Punjabi-English anthem to make Jets game History Night in Canada

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This article was published 15/12/2023 (679 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Saturday night at Canada Life Centre… the surging Winnipeg Jets taking on first-place Colorado Avalanche… historic.

And that’s before the puck is dropped.

For the first time at any National Hockey League game, or any other professional sporting event, for that matter, a Punjabi-English bilingual version of O Canada will be performed.

The kindergarten-to-Grade 8 choir from Amber Trails School — first in the province with a Punjabi-English bilingual program — are providing the vocals.

“It will be pretty cool,” one of those voices, belonging to 12-year-old Grade 7 student Prabhleen Koor, says.

“It is very nice that I can sing in my language and with my friends. I am proud of it. We’ve been practising for a while; I think we sound pretty good.”

“It is very nice that I can sing in my language and with my friends. I am proud of it. We’ve been practising for a while; I think we sound pretty good.”–student Prabhleen Koor

Sehej Wahrah is more a fan of basketball than hockey, but he’s looking forward to the experience.

“I think it is really good,” says the 12 year old. “I’m ready to sing.”

It’s all happening during the Jets’ second South Asian Heritage Night.

Ganni Maan, a season-ticket holder who volunteers with the hockey club’s parent company True North as ambassador for the South Asian community, helped plan the event which, in addition to the anthem, will feature food, music, dance and art that puts a spotlight on the people and their culture.

After English and French, Punjabi is now the third most-spoken language in Canada, Maan says.

“This is a historic moment for Canada to have a bilingual anthem in both English and Punjabi,” he says. “The fact it is in Winnipeg… is really something.

“This is a historic moment for Canada to have a bilingual anthem in both English and Punjab. The fact it is in Winnipeg… is really something.”–Ganni Maan

“When the news broke earlier this year that Amber Trails was starting a bilingual program, it only seemed natural to invite them to take this step and make a statement on inclusion.”

Seven Oaks School Division superintendent Tony Kreml is thrilled to have students participate.

“What an honour it is… teachers, administration, and students are really excited about this. I just want to acknowledge True North for providing the platform.”

“It is of course a historical moment for the community. It is a proud moment.”–principal Navjeet Kambo

There are 850 K-8 students enrolled at Amber Trails, which currently offers Punjabi-English bilingual programs in kindergarten and Grade 1. The school intends to add another grade to the program each year.

“It is of course a historical moment for the community,” says principal Navjeet Kambo, who is attending the game with staff members.

“It is a proud moment.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca