TORONTO – The Toronto Catholic District School Board voted 7-3 in favour of having its students sing O’ Canada without the music at a meeting Thursday night.
Angela Kennedy, a school trustee with the Toronto Catholic District School Board, put forward a proposal to the school board last week that may force students in schools across Toronto to sing the national anthem a capella.
“Students should sing. It’s one of the freedoms we enjoy living in this great country, and we should encourage and model this outward sign of patriotism,” said Kennedy.
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Currently, students across Toronto are required to sing along with a recorded version of the song – something Kennedy says doesn’t always happen.
“I have attended events where a crowd of people just stand there and don’t sing it is embarrassing,” said Kennedy.
Kennedy says that she has been trying for years to make students take part in this “outward sign of patriotism,” and actually sing the song that was made our national anthem in 1980.
“I have tried for the last 5 years to bring a change in the culture and finally decided that the only way was with a policy change brought about by the board. So I hope the trustees will approve my motion to change the regulations,” said Kennedy.
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