A high school principal in Ottawa apologized after playing an Arabic song titled "Haza'a Salam" during a Remembrance Day ceremony at Sir Robert Borden High School. The intention behind playing the song was to spread a message of peace and unity, but it sparked angry reactions from some members of the Jewish community who deemed it inappropriate and hurtful. The principal confirmed in a message that the intention was good, but he realized that the song caused distress for some members of the school community, prompting him to apologize.

In a follow-up to the news, school principal Aaron Hobbs added his apology, stating: "And so I would like to offer my apology." He also pointed out that the title of the song, which means "This is Peace," elicited negative reactions due to implications in the comments on videos related to the song discussing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the suffering of Palestinians, despite the song itself not directly addressing this topic. Hobbs explained that including a song that may be considered politically charged does not align with the values the school seeks to promote, such as respect and unity.

The Jewish community and politicians also criticized the use of the song at the ceremony, with the Jewish Federation of Ottawa expressing "deep concern" via social media. The Federation noted that choosing a song tied to a divisive foreign conflict shows "poor judgment for a public school environment." These criticisms emphasized that including the song in the event was inappropriate and negatively impacted relationships within the school community.

Additionally, Member of Parliament Lisa MacLeod, known for her strong support of Israel during the conflict, reacted on social media. MacLeod stated that the ceremony "did not follow Canadian Legion protocol" and that it "also upset all Jewish students." She also confirmed that she requested the school to take disciplinary action as a result of the incident, indicating that what happened was inappropriate in the context of the ceremony.

Canadian Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre condemned the incident via X, stating: "What an absolute shame that many activists and authorities used Remembrance Day to push their divisive and radical causes," although he did not specifically mention the high school ceremony in Ottawa.

For his part, Sean Bruya, a Gulf War veteran and advocate for disabled veterans, described what happened as "one of the most horrific incidents" he has heard of during Remembrance Day celebrations. He affirmed that including the song did not help educate the public about the sacrifices of Canadian veterans but was contrary to the primary objective for many of them serving in the military—ensuring that foreign conflicts are not exported to Canadian soil.

In light of this controversy, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board issued a statement announcing an investigation into the incident.

The Islamic Advisory Council of Canada announced that it is in contact with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) and issued its own statement via social media, where it condemned the criticism directed at the use of the song during the ceremony. The Council clarified that "such comments create an unsafe environment, making it difficult for Muslims to practice their religious observances freely and celebrate their identity." The statement added that "schools and public spaces should be welcoming environments for everyone, where diversity is respected and celebrated."

These statements highlight concerns about the impact of negative reactions on the Muslim community and emphasize the importance of fostering mutual respect in educational and community settings.