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Flag of Canada The Canadian Parliament approved the country's national flag, the Maple Leaf Flag, in 1964, and it became official by royal proclamation on February 15, 1965.

O Canada

Canadian national anthem
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Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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Top Questions

When did “O Canada” become the official national anthem of Canada?

Who composed the music for “O Canada”?

Who wrote the original French lyrics for “O Canada”?

Who wrote the English lyrics for “O Canada”?

What is the royal anthem of Canada?

Instrumental version of the Canadian national anthemThe instrumental version of the Canadian national anthem, “O Canada.”

O Canada, national anthem of Canada. It was proclaimed the official national anthem on July 1, 1980. “God Save the King” remains the royal anthem of Canada.

The music, written by Calixa LavallĂ©e (1842–91), a concert pianist and native of VerchĂšres, Quebec, was commissioned in 1880 on the occasion of a visit to Quebec by John Douglas Sutherland Campbell, marquess of Lorne (later 9th duke of Argyll), then governor-general of Canada, and his wife, Queen Victoria’s daughter Princess Louise. The original French lyrics were written by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier (1839–1920), later chief justice of Quebec. The English lyrics, which are not a translation or rendering of the French, were written in 1908 by Robert Stanley Weir (1856–1926), a lawyer and recorder of Montreal.

Original lyrics

English lyrics by Robert Stanley Weir

O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love thou dost in us command.
We see thee rising fair, dear land,
The True North, strong and free;
And stand on guard, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.


(Refrain)
O Canada! O Canada!
O Canada! We stand on guard for thee,
O Canada! We stand on guard for thee.


O Canada! Where pines and maples grow,
Great prairies spread and lordly rivers flow,
How dear to us thy broad domain,
From East to Western sea!
Thou land of hope for all who toil!
Thou True North, strong and free!


(Refrain)


O Canada! Beneath thy shining skies
May stalwart sons and gentle maidens rise,
To keep thee steadfast through the years
From East to Western sea,
Our own beloved native land,
Our True North, strong and free!


(Refrain)


Ruler Supreme, Who hearest humble prayer,
Hold our dominion within Thy loving care.
Help us to find, O God, in Thee
A lasting, rich reward,
As waiting for the Better Day,
We ever stand on guard.


(Refrain)


French lyrics by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier

O Canada! Terre de nos aĂŻeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!
Car ton bras sait porter l’épĂ©e,
Il sait porter la croix!


Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits.
Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,


Protégera nos foyers et nos droits,
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.


Sous l’oeil de Dieu, prĂšs du fleuve gĂ©ant,
Le Canadien grandit en espérant.
Il est nĂ© d’une race fiĂšre,
BĂ©ni fut son berceau:
Le ciel a marqué sa carriÚre
Dans ce monde nouveau.
Toujours guidé par sa lumiÚre,
Il gardera l’honneur de son drapeau,
Il gardera l’honneur de son drapeau.


De son patron, précurseur du vrai Dieu,
Il porte au front l’aurĂ©ole de feu.
Ennemi de la tyrannie
Mais plein de loyauté.
Il veut garder dans l’harmonie,
Sa fiÚre liberté;
Et par l’effort de son gĂ©nie,
Sur notre sol asseoir la vérité,
Sur notre sol asseoir la vérité.


Amour sacrĂ© du trĂŽne et de l’autel,
Remplis nos coeurs de ton souffle immortel!
Parmi les races Ă©trangĂšres,
Notre guide est la loi;
Sachons ĂȘtre un peuple de frĂšres,
Sous le joug de la foi.
Et répétons, comme nos pÚres,
Le cri vainqueur: “Pour le Christ et le roi,”
Le cri vainqueur: “Pour le Christ et le roi.”


Official lyrics of “O Canada”

English lyrics

O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all of us 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.


* The change from the original English words “thou dost in us command” to “in all thy sons command” first occurred in 1913, and it became something of a controversy beginning in the late 20th century. After decades of debate, the lyrics were officially changed in 2018 to gender-neutral language: “in all of us command.”

French lyrics

Ô Canada! Terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!


Car ton bras sait porter l’épĂ©e,
Il sait porter la croix!


Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits.


Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.


Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.


The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Michael Ray.