The Canadian flag glows in the morning light at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday, June 28, 2024. The Canadain Press
A Special Milestone for O Canada
While Canada’s big birthday is just around the corner, its anthem reached a milestone on Friday. “O Canada” marked 45 years as the official national anthem.
Although widely used for many years, it only became official on June 27, 1980. That’s when the National Anthem Act was passed.
A few days later, on Canada Day, the Act was formally announced in front of a large crowd on Parliament Hill by Governor General Edward Schreyer.
Roots That Go Way Back
“O Canada” was actually written more than 140 years ago.
The tune was composed by Calixa Lavallée, and the original French lyrics were written by Adolphe-Basile Routhier in 1880.
It was created for St-Jean-Baptiste Day celebrations in Québec.
Over the years, the anthem grew in popularity, with several English versions appearing across the country.
English Lyrics Took Time to Settle
Robert Stanley Weir, a lawyer and judge, wrote the most recognized English version in 1908.
The French lyrics have never changed. But the English lines saw many edits over time.
Some old versions ended with lines like “Bless our dear land this day and evermore.”
One line changed more than once. The 1913 version said, “True patriot love in all thy sons command.” In 2018, it became “in all of us command” to make it gender neutral.
Push for Gender Equality
The push to remove the word “sons” started in the 1950s.
A major push came from late Liberal MP Mauril Bélanger. He had ALS and still fought hard to make the change.
He introduced a bill in 2016. A month later, it passed in the House of Commons.
After his death, the Senate finally approved the change in 2018, making the lyrics gender neutral.
Some people supported the change. Others didn’t. Conservative senators chose not to vote in the final decision.
More Change Ideas in Recent Years
In 2023, singer Jully Black sang “our home on Native land” instead of “our home and Native land.”
Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was open to talking to Canadians about the suggestion. However, no changes were made.
Singer Chantal Kreviazuk also changed the lyrics earlier this year. She performed the anthem during a hockey match between Canada and the U.S.
Instead of “in all of us command,” she sang “that only us command.”
She later said it was her way of responding to rising tensions and threats from U.S. leadership.
A Piece of History
The original manuscript of “O Canada” no longer exists.
But two copies of the first edition still remain. One is stored at the Séminaire de Québec, and the other is kept at the Université de Montréal.
