2000's


*2000*
-Lightfoot's first performance of the new year, decade, century and millennium on January 16 is a benefit at the Air Canada Center in Toronto to assist farm families in crisis.
- Lightfoot begins a busy touring year on March 1 in York, PA.
- In April, Lightfoot tapes a TV concert special at the Pioneer Theatre in Reno, NV to be aired on PBS later in the year.
- June finds Lightfoot between legs of his tour attending a Guess Who reunion concert at Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto.
- In July, Lightfoot makes a triumphant return to his hometown of Orillia, ON as headliner of the Mariposa Folk Festival.
- In July, the Martin Guitar Co. announce the production of the D-18GL, a Gordon Lightfoot Limited Edition Signature guitar for release in 2001.
- August finds Lightfoot hitting the road for the summer portion of the 2000 tour, taking them into early September.
- In September Lightfoot plays in a celebrity fund raising golf tournament at Glen Eagles golf club near Toronto.
- Lightfoot close out the touring year with 7 midwest concerts in November.
-The Live In Reno special airs on PBS in December with the release of the accompanying video.

*2001*
- In February, Lightfoot is presented with the Masterworks Award in Ottawa for Canadian Railroad Trilogy by the Audio-Visual Preservation Trust of Canada.
- Lightfoot, with David Suzuki, induct Bruce Cockburn into the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame at the Juno award ceremony in Hamilton, ON on March 4.
- Lightfoot begins his annual tour in mid-March with a swing through Florida, kicking off a year which will see him play around 50 concerts.
- Lightfoot sings the national anthems at a Blue Jay spring training game in Florida.
- In April, Lightfoot performs at the Tin Pan South Legends concert at the Ryman in Nashville. Lightfoot closed the show that also featured Andrew Gold; Merle Kilgore; Ray Parker Jr; Donna Summer and Sharon Vaughn.
- May finds Lightfoot saluting Dylan's 60th birthday at opening night at Massey Hall by performing Ring Them Bells.
- In June, Lightfoot performs at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto during Walk Of Fame inductions.
- September finds Lightfoot in Calgary accepting induction into the Canadian Country Music Hall Of Fame.
- At the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, Lightfoot pays tribute to Joni Mitchell in October.
- In October, with the year's tour schedule wound down, Lightfoot goes to Ottawa to accept induction into the Canadian Broadcast Hall Of Fame.
- November finds Lightfoot doing a surprise nine song set at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto to benefit Renascent, an alcohol rehab charity.
- Also in November, Lightfoot presents Murray McLauchlan with the National Achievement Award at the annual SOCAN ceremony in Toronto.
- In what is fast becoming Lightfoot's "autumn of awards", November sees him this time at Toronto's Four Seasons Hotel,  receiving the Arts Toronto's Lifetime Achievement Award.


*2002*
- By the end of January, Lightfoot has 30 new songs written for his next studio album slated for 2003 at the earliest. (Read More...)
- Lightfoot records guitar and vocal demos of new songs written for upcoming album.
- Lightfoot begins his 2002 touring schedule with three shows in Las Vegas in March.
- In May, Lightfoot inducts the Tragically Hip as new members of Canada's Walk Of Fame in a ceremony at Toronto's Princess Of Wales Theatre.
- Lightfoot performs Sit Down Young Stranger and If You Could Read My Mind solo at festivities for the Canadian Governor General "Live At Rideau Hall" in Ottawa in June.
- Before the second concert of a two night stand in Orillia in September, Lightfoot suffers severe stomach pain and is airlifted to McMaster Medical Center in Hamilton, ON.
- Lightfoot undergoes surgery for a bleeding problem in his abdomen and remains in serious condition in ICU.
- Get well wishes pour into Hamilton from all around the world.
- Lightfoot's remaining concerts dates for 2002, including a Massey Hall stand in November, are cancelled.
- More than 3 months after admission to hospital, Lightfoot is released in December to continue his recovery at home.


