Mark Donnelly

Mark Donnelly was born on February 29, 1960, in Vancouver, British Columbia. He grew up in Vancouver and North Delta, beginning to play ice hockey at the age of 12. He further pursued his musical talents, earning a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of British Columbia. Donnelly started his career by singing national anthems for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League while working at a parish in Scranton, Pennsylvania. After returning to Vancouver with his family, he began singing for the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks in 2001, a role he maintained for nearly two decades.

During his tenure with the Vancouver Canucks, Donnelly became widely known as “Mr. O Canada” for his regular performances of the national anthem “O Canada” at home games. His career with the Canucks spanned from 2001 until December 2020. He also made cameo appearances in television shows, including an opera singer role in the season four premiere episode of “Psych,” titled “Extradition: British Columbia,” and a singing role in the final episode of “Caprica,” titled “Apotheosis.” In October 2014, Donnelly experienced a notable incident where he tripped on a red carpet while singing the national anthem at a Penticton Vees game, an event that garnered media attention.

A significant turning point in Donnelly’s career occurred on December 4, 2020, when the Vancouver Canucks announced they had ended their association with him. This decision followed his plan to sing the national anthem at an anti-mask rally; the Canucks publicly stated that Donnelly’s views did not represent the team’s stance. Donnelly addressed the situation, stating he knew there was a risk of losing his job for standing against COVID-19 restrictions, which he described as “tyranny.” He expressed his disappointment, viewing his firing as censorship by an organization he had been associated with for a long period.