May 28, 2015 · 0 Comments
Ward 1 Councillor, Marc Biss, and his son Myles, carry the Canadian flag at the Museum on the Boyne last Friday in honour of a recent motion Biss put forth to council. Biss is asking that the Canadian national anthem, O Canada, be sung before each council meeting. Biss says that it’s important to include patriotism in council, because the creation of municipal law has an outward effect on the country. “We are not just representing the people of New Tecumseth, we are representing Canadians everywhere,” he said, on his position as an elected official. Biss also asked to have a moment of silence – he’s asking for the traditional 2 minutes – following the singing of the anthem, so that, “(council) can gather its thoughts, and remember the seriousness of the decisions it’s about to make, while also remembering best practices”. Biss, a formal Officer in the Canadian Navy, would like to see the motion adopted before Canada Day, July 1st. A report is expected back from staff at the June Committee of the Whole meeting, outlining ways the anthem could be incorporated into council procedures – instrumental, acapella, guest singers. O Canada has not been sung in council chambers for more than 30 years.
Photo by Wendy Gabrek