The History of the Canadian Flag

The current Canadian flag has only two colors, red and white. These were the official colors appointed by King George V in 1921. The flag has verticle strips which are on the left and right sides and cover about one fourth of the flag. The center is white and has a stylized eleven point maple leaf. Canadians call this flag the "Maple Leaf flag". This is the only flag many Canadians, who were born after 1964, have known throughout the whole of their lives.

In 1964 the Canadian government decided to adopt a new and distinctive national flag. This endeavor has the appearance of the impossible dream. The sentiments of Canadians were hardly uniform. Canadians were divided among demographic and ethnic lines. English Canadians born before World War II wanted the flag to retain a visible symbol of Canada's British heritage. French Canadians were opposed to retaining colonial symbols such as the Union Jack. One third of the Canadians were neigther French or British stock and they want a flag which is uniquely Canadian. Younger Canadians, who were born after World War II, were likely to select something new and different. They wanted something which symbolized a clean break from the past.

A House of Commons Committee was established to review potential designs for the new flag. Several designs were proposed, but three designs were presented to the committee for final approval. The three designs consisted of the following:

a. A flag with a red ensign with the fluer-de-lis and the Union Jack
b. A flag with three maple leaves between two blue borders
c. The current red and white flag design with the single maple leaf.

The red and white flag design was was adopted unanimously in October 1964. On October 22, 1964 the Canadian Parliament adopted the flag. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is also the Queen of Canada. She proclaimed the flag into law on February 15, 1965.

Canada's first iteration of their flag bore England's St. George's cross. The flag was carried over by John Cabot. Cabot reach the east coast of Canada in the year 1497. Disagreement persists about the exact location of the landing spot. It is eigther Labrador, Newfoundland, Cape Breton or Prince Edward Island. St. George's cross has found itself on many territorial and provincial coats of arms and the center cross of the Union Jack.

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Tags: FLAG HISTORY, INTERNATIONAL FLAGS, CANADA HISTORY

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Title:	The History of the Canadian Flag
Author:	Gary Haiji
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The History of the Canadian Flag