flag of Canada

The establishment of the Canadian federation in 1867 was not accompanied by the creation of a special flag for the country. The imperial Union Jack and other British flags were considered sufficient, although a coat of arms (in the form of a heraldic shield) was granted by Queen Victoria in 1868. The Canadian shield was composed of the arms of the four original provinces—Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. In 1892 this shield became a badge on the British Red Ensign, which served as a special civil ensign (later called the Canadian Red Ensign) for Canadian vessels. On land, that defaced ensign was used, without authorization, as an unofficial national flag combining Canadian patriotism and loyalty to Britain. Perhaps in imitation of the stars added to the United States flag whenever a new state joined the Union, Canadians routinely added official provincial shields to the arms of Canada. Flags with those shields were often decorated as well with the imperial crown, a wreath of maple leaves, and/or a beaver. The Union Jack continued to fly on land.

A major change in symbols took place in 1921, when Canada was granted a distinctive new coat of arms; it quartered the symbols of England, Scotland, Ireland, and France with three green maple leaves on a silver background. That shield replaced the 1868 original in Canadian ensigns three years later. In 1957 a revised artistic version incorporated red maple leaves instead of green “to show the maturity of the country.”

Agitation for a distinctive Canadian flag increased following World War II. While the Canadian Red Ensign was recognized for use on government buildings and as a national flag abroad, many felt that it did not properly identify the distinctive local culture and traditions. Heated debate took place in 1964 following the promise of Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson that Canada would acquire its own national flag prior to the centennial of confederation in 1967. Months of public and parliamentary debate resulted in approval (December 1964) of the new Maple Leaf Flag, which became official by royal proclamation on February 15, 1965, and is now broadly supported by the Canadian population. The maple leaf had been a national symbol since at least 1868, and its red colour has been described as a symbol of Canadian sacrifice during World War I. Pearson’s original flag proposal showed three red maple leaves on a white field with narrow blue vertical stripes at either end. Several individuals have been credited with suggestions that resulted in the final design, which broadened the stripes and changed them to red to emphasize the national colours (red and white). A single maple leaf gave a distinctive and easily recognizable central symbol.