THUNDER BAY – Early risers at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts were treated to a special rendition of the Canadian national anthem.
Students from Claude E. Garton Public School, dressed in black, performed the anthem from the stands, using American Sign Language.
The students were part of the American Sign Language club at the Current River school, formed in part to support five-year-old Whitney Mullally, who is deaf, and in part to spread awareness and abilities in sign language.
Eight-year-old Bryar Solomon, a Grade 2 student at the school, said she was eager to join the club, though admitted she was a little nervous singing the anthem in front of so many fans at Fort William Gardens prior to the start of Draw 13 at the national women’s curling championship.
“I joined the sign club at Claude E. Garton because there is a girl that is deaf. She was performing with us too and I just thought it would be cool to communicate with her,” Bryar said.
“It’s been super fun, and I’ve met a lot of new friends.”
Bryar said she and her friends had a few butterflies in their stomachs before the anthem began, but they went away rather quickly.
“The three of us were just talking nervously and shaking it all out,” she said. “It went pretty well at the end.”
Schoolmate Carson Cassidy, 9, said he joined for the same reason as Bryar.
“I just wanted to learn a new language. I was nervous at first and I did it and it felt good to do it.”
Whitney’s father, Hugh Mullally, said it was an awesome show of support for his daughter and the deaf community.
“It’s just a lovely experience for the kids and it’s great to see the language get some publicity and some attention and some focus,” said Mullally, a former university basketball player who spent his final season with the Lakehead Thunderwolves.
Janice Sweitzer, a specialist teacher for the deaf and hard of hearing, called it an amazing experience to showcase the language.
“To be able sign that and make Oh Canada accessible to all people who are deaf and use this visible language I think was incredible today,” Sweitzer said, adding it fosters inclusion in the school, along with social connections.
“And it helps to break down barriers that exist between hearing and deaf individuals.”
