For many years, the Calgary Stampede has presented a bilingual anthem to the Grandstand audience prior to the Evening Show.
This year, on the Thursday and Friday evening, we attempted a non-traditional version of the bilingual anthem, with a choir singing along to a recording of themselves. The arrangement was a little more complex and non-traditional. We had some feedback that guests didn’t like it. It just wasn’t the traditional arrangement that they expected!
So Saturday morning – on what was a busy day – we quickly re-recorded a hurry-up traditional version and being limited by time, we did an English only version. This was presented Saturday, Sunday and Monday evenings.
We’re working hard to bring back the traditional bilingual anthem as early as tonight.
We tried to do something new and sometimes new works and sometimes it doesn’t. Our guests told us they liked the traditional version. So our learning is that we shouldn’t have altered the traditional arrangement in the first place. As a national icon, we are pleased to get back to our traditional bilingual version!
We appreciate the patience of our guests – we certainly we didn’t mean to offend anyone and we’re sorry if we did.
As long as the english version is preformed,nothing else matters.
Thank you for restoring the traditional version of our National Anthem at the Calgary stampede. I think that it is important to remember that we have two official languages in Canada and citizens may sing whatever version they know and like.
Hello/bonjour
We have two official languages in Canada and also many tourists that visit the Stampede who would appreciate a bilingual version….
Yes, we have two official languages in Canada, except of course in Quebec. There is no English requirement in that province, it is French only by law. The Calgary Stampede is a city of Calgary event and in the province of Alberta. Since when has Alberta become an officially bilingual province? I thought that distinction belonged only to New Brunswick. No apology should be necessary to anyone.
Orlin Olsen
Winnipeg
It is time that we understand that Official Bilingualism is a policy only legislated at the Federal government level and also in the province of New Brunswick. Quebec is unilingual French and if English-speaking Rest (Most) of Canada has ANY pride at all, we would stand up and say, “As long as Quebec rejects Official Bilingualism, we should too!!!” Do not apologize, do not kow-tow to the minority French when they refuse to respect the majority English-speakers of Canada!!!
STOP !!!
Please just STOP…
I am SO FED UP with hearing this phrase, “Canada is a bilingual country.”
The only people who are pushing Canada to be bilingual country is the French.
And that is only so that they can have their language EVERYWHERE across the country.
Go to the “province” of Quebec and see how bilingual it is there.
English is practically considered a disease there in that “province.”
You would be lucky to get a bilingual menu at a restaurant.
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Funny how they don’t seem to think it is a good idea to be bilingual in “that province.”
As a matter of fact they have passed several laws making English practically an obsolete disease.
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Whatever the reasons why they have done this can be (and perhaps SHOULD BE) debated but, it’s certainly not unusual for them to have no problem saying things like, “we don’t want English here”
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OR
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Quebec is a French ONLY “province.”
And think nothing of saying such things. No worries about offending anyone.
As a matter of fact when they sing “the national anthem” it is NOT — Oh, Canada –
and the only time you see a Canadian flag in that “province” is on government buildings and even then, it is often removed.
Calgary should play the Canadian anthem in ENGLISH ONLY and be proud for doing so, just as they are proud in the “province” of Quebec for playing whatever it is they play which they call their national anthem.
Why in heck would you bend to the French language for the sake of a few who were dissappointed with no bilingual anthem? Here in Ontario when the dual language anthem is played to a mostly English crowd no one can sing along and hence you can feel the pride being zapped out of the crowd. This is Calgary and luckily a thousand miles away from what we in Eastern Ontario are facing – the government pretending the language is equal when in fact 4% of all of Canada is French only speaking. What about the aboriginals and other ethnic communities that far out number the turkeys who are pushing the fraud of bilingualism. WAKE UP CALGARY STAMPEDE AND THE REST OF CANADA.
Hello, The Rest of Canada (outside of Quebec) is clearly and overwhelmingly English, at fully 97% of the population in Canada. This is an astronomically huge figure. If, you factor Quebec into the equation then the English majority is a respectable 80% of all Canadians!
When in Rome…do as the Roman’s do, as they say. Would you be insulted or upset, if in Italy you heard Italian???
It makes perfect business sense to cater to your target market…the English majority!!!
I had not realized that Alberta was a bilingual province .
If it where to show respect for our nation’s bilingual status ,I would beg to differ that Quebec would do the same ,in fact it would be hard to find a Canadian flag flown other then federal buildings.
We have 2 sets of standards in this country-one for Quebec another for the rest of Canada .
Quebec does not repect bilingualism-one laguage only -yet expects the rest of Canada to abide by it.
The question is if Quebec does not agree with bilingualism why should the rest of Canada?
Canadians need to bring about democracy and vote as a population for the need for bilingualism.
We need to have a referendum to solve this,and let the people decide rather then a PARTY!
Regards
Christopher Cameron RN
Dear Editor:
The fabulous entertainment and excitement during the three days we were in attendance at the 2012 Calgary Stampede is truly impossible to describe. The courtesy and assistance of Stampede Officials and hundreds of volunteers made it possible for our family to physically enjoy the maximum time available.
We met and talked with many Canadians from all provinces. The display of pride, enthusiasm and enjoyment was shown by men, women and children wearing cowboy hats, including women of Middle East Ancestry. This one physical act established a common bond and sent a clear message, “We are All Canadians, here to have fun.”
Was everyone happy? The sad news is Quebec is complaining, which is nothing new to the majority of Canadians. The complaint this time is that before the chuck wagon races, due to technical difficulties, a French language verse of O’Canada was omitted. Quebec passed Bill 101, declaring French as their One Official Language. This law brings into question why the rest of Canada continues with Official Bilingualism, which adds hundreds of billions of dollars of expense to our governments and business?
We heard many Canadians of Asian, Australian, European and Middle East Ancestry speaking in their native languages. We also had the pleasure of speaking in English with these same Canadians, establishing a common bond. This is a clear indication that we are a Country of many languages and English is the major bond that keeps Canada united and strong.
Learning a second language should be encouraged but Official Bilingualism encourages separation, is very costly and weakens Canada.
Ken Kellington,
566 Kananaskis Place,
Devon, Alberta. Tel: 780-832-8522
T9G 2C9. E-mail: kellingtonkl@gmail.com