In all thy sons command.

With glowing hearts

we see thee rise,

The True North,

strong and free!

From far and wide,

O Canada,

We stand on guard

for thee.

God keep our land

glorious and free!

O Canada,

we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada,

we stand on guard for thee.

“O Canada” was proclaimed Canada’s National anthem on July 1, 1980, 100 years after it was first sung in 1880. The music was composed by C.Lavalee, a well-known composer. The lyrics were written in 1908 by Robert Stanley Weir. French lyrics to accompany the music were written by Adophe-Basile Routier. The official English version includes changes recommended in 1968 by a special Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Commons. The French lyrics remain unaltered.

THE NATIONAL FLAG

The National Flag was adopted by Parliament on October 22, 1964. It was a red flag containing in the centre a white square with a single red maple leaf. The Canadian flag was designed by several persons: Jacques St. Cyr drew the stylezed red maple leaf, George Bist determined the propotions, and Gunter Wyszechi the red and white colors. Red and white are the official colors for Canada, declared by King George V in 1921 in proclamation of Canada’s Coat of Arms. The Maple leaf was first associated with Canada as early as the 1700’s. In 1834, the first St. Jean Baptiste Society in North America made the maple leaf its emblem. By 1860, the maple leaf was incorporated into the badge of the 100^th Regiment (Royal Canadians) and was used in decorations for the visit of the Prince of Wales that year. Alexander Muir wrote the Maple Leaf Forever as Canada’s Confederation song in 1867; it was regarded as the national song for several decades. The coats of arms created the next year for Ontario and Quebec both included the maple leaf. The final decision of all the components of the new flag was made by a specially appointed 15-member parliamentary committee. Eventually the new flag was adopted by Parliament as the national flaf on February 15, 1965, which is observed as Canada’s Flag Day. Since 1965, with proclamation of Canada’s new flag, the maple leaf has become the most prominent Canadian symbol.

THE COAT OF ARMS

The Coat of Arms displays a lion, a traditional royal symbol, holding the British flag, and a unicorn, a mythological creature with the Flag of Quebec. On the crest there is a heraldic representation of the Royal crown. Beneath the crown is a lion wearing a red maple leaf in its front right paw, and standing on a wreath of read and white cloth. The shield represents the emblems of Great Britain and Quebec to indicate the British and French background of the country. Beneath the shield there is a motto: “A Mari Usque ad Mare”. The base, or, compartment, is represented with the floral emblems – a thistle of Scotland, a rose of England, a shamrock of Northern Ireland and a white lily fleur-de-lis of Quebec.

From 1921, the Coat of Arms included three maple leaves as a distinctive Canadian emblem.

CANADA DAY

July 1^st is Canada Day. It is the National holiday of Canada

QUEBEC NATIONAL DAY.

On June 24, French Canadians honor their patron saint Jean Baptiste. The province observes the legal holiday Quebec National Day.

THE BEAVER

The beaver attained official status as an emblem of Canada when an “act to provide for the recognition of the beaver as a symbol of the sovereignty of Canada” received royal assent on March 24, 1975.