The Story of Canada's Unofficial National Anthem

      “The Maple Leaf Forever,” composed by Alexander Muir was considered Canada’s unofficial National Anthem by past generations. It received second prize in a patriotic song competition sponsored by Montreal's Caledonian Society in 1867. He wrote it while teaching at Leslieville, Toronto. Some say that he got the idea when a maple leaf fell on the coat of George Leslie, a nurseryman with whom he discussed the competition. He did not any received royalties as he did not copyright this song.

     Muir was born in Lesmahagow, Scotland in 1830 and moved to Canada as a child. After obtaining a B.A. from Queen's in 1851, he taught school mostly in the Toronto area. He died on June 26, 1906, while principal of Gladstone Avenue Public School, Toronto. The next morning his students came to school wearing maple leaves. In 1925 the name of the school was changed to Alexander Muir School. Muir is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.  

     Appropriately, the maple leaf appears throughout Alexander Muir Memorial Gardens in various decorative and natural forms.

The Lyrics of  "Maple Leaf Forever"

In Days of yore, from Britain's shore,
Wolfe, the dauntless hero came,
And planted firm Britannia's flag,
On Canada's fair domain.
Here may it wave, our boast, our pride,
And joined in love together,
The thistle, shamrock, rose entwined,
The Maple Leaf forever!

The Maple Leaf, our emblem dear,
The Maple Leaf forever!
God save our Queen, and Heaven bless,
The Maple Leaf forever!

At Queenston Heights and Lundy's Lane,
Our brave fathers, side by side,
For freedom, homes, and loved ones dear,
Firmly stood and nobly died;
And those dear rights which they maintained,
We swear to yield them never!
Our watchword evermore shall be,
The Maple Leaf forever!

The Maple Leaf, our emblem dear,
The Maple Leaf forever!
God save our Queen, and Heaven bless,
The Maple Leaf forever!

Our fair Dominion now extends
From Cape Race to Nootka Sound;
May peace forever be our lot,
And plenteous store abound:
And may those ties of love be ours
Which discord cannot sever,
And flourish green o'er freedom's home
The Maple Leaf forever!

The Maple Leaf, our emblem dear,
The Maple Leaf forever!
God save our Queen, and Heaven bless,
The Maple Leaf forever!