Celebrating 60 years of Canada’s Maple Leaf flag
After nearly 100 years of using various iterations of the Red Ensign as the unofficial flag of Canada, in 1964, Parliament issued a call for submissions to design a new, distinctive flag to represent the country.
Canadians rose to the challenge and 3,541 designs were submitted; of these 2,136 contained maple leaves, 408 had Union Jacks, 389 contained beavers, and 359 contained Fleurs-de-lys.
The flag committee eventually ruled out entries containing Union Jacks or Fleurs-de-lys. The two flags that made the final cut were the Pearson Pennant which had three joined maple leaves on a field of white with vertical blue bands on either side, and George Stanley’s design of a central red maple leaf in a field of white with vertical red bands on either side.
The flag designed by Albertan author and historian George Stanley proved to be the winner.
Ironically, the flag debate had kicked off in March 1964 with a four-page memorandum Stanley wrote to a member of the flag committee, in which he suggested that the new flag of Canada should be “instantly recognizable, use traditional colours and be a simple design.”
The flag debate officially began on June 15, 1964, when Prime Minister Lester B Pearson proposed plans for a new flag the in parliament. John G Diefenbaker opposed the Maple Leaf flag, wanting to keep the Red Ensign, and started a filibuster that continued until September 1964 when Pearson agreed to send the matter to a special 15-member flag committee which was to produce a new Canadian flag in six weeks.
The debate finally ended on December 15, 1964, and Stanley’s flag approved by the House 163 to 78, with the Senate approving the design two days later.
The new flag was inaugurated at noon on February 15, 1965, at an official ceremony on Parliament Hill, while throughout Canada, on Canadian ships and at the United Nations in New York the Red Ensign was lowered and the Maple Leaf flag raised in its place.
In 1996, following the very close Quebec sovereignty referendum in 1995, Prime Minister Jean Chretien declared February 15 to be National Flag of Canada Day.
“The flag belongs to all Canadians; it is an emblem we all share.
Although simple in design, Canada's flag well reflects the common values we hold so dear: freedom, peace, respect, justice and tolerance. Canada's flag is a symbol that unites Canadians and expresses throughout the world and always our pride in being Canadian.
The maple leaf flag pays homage to our geography, reflects the grandeur of our history and represents our national identity.
Our flag thus honours Canadians of all origins who through their courage and determination, have helped to build and are continuing to build our great country: a dynamic country that is open to the future.”
Jean Chretien, February 15, 1996