Barenaked Ladies set to sing O Canada at Buffalo Bills home opener tonight
Buffalo Bills fans gather before the team's home opener against the Detroit Lions on Sept. 17, 2026. While trade tensions escalate between Canada and the U.S, the Bills celebrate their Canadian fans inviting Barenaked Ladies to sing O' Canada before the game. (Lauren Battagello/CBC)Social SharingOn the day the White House said U.S. President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum to identify Canadian-origin goods in federal civil government procurement for the purpose of removing them, the NFL's Buffalo Bills celebrated their Canadian fans with a game of cross-border catch, from boat to boat, floating along the Niagara River.
Trump's memorandum signed Wednesday is the latest move in an escalating trade war between Canada and the U.S. after talks fell apart last month. It came a week after he banned the import of Canadian alcohol, motorcycles and various other products into the U.S.
Trump signs memorandum to identify and remove Canadian products from U.S. federal procurement
For the Bills, it's the latest effort to celebrate their Canadian fans in advance of their home opener tonight at 8 p.m. E.T., the first ever regular-season game at the team's new Highmark Stadium in Buffalo.
On Wednesday, the team posted a video on social media platform X showing retired Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and retired wide receiver Stevie Johnson complete a few cross-border catches along the Niagara River, tossing to each other from aboard distant ferries.
Niagara Parks, the Ontario agency that manages the Canadian side of the Niagara River, said in a news release on Wednesday that the successful boat to boat passes "will be aired during NFL on Prime’s broadcast of the Buffalo Bills first 2026 home game on Thursday, September 17."
Former Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, now retired, played a game of catch across the border with former Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, a day before the team plays its first home game of the 2026 season. (Niagara Parks)Barenaked Ladies will sing O CanadaIn the release, Kate Hussmann, Buffalo Bills Chief Strategy Officer, said “we’re thrilled to be part of such a unique event and to celebrate the connection we share with Bills fans across Southern Ontario. The passion and support we feel from our Canadian fans is incredible, and we look forward to continuing to deepen those relationships and create memorable experiences together for years to come.”
The agency said the Bills "participate in the NFL’s Global Markets Program, which grants the franchise official international marketing and fan engagement rights in Canada."
Last week, the team said on social media platform X that both O Canada and The Star-Spangled Banner will be performed before Thursday's home opener against the Detroit Lions and that the team "will celebrate the American and Canadian anthems during pregame." Actress and singer Auliʻi Cravalho will perform the American anthem and Toronto band Barenaked Ladies will sing O Canada.
The Canadian national anthem is rarely heard before NFL games, but it's commonly played before National Hockey League games in Buffalo, even when the Sabres are up against American opponents. In April, fans at KeyBank Center in Buffalo sang O Canada after a microphone failed before the Sabres' playoff game against the Boston Bruins.
Canadian rock band Barenaked Ladies will sing O'Canada before the Buffalo Bills season opener on Thursday Sept. 17, 2026. (Matt Barnes)ABOUT THE AUTHORConrad CollacoProducer
Conrad Collaco is a CBC News producer for CBC Hamilton with extensive experience in online, television and radio news. Follow him on Twitter at @ConradCollaco, or email him at conrad.collaco@cbc.ca.
