A western Manitoba school division has reinstated “God Save the King” in its morning announcements, adding the royal anthem alongside “O Canada” and land acknowledgments.
The Mountain View School Division, which oversees schools in Dauphin and surrounding areas, made the decision to include the anthem in daily proceedings.
The move marks a return to traditional practices that had largely fallen out of use across Manitoba schools.
The reintroduction of the royal anthem has sparked discussion, with concerns being raised about the level of consultation with parents and educators in the decision-making process.
A stock image of a classroom
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Manitoba legislation mandates that “O Canada” must be played at the start of each school day, with “God Save the King” required at day’s end.
Despite these legal requirements, many school divisions across the province had moved away from playing the royal anthem in recent years.
The practice had not been strictly enforced, leading to a gradual decline in the tradition’s observance throughout Manitoba schools.
Mountain View School Division chair Jason Gryba defended the decision, stating that whilst the legislation had become less prominent over time, the board remains obligated to uphold it as long as it remains valid.
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The move has prompted concerns from educational stakeholders, with organisations representing teachers and school boards questioning the consultation process.
These groups have specifically raised issues about how parents and educators were involved in the decision-making process.
Ottawa only made “O Canada” the country’s official national anthem in 1980, having been adopted as the de facto song in 1939.
“God Save The King”, while still regarded as Canada’s royal anthem, is sung in both English and French.
However, there are concerns that Canada’s support for the monarchy is decreasing.
An 2023 opinion poll conducted by Lord Ashcroft suggested that just 24 per cent of Canadians held a favourable view towards the Crown.
A plurality of respondents, 41 per cent, held an unfavourable view.
However, another 34 per cent were neutral about the Firm.
