Wrote the English lyrics for O Canada

Born: 15 November 1856 in Hamilton, Ontario
Died: 20 August 1926 at Lac Memphremagog, Quebec

Robert Stanley Weir studied at McGill University and practiced law in Montreal until 1899. He was then appointed a municipal court judge and was considered an expert on the historical aspects of municipal law. From 1903-1910, Weir represented Argenteuil in the Quebec legislature and in 1923, he became a member of the Royal Society of Canada.

While serving as Recorder of the City of Montreal in 1908, Weir wrote a poem to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City. This version of "O Canada" was widely accepted and in 1927, it was authorized for use in schools and at public functions.

On 1 July 1980, a slightly modified version of the first verse of Weir's poem was officially made Canada's national anthem.

Official lyrics for "O Canada":

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

French translation of the English lyrics:

O Canada, notre patrie et pays natal
Objet de l'amour patriotique de tous tes fils
Le coeur heureux, nous te regardons grandir
Pays du nord, puissant et libre
De loin et de partout, O Canada
Nous sommes prêts à tout pour toi
Dieu garde notre patrie glorieuse et libre
O Canada, nous sommes prêts à tout pour toi
O Canada, nous sommes prêts à tout pour toi.

Original poem by Weir:

O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North, strong and free!
And stand on guard, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.

Refrain
O Canada, glorious and free!
We stand on guard, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!

O Canada! Where pines and maples grow.
Great prairies spread and lordly rivers flow.
How dear to us thy broad domain,
From East to Western Sea,
Thou land of hope for all who toil!
Thou True North, strong and free!

Refrain
O Canada, glorious and free! etc.

O Canada! Beneath thy shining skies
May stalwart sons and gentle maidens rise,
To keep thee steadfast through the years
From East to Western Sea,
Our own beloved native land!
Our True North, strong and free!

Refrain
O Canada, glorious and free! etc.

Ruler supreme, who hearest humble prayer,
Hold our dominion within thy loving care;
Help us to find, O God, in thee
A lasting, rich reward,
As waiting for the Better Day,
We ever stand on guard.

Refrain
O Canada, glorious and free! etc

See also:

Calixa Lavallee
Adolphe-Basile Routhier

Sources include:

Kearney, Mark, and Randy Ray. The Great Canadian Trivia Book. Toronto: Hounslow Press, 1996.

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