Lyndon Slewidge (born 1954 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario)[1][2][3] is a retired Ontario Provincial Police officer. He is also a singer who specializes in national anthems. He was the official anthem singer for the Ottawa Senators ice hockey club between 1994 and 2016[4] and is familiar with at least 13 national anthems.[3] In 2023, Slewidge performed the anthems for the first time since 2016 during the Ottawa Senators 2023-24 home opener. Slewidge typically ends an anthem with a salute, a wink and a thumbs up sign (or, in the playoffs, with waving a towel).
In 1992, astronaut Roberta Bondar arranged for Slewidge to record the American and Canadian national anthems. She took the recordings aboard her flight on NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery (mission STS-42). Bondar's home city is Sault Ste. Marie, where Slewidge was stationed at that time.[2]
References
^Stone, Jay (25 January 1993). "Anthem singer carried his tune to the capital". Ottawa Citizen. p. B10. Indicates age 38 and birthplace of Sault Ste. Marie.
^ ab"Area's other 'singing policeman' delights fans at hockey games". Ottawa Citizen. 1 August 1993. p. A2. Indicated age 38.
^ abWarren, Ken; Panzeri, Allen (7 September 1996). "Singing police officer proud to stir emotions at World Cup". Edmonton Journal. p. B5. Indicated age 42.