The Canadian Flag
A Proud Canadian Symbol
The Canadian flag is a proud Canadian symbol. The official
national flag was first flown in Feb 1965.
The eleven pointed red maple leaf on a white background flanked by two
vertical red stripes is the national flag of Canada.
A Powerful Canadian Symbol
Red and white have been Canada's official colors since 1921.
The Canadian colors of red and white come from the time of the Crusades. During that time the French
typically wore red cross badges on their garments and their banner, while the English used a white cross.
As a result, the color red was quickly associated with the French and subsequently the Canadians. The
red and white colors were designated as official Canadian colors by King George V.
Prior to 1965 during the days of the Canadian Confederation, the Red Ensign was used as the unofficial flag of
Canada for about 50 years. It featured Union Jack in the upper left corner and a shield containing the coat
of arms of the Canadian provinces. Eventually this shield was replaced with the Royal Arms of Canada.
Several times the Canadian Prime Minister tried to get the flag authorized, but failed.
Finally in 1964, Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson formed a committee to come up with a new design
for the official Canadian flag. The committee submitted three different designs for approval.
One was similar to the current flag but with blue bars instead of red and three maple leaves instead of one.
(This was the one that Pearson actually preferred.) Another version had the Union Jack symbol and three
fleur-de-lis. A college professor, George Stanley came up with the current design. After much debate,
his design was approved and took effect on February 15, 1965. The first flag was stitched by Joan O’Malley.
Stanley's design was inspired by the Commandant's flag at the college where he taught--a fist holding
three maple leaves on a red and white background. He felt that it captured Canada's history quite well.
The maple leaf has been a Canadian symbol for hundreds of years because of the abundance of maple
trees and the sweet sap they produce.
The maple leaf had been an unofficial Canadian symbol since as early as 1700.
For several decades the song, The Maple Leaf Forever was even considered to be the national anthem. The maple leaf
became an official Canadian symbol in 1965 and appears on many artifacts and Canadian symbols including the Canadian
coat of arms and the
Canadian penny
When the contemporary Canadian flag was flown for the first time, the Honourable Maurice Bourget, Speaker of the Senate, said:
"The flag is the symbol of the nation's unity, for it, beyond any doubt,
represents all the citizens of Canada without distinction of race,
language, belief or opinion."
His words reflect the value of equity and fairness in the Canadian culture.
Read more about the Canadian flag and other official Canadian symbols.
Although simple in design, the Canadian flag inspires pride and patriotism in the heart of Canadians everywhere. The strong colors and an eternal Canadian symbol represent the nation in a very dramatic way.
Go back to Canadian Culture and Values
Go back to the article that describes the structure and function of the Canadian Government
