Outrage over Sir Robert Borden High School playing of peace for Gaza song at Remembrance Day ceremony

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Ottawa-Carleton District School Board trustee Nili Kaplan-Myrth is furious about the “very much political and very much divisive” decision to play an Arabic-language Gaza peace song at a Remembrance Day ceremony at Sir Robert Borden High School on Monday.

She said Tuesday that a “hollow apology” offered after the fact wasn’t enough and that further disciplinary action was necessary.

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The song, Haza Salam, was the only music chosen for the ceremony, which also showed images of Canadian military members along with printed messages. The music is often used as a protest song against Israel.

Late Monday, principal Aaron Hobbs delivered a message of regret in a letter emailed to parents.

“Our intention during the ceremony was to foster a message of peace and remembrance, reflecting on the importance of unity and reconciliation,” Hobbs wrote.

“However, we recognize that the song chosen — while intended to highlight themes of peace — also inadvertently caused offence and discomfort to some students, and for that we regret our choice. We acknowledge that Remembrance Day is a solemn occasion, where the focus should remain on honouring those who have sacrificed their lives for the freedoms we hold dear. The inclusion of a song that could be seen as politically charged was not in line with the values of respect and unity that we strive to uphold at this school.”

That was not enough for Kaplan-Myrth. She asked OCDSB education director Pino Buffone for a detailed explanation for who was responsible, but as of late Tuesday afternoon had not received a response.

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“The people writing to the school board now are the families of those who fought in wars, the grandparents and great grandparents of the students and younger veterans,” Kaplan-Myrth said. “They are upset. They feel disrespected. And the Jewish community is also upset.”

Sir Robert Borden has also been the site of previous anti-Semitic incidents. In 2022, two Jewish students alleged they walked into a room in the high school and were greeted by students using a German accent and offering a Nazi salute. A swastika was also on the floor.

Kaplan-Mirth said the musical decision also ran counter to the OCDSB policy to steer clear of taking political stances on any and all issues.

“There is no excuse for this, playing one song at a Remembrance Day ceremony and it’s a song about Gaza? How many times and how many ways can you hurt the Jewish community? Somebody made a choice and there’s no place where this is an appropriate choice for Remembrance Day,” she said. “What if there was a Russian peace song or a Chinese peace song or an Israel peace song? None of that would be OK.”

The Jewish Federation of Ottawa said it was also “deeply concerned” about the ceremony.

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“It is a day to pause, reflect and honour our Canadian heritage and the sacrifices made to uphold our values and freedom,” the organization said in a release. “Including a song associated with one side of an ongoing foreign conflict, especially one currently contributing to division and tension in our communities, reflects poor judgment for a public school setting.”

Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod has also been outspoken in asking for Hobbs to be further disciplined.

In a statement Tuesday afternoon, the OCDSB said it was “conducting a thorough investigation” to address the issue appropriately.

“Student well-being is our priority, and we are committed to ensuring a safe and supportive learning environment for all students,” the board’s statement said. “In order to ensure the integrity of the investigation, we will not be commenting further on this matter until the investigation is complete.”

Sir Robert Borden’s decision to issue an apology to parents doesn’t sit well with the Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, a non-profit organization dedicated to help Canadians recognize human rights in this country and internationally.

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“The selective outrage and swift backlash reveal a troubling double-standard that unfairly targets Palestinian and Arabic cultural expression, framing it as inherently controversial or politically charged,” Jamila Ewais, a lead researcher for the association’s anti-racism program, said in a statement.

“Such responses reveal an underlying bias that labels Arabic expression as inappropriate in spaces intended to promote inclusivity and unity.”

— With files from National Post

kwarren@postmedia.com

X: Citizenkwarren

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