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O Canada, Canada’s national anthem, started life as a patriotic poem written by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier, a Québec judge and esteemed man of letters. The music was composed by Calixa Lavallée, a renowned Canadian composer, and the song was first performed in 1880. While many English versions have emerged over the years, the most widely used version was written in 1908 by R. Stanley Weir, a judge from Hamilton, Ontario.

This remarkable recording was created specifically for the 1976 Olympic Games and was broadcast via satellite to an audience of over two billion people worldwide. It was arranged by Vic Vogel, who was the official music director and conductor of the Montréal Olympics.

Produced by the Government of Canada, the design of the single’s jacket, integrates a booklet that vividly highlights the nation’s cultural heritage and its people through striking imagery. The outer cover features a die-cut maple leaf, offering a glimpse of a stunning sunset over a lake or ocean. On the back, the national anthem’s lyrics are presented in both French and English, framed by the distinctive crests of the 12 provinces and territories of the era.

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