Looking back from the first decade of the 21st century, the design we chose seems. Canada has t he long est coastlin e in th e worl d and border s thre e diff erent oceans atlan tic, pa cific and ar ctic. To mark this 50th anniversary, the canadian museum of history presents a display exploring the flags origins and the controversy surrounding its creation. Provincial and canadian flags prince edward island.
The adoption of the maple leaf flag in 1965 was a notable break from this history, something on which both advocates and opponents of the. The answer that i learned in school and the one that makes the most sense is that in the war of 1812 wounded canadian soldiers used the leaves as bandages for their wounds. February 15, 1965 canadas new red and white maple leaf flag is inaugurated in a ceremony on parliament hill. Why was a maple leaf chosen as the symbol of canada. Herbert 1847 is the first known sheet music publication to. The maple leaf has symbolically represented canada for hundreds of years. Canada has a flag and so do the provinces and territories. The flag of canada often referred to as the canadian flag, or unofficially as the maple leaf and.
National flag of canada maple leaf canadian flag tagged. Some of the privymarked silver maple leaf versions were available only in europe. A maple leaf appears on the cover page of canada s first comic journal, punch in canada. A major change in symbols took place in 1921, when canada was granted a distinctive new coat of arms. A juvenile monthly magazine 1852 and the illustrated maple leaf 1854. Unfollow toronto maple leaf flag to stop getting updates on your ebay feed.
The new canadian flag is raised for the first time. Together with her friend and collaborator annmaureen owens, jane is the coauthor of the popular childrens information books. July 1st is canada day and we will be celebrating all things canada because we are canadian, in case you didnt know. Canada flag 3x5ft durable polyester canadian national banner maple leaf 90x150cm duraflag. Canada adopts maple leaf flag in accordance with a formal proclamation by queen elizabeth ii of england, a new canadian national flag is raised above parliament hill in ottawa, the capital of canada. Chadwick recommended to the government that canada should have its own national flag featuring a maple leaf. The process began in 1895 when heraldry enthusiast edward m. It is one of the most recognizable flags in the world, and perhaps the proudest symbol of. Before the adoption of the maple leafdesigned national flag of canada in 1965, canada, first as a colony and later as a dominion, was represented by a succession of royal flags the flag of france, the cross of st. Designer george stanleys 11point maple leaf with its bold background was presented and chosen from three official designs. On february 15, 1965, the maple leaf made its debut. The origins of canadas maple leaf flag the eleven points on the maple leaf of canadas flag dont represent the number of canadian provinces and territories. Canada is home to a wide variety of flags representing different aspects of the countrys geography, history and culture. Under the leadership of prime minister lester pearson, resolutions recommending the new flag were passed by the house of commons on december 15, 1964, and by the senate two days later.
Royal union flag union jack the canadian encyclopedia. Maple leaf flag don komarechka photography, barrie ontario. The canadian red and white maple leaf flag is officially called the. Canada s national flag was to be red and white, the official colors of canada as decided by king george v of britain in 1921, with a stylized 11point red maple leaf in its center. Jane yealland is a research associate at the centre for studies in primary care at queens university. It has become an annual holiday celebrated throughout the country as national flag of. Affordable and search from millions of royalty free images, photos and vectors. The story of maple leaf flag and the great flag debate of 1964 to birth of the canadian flag in february 15th 1965 by accomplished writer rick archbold. She thought that the maple leaf greatly represents the country of canada. Stanleys design was based on the royal military college of canada flag. This canadian history for kids exclusive, looks at the birth of our great flag it was a debate that lasted almost two years but on february 15, 1965, the. Canadian maple leaf flag and balloons in the sky for canada day.
The union flag is still part of the constitution to reflect loyalty to. The maple leafs history includes two recognized dynasties. On february 15, 1965, 10,000 had gathered at parliament hill to watch the red and white canadian maple leaf flag be raised for the first time. The history of the canadian maple leaf grower direct.
A short history of the maple leaf flag ottawa citizen. The maple leaf was made the official flag of canada and raised on parliament hill on february 15, 1965. Maple leaf became a symbol of canadian athletes in the 20th century and also a. Chadwick lawyer heraldryhistory enthusiast who first recommended to the canadian. Besides ice hockey and the snow, one of the first things that come to mind when we think of canada is the maple leaf, specifically a red maple leaf.
