Groups ready for new anthem lyrics

School districts, a police department and the National Hockey League are just some of the groups preparing for the new gender-neutral lyrics of O Canada, which could get Rideau Hall’s seal of approval just in time for Friday’s start of the Winter Olympics in South Korea.

Once the legislation changing the lyrics receives royal assent from Governor General Julie Payette, it will be the first time the official wording has been altered since the song was enshrined as the country’s national anthem in 1980.

The update applies only to the English version and will see the second line “in all thy sons command” replaced with the gender-neutral “in all of us command.”

Ryan Bird, a spokesman for the Toronto District School Board, said once the change is official, schools will be notified to explain the updated lyrics, and to encourage them to either record or obtain recordings of the new version at their earliest convenience.

David Nelson, associate superintendent of the Vancouver School Board, said his school district will also adopt the new lyrics once they are officially changed.

Toronto police occasionally stand for the national anthem before official events, said spokesman Mark Pugash, adding the force “has a plan” to make sure the new lyrics are observed.

The Canadian Olympic Committee has asked athletes competing in the Winter Olympics to use the new wording.

National Hockey League spokesman Gary Meagher said adjustments will be made once the new lyrics become official.

Heritage Minister Melanie Joly said the she is “extremely proud” of the new wording.

“We think that as a progressive country this is great news,” she said.

A spokesman for Joly later said the bill would likely receive royal assent by the end of the week.