‘I’m Really Proud to Be Canadian’: Shawn Mendes Shouts Out Home Country During Toronto Show

Shawn Mendes loves Canada.

Last night (September 28), the Canadian singer-songwriter performed a sold-out show at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage in support of his On the Road Again tour. During the show, he shouted out his home country, expressing his gratitude for being from The Great White North.

“When I started making music, I was 15, and I really started travelling the world,” Mendes shared. “I really felt like I lost a lot of my connection to this place, and the last six months, when I come back, I stay with my family in Pickering.” The mention of the Ontario suburb elicited cheers from the crowd.

“I’ve been spending a lot more time here, and I’ve just been back home and going through the forest, the streams and the rivers, he said. “And man, I really love this country, it’s a beautiful place to be from.”

Mendes went on to explain how “horrific” the world currently is, and the up-close look musicians get from travelling the world and visiting different countries. Instead of focusing on the negative, he pinpointed the beauty in the crowds at his shows.

“I really see the next generation of people, and I see this generation and it’s the most loving, open-armed, inclusive, brilliant, bright generation,” he said, noting that he feels “confident” in this generation’s ability to change the world for the better. “I mean it,” Mendes doubled down.

He continued: “We have to change this world. We have to bring more love, acceptance, unity. There [are] so many bulls–t things trying to divide us, and honestly, when you’re in an arena or an amphitheatre and you’re all singing like this, those divides are not here.”

“I’m proud to be a part of this younger generation and I’m really proud to be Canadian,” he said before transitioning into “Youth,” a Khalid-featuring track off Mendes’ 2018 self-titled album.

Yesterday’s Budweiser Stage show marked Mendes’ first Canadian show since an intimate set at Massey Hall last year — his first show in two years since cancelling his 2022 Wonder tour to focus on mental health.

The tour boasts his biggest hits from his decade-long career, including “Lost In Japan,” “If I Can’t Have You,” and “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back,” which peaked at No. 1 and No. 2 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100, respectively. Yet, the setlist includes glimmers of his 2024 project, Shawn, including the charting track “Heart of Gold” and “Why Why Why.”

Fellow Canadian singer Shania Twain was spotted in the crowd, singing along to Mendes’ 2015 hit, “Treat You Better.”

She posted the clip to Instagram, saying: “A cute trip to Toronto 🇨🇦❤️ Shooting something fun, seeing a few friends and catching @shawnmendes’ show at the @budweiserstage - I haven’t been here since my Queen Of Me tour in 2023! Just two Canadians, in Canada, having a big Canadian party!”

Mendes is set to play a second Canadian show at Montreal’s Centre Bell on October 1.