Canada’s iconic red-and-white maple leaf flag often is the nation’s most recognizable image at the moment, but it surely wasn’t at all times so ubiquitous.
The Canadian flag has had a wealthy and storied previous which helped mould it into the immediately recognizable and beloved image we all know at the moment.
With February 15 yearly celebrated as Nationwide Flag of Canada Day, right here’s some fascinating details about Canada’s nationwide flag on its sixtieth anniversary.
Questions concerning the Canadian flag additionally routinely present up in citizenship exams – so figuring out extra element will help newcomers ace the check whereas additionally forming deeper connections to their new house.
Canada used different flags earlier than the present Nationwide flag
Earlier than adopting the present maple leaf flag, Canada used a number of totally different flags, together with the Union Jack and the Canadian Crimson Ensign. The latter was a flag approved to be flown on Canadian vessels and included the protect of the coat of arms of Canada.
UK’s Royal Union flag, generally known as Union Jack, was used prior to now.
© His Majesty the King in Proper of Canada, represented by the Canadian Heraldic Authority
The Canadian Crimson Ensign advanced over time. That is the model used 1957-1965.
© His Majesty the King in Proper of Canada, represented by the Canadian Heraldic Authority
Nonetheless, as Canada matured as a rustic, it turned more and more necessary for the nation to have its personal flag.
In 1960, Lester B Pearson, politician and former prime minister of Canada, proposed the idea of a brand new flag. In 1964, a parliamentary committee was created to advocate a nationwide flag.
Fierce arguments over the flag’s design led to the Nice Flag Debate
There was fierce debate about what Canada’s nationwide flag would seem like that led to a interval in 1964 referred to as the Nice Flag Debate.
The controversy was largely between those that wished to retain the symbols that tied Canada to its British roots, whereas others needed Canada to have its personal distinct flag.
5 thousand designs had been thought of
Round 5 thousand idea designs had been submitted by Canadians and regarded by the committee. Of those, three had been shortlisted.
The Pearson Pennant, a favorite of Lester B. Pearson.
© His Majesty the King in Proper of Canada, represented by the Canadian Heraldic Authority
An idea with a central maple leaf, the Union Jack, and the historic royal banner of France
© His Majesty the King in Proper of Canada, represented by the Canadian Heraldic Authority
George Stanley’s single maple leaf design.
© His Majesty the King in Proper of Canada, represented by the Canadian Heraldic Authority
The one lastly chosen was created by historian George Stanley, who at the moment served because the dean of arts on the Royal Navy School in Kingston, Ontario.
Stanley’s design was very similar to the flag we all know at the moment: crimson bars on all sides, with a maple leaf within the center on a white background.
In any case the talk, Canada’s red-and-white maple leaf flag was formally raised on February 15, 1965. In 1996, February 15 was declared Nationwide Flag Day of Canada.
The maple leaf has a protracted historical past in Canada
The maple leaf was chosen to adorn the flag because it has lengthy been used as a logo of Canada.
It turned common within the nineteenth century, and was utilized in common tradition together with in books, songs, and banners.
Stanley wrote that he selected a single maple leaf as a result of it has a “advantage of simplicity; it emphasizes the distinctive Canadian image; and suggests the concept of loyalty to a single nation.”
The maple leaf in Canada’s flag has 11 factors
The unique design for the maple leaf on the Nationwide Flag of Canada had 13 factors.
This 13-point design was tougher to acknowledge when the flag was seen from a distance or in windy circumstances.
It was simplified to its present 11-point design by artist Jacques St-Cyr to enhance readability.
Canada is the one nation to characteristic a maple leaf on its flag.
Crimson and white had been chosen as flag colors
Crimson and white even have a protracted historical past in Canada, though there’s some debate round exactly why.
Some imagine that crimson and white had been authorized as Canada’s official colors in the course of the proclamation of the Royal Arms of Canada by King George V in 1921.
Others imagine that the origin of the colors advanced from its historic roots, with crimson related to England and white with France (which additionally has crimson and blue in its flag).
Many have additionally come to embrace these colors as consultant of the pure colors featured in Canada – the white depicting winter snow, and the crimson depicting autumnal maple leaves.
There’s etiquette to flying the nationwide flag
It goes with out saying that, given its symbolism, the flag ought to at all times be handled with respect.
There’s additionally etiquette concerned with flying the Nationwide flag. For instance, when hung vertically, the flag ought to at all times be positioned in order that the higher a part of the leaf factors to the left (from the perspective of the observer dealing with the flag).
The flag has had many historic journeys
The Canadian flag has had some epic travels.
In 1982, Canadian mountaineer Laurie Skreslet carried the nationwide flag to the summit of Mount Everest, the best level on the earth.
In 1984, the flag was launched into area aboard the NASA area shuttle Challenger, accompanying Canada’s first astronaut.
You possibly can request a flag flown on Parliament Hill, however there’s a catch
The Canadian flag on the Peace Tower of Parliament Hill is changed with a brand new flag each weekday (apart from statutory holidays and through poor climate circumstances).
And it’s really attainable to acquire a free Parliament Hill flag.
Canadian residents can request a flag that was flown on Parliament hill by filling in a web-based type.
That mentioned, the wait time is now greater than 100 years.
Canada’s greatest flag was made by a Canadian immigrant
A large Canadian flag was unveiled in Stanley Park in 2017.
It’s 140 metres lengthy and 70 metres excessive (greater than the sector at BC Place).
The flag was created by Canadian immigrant Zen Zhong Li with the assistance of household, as he needed to do one thing to have fun his new nation.
