You’ve probably seen it flying triumphantly across the country. On Canada Day, perhaps you waved a paper hand flag or wore it as a pin on your blazer. Perhaps you’ve sewed one to your bag and travelled the world with it! Regardless of where you view it, Canada’s National Flag is one of the most distinctive and identifiable emblems of the country, both at home and abroad. The National Flag of Canada has its own set of etiquette and procedures. The National Flag, for example, should never be allowed to touch the ground.
The Royal Union Flag
Before our current National Flag, Canada had several different flags. The flags of European homelands, such as France, have been displayed on Canadian soil from the beginning of European settlement. The British North American flags flown in colonial Canada emphasised the country’s ties to the British Empire. Before and after Confederation in 1867, Canada flew the Royal Union Flag of the United Kingdom, also known as the Union Jack.
The Red Ensign
The Red Ensign was another British flag that was used in Canada. While the Canadian Red Ensign — a combination of the Union Jack and the Flag of Canada — was legally used by Canadian ships starting in the 1890s, it had been used informally at sea and on land since the 1870s and was well known as a national emblem. Additional motifs such as maple leaf wreaths, crowns, and beavers were inserted in several iterations of the flag. The shield was changed to include the provinces’ arms as they entered Confederation. The Canadian Red Ensign became a famous national symbol during World War I.
As Canada grew as a nation, it became increasingly vital to establish emblems that were particularly Canadian. The shield of Canada’s new official coat of arms took its place on the Canadian Red Ensign after King George V gave Royal Arms to Canada in 1921. During World War II, Canada was represented by this variant of the Canadian Red Ensign.
Creating new flag 1960-1965
Lester B. Pearson, then Leader of the Opposition, announced in 1960 that he was committed to resolving “the flag problem.” This problem, according to Pearson, was crucial in defining Canada as a unified, autonomous nation. Pearson promised to settle the issue of a new national flag in time for Canada’s centennial celebrations in 1967 as the newly elected Prime Minister in 1963.Pearson began by proposing a flag with a sprig of three red maple leaves on a white background flanked by two blue stripes, similar to those in the national coat of arms. The “Pearson Pennant” was named after this design, which was developed by heraldic expert Alan Beddoe.
Pearson proposed this concept to members of Parliament in 1964, but it was met with fierce opposition. Instead, a parliamentary committee was formed, with a six-week deadline to produce a national flag recommendation. The group was split down the middle, with those who wanted to keep the emblems that linked Canada to its colonial past and those who wanted Canada to choose its own symbols for the future. The Great Flag Debate took place during this time. The flag committee selected three finalists from thousands of designs for the flag of Canada, submitted by Canadians.
Stanley’s single-leaf design
The committee decided in favour of Stanley’s single-leaf design on October 22, 1964. The House of Commons passed it two months later, and the Senate followed suit shortly after. One of the flag committee’s most prominent members, John Matheson, M.P., is credited with forging consensus within the committee and helping to conclude the Great Flag Debate in Parliament.
