak on behalf of the people of this province when I say our thoughts are with his wife, his family, his friends, and of course, his close friends and bandmates in Shanneygannock.

Speaker, I respectfully ask that all members of this honourable house join me in a moment of silence. May he rest in peace.