Memorial University has dropped the Ode to Newfoundland at its convocation ceremonies due to it not referencing Labrador, and that has sparked a conversation about whether lyrical changes should be made to the province’s anthem.
When asked about whether government would consider changes to the Ode, Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation Minister Steve Crocker says those conversations have not been had, and he was disappointed to learn that MUN had decided to move away from the anthem.
NDP Leader Jim Dinn indicates that he is open to looking at ways to make the song inclusive.
He says he likes the Ode, but perhaps this is an opportunity to update the language a bit to make it more inclusive without changing the meaning behind it.
PC leader Barry Petten gives a simple answer to deal with the issue. “Just add Labrador to the Ode,” says Petten, who notes that Labrador has its own Ode that could be sung as well.
(File Photo courtesy Memorial University.)
Meanwhile, A descendant of the man responsible for writing the “Ode to Newfoundland” is criticizing Memorial University’s decision to omit the ode from its convocation ceremony.
Michael Boyle, owner and operator of Boyle Tours and descendent of Sir Cavendish Boyle, who composed in 1902, calls the decision “harebrained”. He chalks the decision up as an empty gesture, as more impactful changes would cost more money.
He calls it a “fallback position” as changing the school name to include Labrador would cost around $100 million and have to go through the House of Assembly. He says if the school wants to be truly inclusive, they should be on the ground in Labrador communities and offering classes teaching various Indigenous languages.
Boyle says we shouldn’t revise history. He says it’s an anthem that is truly unique and it’s a part of the province’s culture that has endured.
