Singing O Canada without accompanying music could become mandatory in Toronto Catholic schools, if a school board trustee's motion gets approval.

The motion, put forward Toronto Catholic District School Board trustee Angela Kennedy at a March 29 board meeting, would force students to sing the national anthem before morning announcements without accompanying music.

A number of parents have shown their support for the motion, Kennedy said.

"We're all very proud to be in this country … I think it's a sign of our patriotism that we sing," she said.

A CD version of the national anthem is played in the morning in schools, meaning students listen to it rather than sing, according to Kennedy's notice of the motion, submitted to the board March 4.

"The veterans have fought for us, and I think that this is the least we can do, is to sing the words to O Canada," she said.

TCDSB chair Andrea Andrachuk said the board has an existing policy on the singing of the national anthem, which states each principal shall ensure that morning exercises include public prayer and the singing of O Canada.

"This has been a policy on the books for many years," she said.

Andrachuk said the only change the motion would see is to make the singing of O Canada a capella, without musical accompaniment.

"I think you'll find that in the majority of our schools, children are singing O Canada daily," she said.

With a report from CTV Toronto's Zuraidah Alman