Ottawa principal apologizes for playing Arabic song during Remembrance Day ceremony

An Ottawa high school principal has apologized for playing an Arabic song about peace during a Remembrance Day ceremony after facing swift backlash from critics calling it inappropriate and hurtful to members of the Jewish community.

During the ceremony at Sir Robert Borden High School, located on Greenbank Road, on Monday, school officials included a song titled “Haza Salam,” in the program.

In a letter issued Tuesday, the school’s principal Aaron Hobbs said the intention “was to foster a message of peace and remembrance, reflecting on the importance of unity and reconciliation,” but that he has since become aware the song “caused significant distress to some members of our school community.”

“For this, I would like to offer my apologies,” he said.

The song title, when translated to English, roughly means “This Is Peace.” Many comments on multiple Youtube videos of the song, speak of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the suffering of Palestinians, though the song itself makes no mention of the conflict in the Middle East.

“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,” wrote Hobbs.

Criticism from Jewish community, politicians

Criticism has extended well-beyond those in the public school board.

In a statement issued over social media, the Jewish Federation of Ottawa said it was “deeply concerned” over the use of the song during the ceremony.

It said including a song which is associated with one side of a divisive foreign conflict “reflects poor judgment for a public-school setting.”

Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod, an outspoken supporter of Israel and its actions during the conflict, shared her own reaction on social media, claiming the service “did not follow the Royal Canadian Legion protocol and also distressed all of the Jewish students.”

She said she also requested the school take disciplinary measures.

“What an absolute disgrace that so many woke activists and authorities used Remembrance Day to push their divisive and radical causes,” wrote Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre on X, though he didn’t make any specific mention of the ceremony at the Ottawa high school.

Sean Bruyea, a veteran who served in the Gulf War and an advocate for veterans with disabilities called it “one of the most profoundly shocking incidents” he’s ever heard involving a Remembrance Day ceremony.

The inclusion of that song does nothing to educate the sacrifices made by Canadian veterans, he said, and goes against why many serve in the military — to ensure that the conflicts overseas “are not manifested on our own soil.”

School board investigating

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board released a statement, confirming it was conducting an investigation into the incident. 

“In order to ensure the integrity of the investigation, we will not be commenting further on this matter until the investigation is complete,” wrote general manager of communications Diane Pernari.

However, several human rights advocacy groups are now condemning the backlash, calling it anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab.

“Just because the language is Arabic?” asked Jamila Ewais, a researcher with the Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East’s anti-racism program. “What if someone was singing this language, let’s say this song or like a similar song in, I don’t know German or Ukrainian language?”  

The Muslim Advisory Council of Canada said it was also in touch with the OCDSB, and shared its own statement over social media condemning criticism of the song’s use during the ceremony.

“Comments like these create an unsafe environment, making it harder for Muslims to freely practice their faith and celebrate their identity,” it said.

“Schools and public spaces must be welcoming environments for all, where diversity is respected and celebrated.”