Ontario Minister Condemns High School for Playing ‘O Canada’ in Arabic on Anniversary of Hamas Attack

Ontario MPP Paul Calandra speaks during question period at Queen's Park in Toronto on May 13, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

Ontario’s minister of education has condemned a Toronto-area high school after the Canadian national anthem was played in Arabic on Oct. 7, the anniversary of the Hamas attack in Israel.

Education Minister Paul Calandra said he was disappointed that the school chose to play “O Canada” in Arabic on the two-year anniversary of Hamas’ deadly attack that left approximately 1,200 people dead.

“It is hard to believe that no one recognized the significance of this day, where the world recognizes the anniversary of the worst terrorist attack perpetrated against the Jewish people since the Holocaust,” Calandra said in an Oct. 7 X post.

The federal National Anthem Act allows “O Canada” to be played only in English or French, Calandra noted.

“I am disappointed that I would have to direct that school boards demonstrate appropriate respect for our National Anthem by ensuring that it is played only in its official form,” he added. “If school boards choose not to respect our national symbols and federal legislation, then I will take action.”

Calandra refrained from identifying the school. Former Ontario MP Kevin Vuong said the incident occurred at Earl Haig Secondary School in North York, a borough of Toronto.

“Someone at Earl Haig Secondary School thought today was the day to play our  national anthem in Arabic,” he said in an Oct. 7 X post.

Vuong said the decision was “at best, insensitive, and more likely intentionally meant to cause distress and harm to Jewish Toronto District School Board students.”

The Epoch Times contacted the school and the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) for comment but did not hear back by publication time.

The school’s website indicates there is a Jewish Students Union at the high school.

The school board has previously faced criticism regarding messaging on the Israel-Hamas war after students were taken to a pro-Palestinian protest as part of a field trip last September.

Parents were told the trip to Grange Park in Toronto was to learn more about the Grassy Narrows First Nation’s struggle with mercury contamination caused by industry, while students were seen in social media videos marching alongside pro-Palestine protesters.

Then-Education Minister Jill Dunlop ordered the school board to investigate the incident.

The board said in a statement it was “prioritizing” its investigation into the trip and issued an apology to parents.

The minister of education also launched an investigation into the TDSB’s field trip policies, procedures, and practices, which resulted in a report being released in December 2024. 

The report concluded that the school board failed to comply with its own field trip policies and procedures, but said there was no evidence students were forced to participate in the political protest. The report said the school board should not engage in excursions where there may be one-sided political views presented, and recommended having a coordinated approach for multi-school field trips.