1967 was Canada's centennial year and this song was played constantly; my family had a copy. I hadn't heard it since the 1970s, but it was still stuck in my brain; I couldn't finish listening to it just now but I didn't really need to.
The Canadian federal government agency responsible for 100th anniversary things, not surprisingly named the Centennial Commission, commissioned "Canada". It hired Bobby Gimby, an orchestra leader and trumpet player, to write it. Naturally, there were lyrics in both official languages, which were sung by Toronto and Montreal school children; the single release had the English version on one side and the French version on the other, though both versions had some of each official language in them. More than 250 Canadian school choirs and bands eventually recorded it.
In 1968, Gimby became one of the first recipients of the Order of Canada, becoming an Officer of the order. In 1971, he donated all future royalties from "Canada" to Scouts Canada.
Created March 5, 2026.