The local music community is mourning the loss of one of their own.

Chris Ryan, a staple on many stages downtown and alongside some of the province’s larger stages, passed away Monday.

Tributes begin to pour in on social media as news spread, with many remarking on his humour and willingness to always help a fellow musician.

Ryan was an accomplished musician who grew from the downtown stages to mainsteam country radio, releasing several singles over the last number of years, including “Lucky Heart”, “Last Forever” and “Slow Down.” Ryan was a semi-finalist for the east coast in SirusXM’s Top of the Country competition in 2018.

His Christmas release from 2021 “Christmas Card Feeling” was featured in the TV movie, Country Hearts Christmas.

A GoFundMe has been launched to help his family with expenses.

No funeral details have been released. Ryan was 38.