*2003*
- In April, Lightfoot grants his first post illness interview, saying he will complete his new album this year and return to touring in 2004 if his recovery continues on schedule.
- Lightfoot undergoes followup surgery to continue the treatment of his abdominal condition.
- In August, Lightfoot's Order Of Canada status is elevated to Companion, the highest ranking of the order.
- A tribute album, Beautiful: A Tribute To Gordon Lightfoot is released in October. (Read More...)
- In October, Lightfoot is honored as an inaugural member of the Canadian Folk Music Walk Of Fame in Ottawa.
- Another Hall Of Fame induction is announced in October, this time to the Canadian Railway Hall with a special award for composing Canadian Railroad Trilogy.
- In November Lightfoot signs a new record deal with Linus Entertainment.  (Read More...)
- Also in November, Lightfoot rehearses with his band for the first time since his illness in September of last year.
- In December, Lightfoot is officially inducted into the Canadian Songwriter Hall Of Fame in a gala at the Glenn Gould Theatre in Toronto.


*2004*
- In January, post-production work on Harmony is completed.
- Lightfoot shoots music video for Inspiration Lady.
- In February, 3 tracks from Harmony are pre-released in the US as downloads through Itunes.
- Inspiration Lady released to Canadian radio stations and video outlets in March.
- In May Lightfoot releases his 20th album of original material, Harmony.
- A launch party for Harmony is held in the basement bar at Massey Hall.
- Harmony debuts at #13 in its first week on the Canadian charts.


Photo - John Swartz
- Lightfoot makes a surprise first performance since falling ill, at Mariposa in Orillia in July, doing I'll Tag Along solo.
  - In August, the road back sees a giant step forward as Lightfoot does a 5 song solo set in Peterborough, Ontario at the flood relief benefit. (Read More...)
  - Again in August, Lightfoot tapes a segment for Canadian Idol, coaching the final six for their performance of his songs.
- In September, Lightfoot attends the final of the Canadian Idol series in Toronto.
- Lightfoot makes his long awaited return to the concert stage in November with 2 sold out benefit shows in Hamilton, ON. (Read More...)

*2005*
- Lightfoot puts in place a tour schedule for 2005 that will see him perform at least 30 concerts in Canada and the US. (Read More...)
  - Lightfoot attends a January tribute concert in his honour at Hugh's Room in Toronto.
- In February, Lightfoot presents Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman (Guess Who) with their Songwriters Hall Of Fame induction award.
- In March, Lightfoot is inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall Of Fame. (Read More...)
- In April, following his long recovery, Lightfoot begins his first concert tour since 2002.
- In May, Lightfoot makes a triumphant return to Massey Hall with four sold-out concerts. (Read More...)
  - In June, Lightfoot presents Daniel Lanois with his Walk Of Fame induction in Toronto.


- In July, Lightfoot performs at the Canadian Live 8 concert.
- Lightfoot's Mariposa appearance in July harkens back to the early 70's in that he perform as a trio, with just Terry and Rick.
- In September Lightfoot sits in on a Toronto sports talk radio program hosted by Norman Rumack.
- In November, Lightfoot is among a distinguished gathering, including former Prime Ministers, attending MacLeans magazine's 100th birthday bash in Toronto. For the record, Lightfoot appeared on their cover 3 times - 1968, 1971 and 1978.
- In December, Lightfoot does an 8 song unplugged performance at St. Paul's United Chuch in Orillia, ON, with Rick Haynes and Terry Clements, as part of the church's 175th anniversary.

*2006*
- In January, Lightfoot kicks off the touring year close to home with a three night stand at the Dominion Club in downtown Toronto. Lightfoot was the inaugural act to appear at the new and exclusive venue.

