As a six-year-old in 1965, I tootled off to my first day of Grade One at a school that proudly flew a brand-new Canadian flag. The red maple leaf and red borders on a white background, which now easily identifies us to the rest of the world, is relatively young. Prior to January of that year, Canada’s official national flag was still the Union Jack, the United Kingdom’s Royal Union Flag.
In addition, various and evolving Canadian ensigns were flown—all with the Union Jack appearing predominantly.
The evolution of Canada’s flag was slow and arduous. While attempts were made throughout the early twentieth century to create a unique flag for our country, efforts were resisted. Following World War II, many who had fought alongside the British under the Union Jack were opposed to change. Prime Ministers were hesitant to create political divisiveness or offend veterans who had fought so valiantly and who were attached to the old flag.
Then, during the Suez Crisis in 1956, Egypt was invaded by Israel, France, and the United Kingdom. Canadian troops were sent to Egypt as United Nations peacekeepers. When they flew the Canadian Red Ensign, which incorporated the Union Jack, the Egyptians saw our flag as British. It was time for a distinctive Canadian national flag.
When Lester B. Pearson was elected Prime Minister in 1963, he promised to unveil a new national flag in time for Canada’s centennial celebrations in 1967. The “Pearson Pennant” was proposed. It featured a sprig of three red maple leaves on a white background bordered by two blue stripes. Thus began “the great flag debate” in parliament. A committee was formed, and numerous designs were put forward.
The committee short-listed the entries to three, then chose the design by George Stanley, Dean of Arts at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario: a single red maple leaf with two red borders on a white background.
On January 28, 1965, Queen Elizabeth II proclaimed the new maple leaf flag official, and it was inaugurated on February 15. At noon, the old ensign was lowered and the new national flag of Canada was hoisted. Prime Minister Pearson spoke. “May the land over which this new flag flies remain united in freedom and justice … sensitive, tolerant and compassionate towards all.” He ended his speech with, “God bless Canada.” The National Film Board recorded the event, and it can be viewed online, HERE.
At the World’s Fair in Montreal in 1967, the year of Canada’s 100th birthday, our new flag was showcased to the world.
Happy Canada Day!
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