God Save the King returns to Manitoba school board amid controversy

A Manitoba school board’s decision to reintroduce the royal anthem "God Save the King" to its schools has been drumming up mixed reactions from parents, students and staff.

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A Manitoba school board’s decision to reintroduce the royal anthem "God Save the King" to its schools has been drumming up mixed reactions from parents, students and staff.

The decision was made by Mountain View School Division, which represents 16 schools in and around Dauphin, Man., despite the majority of trustees within the division voting to pause the plan for its return last month.

“Technically, God Save the King is not being brought back, but the board will fulfil its legislative duty to have it in schools, as required by the School Patriotic Observance Regulations,” MVSD board chairman Jason Gryba told True North.

“This only came to attention recently when concerns were raised about O Canada not being played as the first announcement of the school day, which is also a regulated requirement.”

However, board trustee Scott Lynxleg, who is from the Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Reserve, feels its return will hurt the school’s Indigenous community.

"I thought we could work together as a board of trustees, but it hasn't been happening so I would like some more support from the government," Lynxleg told CTV News.

According to Gryba, board members must “swear allegiance to King Charles III, further highlighting the role of the Crown in public education governance.”

Gyro went on to say that “understanding these historical and legal foundations is an important aspect of civic education” and that acknowledging such regulations is “not about making a political statement.”

Instead, it’s about ensuring legislative compliance to better foster student’s understanding of Canada’s constitutional foundations.

Its reintroduction was predicated on an often overlooked provincial regulation which requires O Canada to be played at the start of the school day, followed by God Save the King at the end of the day.

The practice went forgotten for decades with the Manitoba School Boards Association confirming that no other school boards have continued the tradition to their knowledge.

The song is considered a royal anthem in some Commonwealth nations and by some an ode to colonization.

Manitoba Education Minister Tracy Schmidt said that if a school division opts not to play it, they will not have to worry about any legal repercussions under the Public Schools Act.

Schmidt said the regulation is akin to reciting the Lord's Prayer, which is also required under legislation but has since been ruled unconstitutional by the courts.

“While this has been met with mixed reactions, most of the general public does not understand that this is a legal requirement of our board. Not a choice or decision that was made,” said Gryba.