       
Photo by Anjani
- In February, Lightfoot attends the Song Writers Hall Of Fame induction of Leonard Cohen.
- In March, Lightfoot makes makes an impromptu appearance in Orillia's Highwayman Inn at an Even Steven gig to perform If You Could Read My Mind during celebrations of a cousin's birthday.
- In April, Lightfoot makes a special appearnce at a benefit for the Sick Kids Foundation in Toronto.
- Lightfoot attends Ron Sexsmith concert at Massey Hall in April.
- In April, Lightfoot is honoured by the Barbershop Harmony Society at a ceremony in Toronto.
- Lightfoot attends the Walk Of Fame induction ceremonies in Toronto in late May.
- In June Lightfoot makes an appearance at the St. Jamestown Festival.
- In July, Lightfoot attends a Randy Bachman-Burton Cummings concert in Toronto and is introduced from the stage to a standing ovation.
- Lightfoot completes the US portion of his 2006 tour in late September. He was forced to employ an opening act for 5 September concerts due to a transient stroke which made guitar playing difficult, but the situation improved and he was back to his usual two set concert by the last night of the midwest run in Milwaukee.
- In September, Lightfoot speaks at a "support the troops in Afghanistan" rally in downtown Toronto.
- In October, Lightfoot kicks off a western Canadian tour. (Read More...)
- Lightfoot completes yet another triumphant Massey Hall engagement in November. (Read More...)
- In late November Lightfoot attends the Mariposa Hall of Fame induction of Ian & Sylvia at Hugh's Room in Toronto.

*2007*
  - Lightfoot begins his new touring year promptly in late January with eight concerts in nine nights in the southwest US.
- In April, Lightfoot performs If You Could Read My Mind at a fundraiser for failed Toronto mayoralty candidate Jane Pitfield at the downtown Crowne Plaza Hotel.
- In May, Lightfoot performs at the 50th anniversary celebrations for CHUM-FM at Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square. Accompanied by Rick and Terry, they did Don Quixote, If You Could Read My Mind and Rainy Day People.

 

- In June, Lightfoot returned to the choir section of St. Paul's United church in Orillia, where he got his start as a young boy, this time with guitar in hand, performing Sit Down Young Stranger and Ring Them Bells.
- In June, Canada Post issues 52 cent limited edition stamp honouring Lightfoot. (Read More...)
  - In August, Lightfoot contributes his recording of the Ian Tyson's Red Velvet to the Tyson tribute album, The Gift.
- Lightfoot performs at the Cambridge Club in Toronto during their Bentley Cup (squash championship) banquet.
- In December, Barry Harvey, Lightfoot's manager of 25 years passes away suddenly. (Read More...)

*2008*  
- In January, Lightfoot announces his spring tour of Ontario, including a four night stay at Massey Hall. (Read More...)
- Lightfoot inaugurates the 2008 touring year in Knoxville, TN in February with new road manager, Leslie Charbon.
- In April, Lightfoot begins a tour swing through Ontario, beginning in Ottawa, culminating at Massey Hall in May. (Read More...)

- In June, while Lightfoot is on the road in the US midwest, his longtime guitarist and friend, Red Shea passes away. (Read More...)
- Lightfoot wraps up the touring year in October in Amarillo, Texas.
- In November a press release announces a western Canadian tour for the spring of 2009. (Read More...)
- On November 17th, Lightfoot celebrates his 70th birthday.
- In November, Lightfoot performs at a fundraiser for Bloorview Kids Rehab in Toronto.

*2009*
- In January, Lightfoot attends a tribute night at Hugh's Room in Toronto and performs Song For A Winter's Night.
- In February, Lightfoot visits Jim Cuddy backstage at Massey Hall.
- After finishing up the 2008 touring year in Texas (Amarillo) in October, Lightfoot kicks off the 2009 touring year in March again back in Texas (Austin).
- In March Lightfoot anounces his latest Massey Hall engagement slated for November. (Read More...)
- In June Lightfoot attends a plaque laying ceremony comemorating the Riverboat in Yorkville.
- In September Lightfoot appears in Hamilton for the unveiling of a sculpture of him and performed If You Could Read My Mind and Diamond Joe.
- Lightfoot presents Blue Rodeo with their Canada Walk Of Fame induction at Toronto gala in September.
- In October Lightfoot announces his Eastern Canadian tour for the spring of 2010. (Read More...)
- In November, Lightfoot autographs a Martin D18 guitar to be auctioned on Ebay for the Orillia Soldier's Memorial Hospital foundation. (Read More...)
- In November, Lightfoot completes yet another triumphant series of concerts at Massey Hall in Toronto.

- Also in November, Lightfoot attends SOCAN awards in Toronto receiving a radio play award for Race Among The Ruins.
- In December, Mariposa announces it has booked Lightfoot for their 50th anniversary folk festival slated for July 2010.