CBC Digital Archives

O Canada!

On July 1, 1867, Canada took its first steps towards official nationhood. It has grown and developed as a nation, and distinguished itself in times of both peace and war. Canada is widely recognized as a place of harmony, liberty and diversity and is routinely ranked as one of the best countries in which to live. In honour of Canada's birthday, CBC Digital Archives looks back at some defining moments and great Canadians who have helped shape our history.

It's Canada's 113th birthday and across the country, Canadians are celebrating with a song. O Canada, the country's best-known patriotic song is now its official national anthem. The National checks in across the country and finds that on land and in the sky, in French and in English, Canadians are united in song.
• 1980 is the 100th anniversary of the first singing of O Canada. It was originally composed in French as a national hymn for St. Jean-Baptiste Day in 1880.

  • The first arrangement of O Canada used music composed by accomplished musician and composer Calixa Lavalée and lyrics by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier, a poet and Quebec Superior Court Judge. The official English words are based on lyrics by Robert Stanley Weir in 1908. The French version remains unchanged from the original, but the English words underwent some alterations in 1968.

Medium: Television
Program: The National
Broadcast Date: July 1, 1980
Host: Knowlton Nash
Reporter: Mark Phillips
Duration: 3:27

Last updated: July 3, 2012

Page consulted on March 26, 2013

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