It's been just over three weeks since Carlton Munroe had major surgery, and the news from the surgeon is encouraging.

“He had removed 99 per cent of the tumour,” said Munroe. “There's one per cent, or maybe a little less than one per cent, that's remaining.”

In November, Munroe was diagnosed with glioblastoma – the same type of brain cancer as Tragically Hip lead singer Gord Downie.

Ironically, Munroe is a huge Hip fan and has seen the band perform more than a dozen times over the years, including last-minute tickets in Toronto last summer.

“More than just a fan of Gord and the Hip fan. They really were an inspiration,” said Munroe. “It's been challenging, difficult to deal with his diagnosis and what he's gone through over the past year but it's such an inspiration to see what he's doing right now.”

Munroe has been executive director of Glasgow Square Theatre and the Riverfront Jubilee for nearly a decade. Over the weekend, his friends hosted a concert there called A Bash for Carlton to assist Munroe and his family during his difficult time.

Musicians lined up to perform and donations for a silent auction poured in.

“I think Carlton is going to be pretty impressed with the amount of people that will be coming out to support and bid on the items, as well as the love and support from the musicians that are showing up,” said Munroe's friend, Karen Corbin Hughes.

When organizers first talked about the concert, Munroe says he felt a little embarrassed by the attention. But that's not the case anymore.

“The big thing that I really have come to realize is this is an inspiration for me to get through the next steps I have to get through."

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Dan MacIntosh.