Canada, We Stand On Guard
O Canada, was declared the country’s official national anthem on July 1, 1980. But few of us remember its history or its original lyrics. Most Canadians do not know more than the first stanza. The English words were written in 1908 by Robert Stanley Weir, a lawyer from Montreal. The French lyrics, not a translation of the English, were originally written by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier, later a chief justice of Quebec. The music was also written by a native of Quebec, Calixa Lavallée.
O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love thou dost in us command.
We see thee rising fair, dear land,
The True North, strong and free;
And stand on guard, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
(Refrain)
O Canada! O Canada!
O Canada! We stand on guard for thee,
O Canada! We stand on guard for thee.
O Canada! Where pines and maples grow,
Great prairies spread and lordly rivers flow,
How dear to us thy broad domain,
From East to Western sea!
Thou land of hope for all who toil!
Thou True North, strong and free!
(Refrain)
O Canada! Beneath thy shining skies
May stalwart sons and gentle maidens rise,
To keep thee steadfast through the years
From East to Western sea,
Our own beloved native land,
Our True North, strong and free!
(Refrain)
Ruler Supreme, Who hearest humble prayer,
Hold our dominion within Thy loving care.
Help us to find, O God, in Thee
A lasting, rich reward,
As waiting for the Better Day,
We ever stand on guard.
(Refrain)
As believers, we pray for God’s mercy on our country and that our friends and neighbours would experience the love and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ! Part of the Fellowship’s vision is wrapped up in FAIR’s commitment to projects and partnerships in Canada that help people in Canada and around the world experience this deep love of Jesus, his healing care and hope for the future.
International Justice Mission Canada is a global organization defending the most vulnerable, bringing criminals who deal in human trafficking to justice, and restoring survivors. IJM provides our Fellowship churches with educational programs and resources that will inform their congregations and stimulate them to engage in seeking justice for the poor and vulnerable both in Canada and abroad.
BridgeNorth is a Toronto-based organization dedicated to restoring sexually exploited women and girls by providing services and mentorship, by educating and training the public and by advocating for the abused in our own society. It was founded and led by a survivor.
Pregnancy Care Canada is dedicated to equipping pregnancy care centres and communities with the resources needed to support those who find themselves facing an unexpected pregnancy. FAIR’s partnership aims to provide resources for Fellowship churches so that they are equipped to support their communities in helping pregnant mothers in need.