April 2026
Yesterday was Roger Doucet's birthday and I came across this.
Join us in raising a glass to Quebec tenor Roger Doucet.
Born on April 21, 1919, his soaring renditions of “O Canada” became legendary at Montreal Canadiens, Alouettes, and Expos games—especially his bilingual version, beginning in French and ending in English, celebrating Canada’s two official languages.
Watch him light up the Montreal Forum in Norma Bailey’s CANADA VIGNETTES: THE PERFORMER → bit.ly/3GqyTfi
Roger Doucet CM (21 April 1919 – 19 July 1981) was a Canadian tenor best known for singing the Canadian national anthem, "O Canada", at televised games of the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Alouettes, and Montreal Expos during the 1970s. He was particularly known for his bilingual version of the anthem, which began in French and ended in English, in recognition of the two languages of Canada.
Doucet also changed the way Canadians sing their anthem. Before Doucet, the final "we stand on guard for Thee" was universally sung the way it was written: fa-mi-re-soh-ti-doh, with the 'ti' and the 'doh' falling. Doucet sang the final 'ti-doh' by raising these notes an octave above their traditional pitch. The audience of CBC's Hockey Night in Canada was so vast, and his rendition so powerful, that within a few years Doucet's version became—and remains — the accepted way to conclude O Canada.
These lyrics were modified in 2018, when legislation was passed to change the English lyrics. The line “True patriot love in all thy sons command” was changed to “True patriot love in all of us command,” in order to make the lyrics gender neutral.
Fun little fact, John and I both worked with his wife, Geraldine, at the Bank of Montreal, in Montreal.
Which then lead me to other clips.
Oh yes, I remember Roger Doucet well and his epic renditions of "O Canada." I didn't know he had his own Canada Vignette though -- I enjoyed watching it. Cool that you both worked with his wife at BMO!
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