Flag of Canada

The National Flag of Canada, popularly known as the Maple Leaf Flag (French: l'Unifolié "the one-leaved"), is a base red flag with a white square in its centre, featuring a red stylized 11-pointed maple leaf.

Adoption

In 1963, the minority Liberal government of Lester B. Pearson gained power, and decided to officially adopt a national Canadian flag, via an act of Parliament. Although the idea of a new design for the national flag had been discussed for decades in the 20th century, it was in the 1960s that the debate intensified and became a subject of considerable controversy culminating in the Great Flag Debate of 1964. The principal political proponent of the change was Prime Minister Lester Pearson, while the main opponent was the leader of the opposition and former prime minister, John Diefenbaker, who made it his personal crusade.

Related Topics:
Liberal - Lester B. Pearson - 20th century - 1960s - Great Flag Debate - 1964 - Prime Minister - Leader of the opposition - John Diefenbaker

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The Red Ensign was unpopular in Quebec, a Liberal base of support. The Red Ensign was especially strongly favoured by rural English Canada, the heart of Tory support. Diefenbaker demanded a referendum be held on the flag issue, but Pearson instead formed a multi-party parliamentary committee to select a new design. Through a period of study with some political manoeuvring, the committee chose the current design, which was created by George F.G. Stanley, inspired by the flag of the Royal Military College of Canada, in Kingston, Ontario. The design was adopted unanimously by the committee on October 29, 1964. The new flag was adopted by the House of Commons on December 15, 1964. The Senate added its approval two days later.

Related Topics:
George F.G. Stanley - Royal Military College of Canada - Kingston, Ontario - October 29 - 1964 - House of Commons - December 15 - Senate

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Queen Elizabeth II proclaimed the new flag on January 28, 1965. http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/special/flag-drapeau/proclamation_e.pdf. It was inaugurated on February 15, 1965, at an official ceremony held on Parliament Hill in Ottawa in the presence of Governor General Major-General Georges P. Vanier, the prime minister, the members of the Cabinet, and Canadian parliamentarians. Since 1996, February 15 has been commemorated as National Flag of Canada Day http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/special/flag-drapeau/declaration_e.pdf.

Related Topics:
Queen Elizabeth II - January 28 - 1965 - February 15 - Parliament Hill - Governor General - Georges P. Vanier - Prime minister - 1996 - National Flag of Canada Day

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Despite the preceding acrimony, the new flag was quickly embraced by the Canadian public, and internationally the flag quickly became a welcome and easily recognizable marker of Canada worldwide.

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