Royal Canadian Navy considers dropping traditional marching song over diversity issues (2024)

The Royal Canadian Navy is coming under fire for steering away from its official march, Heart of Oak, because the centuries-old anthem contains references to colonialism and slavery, and doesn’t represent everyone who wears the uniform, including women and Francophones.

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“The Heart of Oak was written in 1759,” said Defence Minister Bill Blair, who took questions about ditching the British march Friday at the Halifax International Security Forum.

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“I think it is a tradition and we’re not necessarily saying that we abandon all tradition. But I think the new Royal Canadian Navy has a right to choose its own path forward and I would certainly support that.”

Blair said he’s “seen people trying to suggest that this is part of some other agenda. Quite frankly, I think that’s nonsense. I think the Royal Canadian Navy has every right to continue to advance and modernize, and if they want to have an anthem that’s appropriate for them and theirs alone, how can we say no?”

When asked if a more modern march could help the navy’s recruiting efforts, Blair said, “Canada’s a diverse country. We need great people in the Canadian Armed Forces. And great people, for us, includes great women, great Indigenous candidates — great diverse Canadians are all part of what makes a great and strong Canadian Armed Forces.”

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre took to social media Friday to criticize the navy’s decision to tack away from Heart of Oak.

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“More woke nonsense erasing Canada’s proud military history and traditions,” Poilievre said on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Meanwhile NDP-Liberals have been asleep at the switch refusing to supply our armed forces with the equipment and supplies they need to defend Canada at home and abroad. When I’m Prime Minister, we will have a warrior culture, not a woke culture.”

The song has raised concerns “within the ranks of the Royal Canadian Navy,” national defence spokeswoman Andrée-Anne Poulin said in an email.

“First performed in 1760, ‘Heart of Oak’ contains language that does not align with values and ethos of today’s Royal Canadian Navy or the broader Canadian Armed Forces. Specifically, it includes references to colonialism and slavery, and language that is not representative of all those who serve in today’s Navy.”

Plus, the march doesn’t have Canadian roots, she said. “It was adopted early in the Royal Canadian Navy’s history from the Royal Navy. In the 114 years since Canada created its own naval service, sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy have forged a tremendous legacy of selfless service, a tradition that today’s sailors proudly continue. As such, it is time for the Royal Canadian Navy to have a march that is unique — that recognizes Canadian traditions of naval service and speaks to today’s Navy and its sailors — one that every sailor can be proud of and rally around.”

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Heart of Oak’s ship hasn’t sailed just yet.

While efforts have been “launched to examine the possibility of changing the official march for the Royal Canadian Navy to bring it more in line with the realities of today’s naval service, while looking forward to the future,” Poulin said, no decision has been made yet to change it.

“The matter remains under consideration at this time, and more information will be made available once a way ahead has been finalized.”

For some naval watchers, veering away from Heart of Oak isn’t a bad idea.

The Canadian navy used to have “a cultural loyalty to all things British,” said defence analyst Ken Hansen, a former Canadian naval commander.

“They sent their students to the U.K. to get their advanced training, they listened to British music and their uniforms were British.”

If the song is replaced, it needs to be done with something that’s “more relevant and appealing,” Hansen said.

He doubts changing it is at the top of the navy’s to-do list.

“If that’s where they’re focusing their attention, then I’m concerned about their priorities,” Hansen said.

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Paul Adamthwaite, a Canadian naval historian and former Brit who served 22 years in the Royal Navy, said he doesn’t disagree with diversity.

“But there is something that is called tradition, and navies rely on tradition,” Adamthwaite said.

“We rely on past experience to be able to be a fighting force if and when needed by the country.”

Canada’s navy was launched in 1910 with “two clapped-out old ships from Britain,” he said.

“By the end of World War II, we had the third largest navy in the world and there was some pride in it — absolute pride,” said Adamthwaite, executive director of the Naval Marine Archive in Picton, Ont.

He doubts many in uniform know the lyrics to Heart of Oak.

“If you ask any sailor in the Royal Navy or the Royal Canadian Navy what the words are, I bet you won’t find one in 50 who knows the words,” Adamthwaite said.

“I can understand that, for diversity reasons, there is some wording that is not politically correct today. But it’s not insulting. It is traditional.”

While the lyrics to Heart of Oak might have to change, the navy should keep the tune, he said. “There is nothing politically incorrect about the music.”

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Canada can’t “build a new navy without building on the old,” Adamthwaite said.

Heart of Oak lyrics

Come, cheer up, my lads, ’tis to glory we steer,
To add something new to this wonderful year;
To honour we call you, not press you like slaves,
For who are so free as the sons of the waves?

Chorus:
Heart of Oak are our ships,
Jolly Tars are our men,
We always are ready: Steady, boys, steady!
We’ll fight and we’ll conquer again and again

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