Former Rhinoceros Party leader enters music industry with first song and a campaign encouraging fruit consumption and community connection
A New Musical Venture Begins
MONTREAL — Former Rhinoceros Party of Canada leader Sébastien CoRhino is set to launch his first musical single on July 1, 2026, marking a new chapter in a public career that has spanned politics, performance, and advocacy. The song, titled Ananas > Canada — pronounced “ananas plus grand que Canada” — will be released on Canada Day as part of what CoRhino calls “Ananas Day,” a holiday concept he created to encourage healthier eating habits and stronger community engagement.
The release represents CoRhino’s formal entry into the music industry after a decade at the helm of the Rhinoceros Party, a satirical federal political party known for its unconventional campaigns and commentary on Canadian politics.
Media outlets have been invited to request interviews with CoRhino, and the song is available under embargo for interested journalists ahead of its public release.
From Politics to Popular Music
CoRhino served as leader of the Rhinoceros Party from 2014 to 2024. During an 18-year political career, he contested and lost 10 federal elections. He now says he is redirecting his efforts toward popular music, beginning with Ananas > Canada.
According to biographical information released with the announcement, the single will be followed by a full-length album, an autobiography, and a second album. The musician has previously performed with Le GGRIL, David Goudreault and Sabir, and holds a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Sherbrooke.
The upcoming album may also answer questions about the style and direction of his music. Promotional materials accompanying the announcement ask whether the project should be considered Quebec music or Canadian music, whether CoRhino will perform in both official languages, and whether listeners should expect traditional folk influences or contemporary rap.
Those details, organizers say, will become clearer when the full album is released.
Promoting “Ananas Day”
At the centre of the single’s launch is CoRhino’s broader effort to establish “Ananas Day,” a celebration he introduced in 2025. The initiative encourages people to step away from consumer culture for a day, eat fruit, spend time with neighbours and friends, and make use of what they already have rather than purchasing new items.
“Plutôt que d’aller acheter de quoi, tu fais avec ce que t’as, pis t’as surement un voisin qui l’a déjà!” CoRhino said while describing the spirit of the celebration.
The concept is intended to transform July 1 into more than a national holiday, promoting resourcefulness, community interaction and simple festivities. CoRhino argues that many countries already observe public holidays on July 1, creating an opportunity to expand the concept internationally.
“Le 1er juillet est déjà férié au Canada, Rwanda, Burundi, Hong Kong, au Suriname, à Curaçao et quelques autres! Ce sont des pays précurseurs de l’Ananas Day, et il faut le répandre dans tout le monde maintenant!”
A Pineapple as a Symbol
CoRhino also offered a light-hearted explanation for why a pineapple has become the central symbol of his campaign.
“La plupart des pays ont leur fête nationale le jour de la libération d’un oppresseur ou de la victoire d’une grande bataille. Au Canada, rien de tout ça! On fête la signature de la confédération canadienne entre John A. MacDonald et la Reine Victoria, en Angleterre. J’ai donc décidé de célébrer l’Ananas, qui représente bien le Canada, puisque nous sommes les inventeurs de la Pizza-Ananas!”, raconte CoRhino en entrevue sur vos ondes.
The statement reflects the humorous and unconventional style that characterized his years with the Rhinoceros Party and continues to shape his public persona.
Looking Ahead
With the release of Ananas > Canada, CoRhino is attempting to build a new audience beyond the political sphere. Whether the project resonates as a novelty, a social campaign, or the beginning of a sustained music career remains to be seen.
For now, the July 1 launch combines music, humour and civic engagement into a distinctly Canadian-themed initiative, with CoRhino hoping both his debut single and his “Ananas Day” concept gain traction among audiences across the country and beyond.