The principal of an Ottawa high school is apologizing to students, parents and guardians after an Arabic-language song was played during the school’s Remembrance Day service.
The assembly for students and staff at Sir Robert Borden High School on Monday included the song ‘Haza Salam’ being played.
“It has come to my attention that the inclusion of the song ‘Haza Salam’ in the program caused significant distress to some members of our school community,” principal Aaron Hobbs said in a letter to Sir Robert Borden families Monday evening. “For this, I would like to offer my apologies.”
‘Haza Salam’ translates in English to “This is Peace.” On YouTube, there are several different versions of the song ‘Haza Salam’ and it has become a song to oppose the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
“Our intention during the ceremony was to foster a message of peace and remembrance, reflecting on the importance of unity and reconciliation,” Hobbs says. “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.”
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board says on its website that schools host their own Remembrance Day ceremonies with student and staff participation, which include guest speakers and members of the community.
Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod says the school did not follow the Royal Canadian Legion protocol for Remembrance Day services. In a social media post, MacLeod said she spoke with the OCDSB Director of Education Pino Buffone and, “shared my anger, disappointment and honestly utter confusion on how Remembrance Day at a school whose namesake was PM in WW1 could get this so wrong.”
Hobbs says the school will “learn from this experience and strive to do better.”
“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,” Hobbs said, adding “I apologize to anyone who was hurt or offended.”
“I want to reassure the entire school community that we are taking this matter seriously. We will be reviewing our procedures for selecting music and other content for future ceremonies, ensuring that all decisions are made with the utmost sensitivity and respect for the diverse backgrounds of our students. Our goal is always to bring the community together, and we recognize that we missed the mark this time.”