Canada for kids pemberton museum and archives society. What is the significance of the maple leaf on the canadian. The maple leaf flag turns 50 canadian museum of history. The maple leaf flag has served as a distinctively canadian symbol since february 15, 1965, when it was first raised on parliament hill. The maple leaf on the flag is called a symbol of canada. Queen elizabeth ii proclaimed february 15, 1965, as the day on which the new flag would. Maple leaf became a symbol of canadian athletes in the 20th century and also a symbol of canadian soldiers in both world wars. Canada s maple leaf flag was only introduced in 1965. Amid much controversy, the maple leaf flag replaced the canadian red ensign, which had been, with various successive alterations, in conventional use as a canadian national flag since 1868.
The royal union flag is the british union jack, and is a symbol that canada is a member of the commonwealth, and that canada and britain share a history and a monarch. Ironically, one of those ideas involved the incorporation of a red maple leaf, later to be adopted for the national flag of canada. The maple leaf at first was considered an emblem of french canada, and in 1834 the stjeanbaptiste association adopted it formally. It received 2,409 designs from the public and was addressed by the director of the historical section of the canadian army. The process of choosing the design, was a long one that stirred national debate. The red and white maple leaf flag replaced the canadian red ensign on. France was one of the first european countries to settle or explore canada. Approval was given to begin production of the canadian maple leaf flag on november 23 rd 1964.
Forts of canada, the kids book of canadian exploration and our flag. What does the maple leaf on the canadian flag represent. In the 37 years since, the maple leaf flag has become our symbol of national pride, the unique and perfect canadian logo and canadians, for all their supposed reticence, have become a. This photo was a long time from concept to complete execution. This popular onestop reference to the national flag of canada has been upd.
The origins of canada s maple leaf flag the eleven points on the maple leaf of canada s flag dont represent the number of canadian provinces and territories. Canadas maple leaf flag will be turning 50 on february 15th. The fourth major change came in the 196667 season, when the logo was changed to an 11point leaf, similar to the leaf on the thennew flag of canada to commemorate the canadian centennial. The central theme of the flag is a maple leaf, which refers to the indigenous population that has been using the maple sap for centuries, and which still is a traditional canadian product. The canadian flag is result of the contribution of many, extending over a century. George, the first version of the royal union flag combining the english and scottish flags, and, finally, the current royal union flag combining the british and irish flags.
The maple leaf has a long symbolic history in canada, having been used as an emblem since the 1700s. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. Bright red maple leaves laid out on a fresh bed of snow in the a pattern resembling the canada flag. On february 15, 1965, canada s official flag was raised for the first time on parliament hill. A maple leaf appears on the cover page of canadas first comic journal, punch in canada. In accordance with a formal proclamation by queen elizabeth ii of england, a new canadian national flag is raised above parliament hill in ottawa, the capital of canada. For a long time the leaf symbol was a branch of thre. Examines canadas contributions to space exploration and profiles famous canadian astronauts, such as roberta bondar, the first canadian woman in space includes bibliographical references p. Canadas national flag was to be red and white, the official colors of canada as decided by king george v of britain in 1921, with a stylized 11point red maple leaf in its center. I t is so big that it has 6 ti me zon es across the co untry. Canadas second world war by bercuson, david jay, 1945.
Stanleys design is based on a strong sense of canadian history. Canada flag 3x5ft durable polyester canadian national. The story of the maple leaf flag is the history of canada as seen through the evolution of our national symbol. Souvenir of the first canadian mapleleaf flag with cyrus leblanc. More than 52 years after the birth of the canadian maple leaf flag the following chronological, factual account has been compiled and verified by exhaustive research of archival documents.
Gaining an awareness of and an appreciation for history and what makes them. The red and white used in the national flag of canada were proclaimed the official colors of canada in 1921 by king george v. Canadas maple leaf flag was only introduced in 1965. This flag, and variations thereof, was kept until 1965 when the current maple leaf flag was adopted. Although the maple leaf did not have official status as an emblem of canada until 1965, it had historically been used as a canadian symbol and was employed in 1860 in decorations for the visit of the prince of wales to canada. Robert harper executive director, canadian flag education centre. They remain some of the most important emblems of the nation, easily recognized and much beloved canadas national flag is the red and white maple leaf flag, seen on the right.
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