By
Katlin Davey,
UNB Arts 3000
Public History Intern
The story of the birth of the
Canadian flag is a unique one. As we approach the 50th anniversary,
it is important to reflect upon the events of 1965, since a national flag
contributes to the making of a national identity. For Canadians without a
memory of the Red Ensign, it is hard to imagine a Canada that was not shaped by
the Maple Leaf. Adopting a new Canadian flag, however, was no easy mission.
Many Canadians supported moving forward with a new flag, while many did not. The
process to develop a new national flag began in early 1964, and on February 15th
1965 a new Canada was born.
Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson
was a strong supporter of the development of a new national flag. While the Red
Ensign had served the purpose of a national flag for many years, he believed
that Canada had matured as a country and so needed to be redefined as well as reunited.
Prime Minister Pearson understood that the creation of a new flag should be a
bipartisan effort, so a bipartisan committee was created. As a result, a call
for open submissions was issued, and people from all over Canada submitted
their ideas about what the new national flag should look like. Over 3000 designs
were submitted, and of these over 2000 contained a maple leaf. Eventually the
committee narrowed down the selection to just three.
According to Heritage Canada:
“Dr. Stanley was Dean of Arts at the
Royal Military College in Kingston, and brought to the attention of the
committee the fact that the Commandant's flag at the College -- an emblem, i.e.
a mailed fist, on a red and white ground -- was impressive.” Below is a picture
of this flag; the similarities between this and the final design of the
Canadian flag are very evident.
Another interesting flag design was one favoured by Prime Minister Lester Pearson himself. The ‘Pearson
Pennant’ (right) also shares similarities with the Canadian flag of today. According
to Heritage
Canada: “The committee
eventually decided to recommend the single-leaf design, which was approved by
resolution of the House of Commons on December 15, 1964, followed by the Senate
on December 17, 1964, and proclaimed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, to take effect on February 15,
1965.”
On February 15th 2015, Canadians will celebrate the 50th
anniversary of our national flag. In 1965, through much deliberation and
consideration, the Canadian flag was born. Prime Minister Pearson saw a new
flag as a way to unite Canadians; in hindsight that is exactly what happened.
The Maple Leaf is a distinguished part of the Canadian identity both at home
and internationally. As we approach both the 50th anniversary of the
flag, and the 150th anniversary of Confederation, it is important to
acknowledge all that unites us as Canadians.
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