Opinion: Jully Black’s inspirational ‘O Canada’ rendition starts a necessary debate. After being confronted by the atrocities of systemic racism, Canadians want to do better. Isn’t it time to actually prove it?
Although there’s an official set of lyrics and melody as declared by the, “O Canada’s” lyrics and music are considered to be in the public domain. This means musicians can arrange their performances however they like — as Black did. To officially change the lyrics, of course, requires an Act of Parliament.l point of view, music evokes powerful emotional responses. It pulls on heartstrings, connects people and evokes memories.
“O Canada” was originally composed by Calixa Lavallee and was first sung in French in 1880. In 1908, Collier’s Weekly magazine held a competition for English lyrics. The winner, Mercy E. Powell McCulloch’s version began with “O’ Canada! In praise of thee we sing.” It did not catch on. Other English versions were written, including one by Ewing Buchan, a Vancouver bank manager, which proved popular for British Columbians and began: “O Canada, our heritage, our love.
Whether or not the use of the word “native” was intended to be controversial when the framework of today’s version written by Montreal lawyer Robert Stanley Weir, was first published in, doesn’t matter. In the context of 2023, the whole opening line of our national anthem is a reminder of misappropriated land, Canada’s colonial past, and the generational harm it has caused so many.
After being confronted by the atrocities of systemic racism and three years of Canadians educating ourselves and declaring to want to do better, isn’t it time to actually prove it? The 1990 recommendation of the Toronto City Council “O Canada — our cherished land” isn’t terrible, how about “O Canada our wished-for home?”
Pandora’s box has been opened and I hope it stays open so the change we want can be reflected in how Canadians identify with our national anthem and how that is reflected to the rest of the world.
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