- Also called:
- Maple Leaf Flag
flag of Canada
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What is the flag of Canada?
The Canadian flag is a vertically striped red-white-red flag, with a large red maple leaf in the center. Its width-to-length ratio is 1 to 2.
The maple leaf has been a national symbol since at least 1868. The red color is said to represent Canadian sacrifice during World War I. The flag became official by royal proclamation on February 15, 1965 and is now broadly supported by the Canadian population.
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What does the Canadian flag look like?
The Canadian flag is a vertically striped red-white-red national flag with a large, central red maple leaf. It has a width-to-length ratio of 1 to 2. The maple leaf has been a national symbol since at least 1868, and its red color symbolizes Canadian sacrifice during World War I. The flag is also known as the Maple Leaf Flag and was approved in December 1964. It became official by royal proclamation on February 15, 1965 and is now broadly supported by the Canadian population.
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What is the meaning of the maple leaf on the flag?
The maple leaf on the Canadian flag has been a national symbol since at least 1868. The red color of the leaf symbolizes the sacrifices made by Canadians during World War I. The final design of the flag, featuring a single red maple leaf, was approved in December 1964 and officially adopted on February 15, 1965. The maple leaf provides a distinctive and easily recognizable central symbol, broadly supported by the Canadian population.
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When was the current Canadian flag first used?
Canada's current flag, known as the Maple Leaf Flag, was officially adopted on February 15, 1965. The flag features a red field with a white square at its center, emblazoned with a single red maple leaf. The maple leaf had been a national symbol since at least 1868, while the red color is said to represent the sacrifices of Canadians during World War I.
Prior to the Maple Leaf Flag, the Canadian Red Ensign, a British Red Ensign defaced with the Canadian shield, served as an unofficial national flag. Calls for a distinctively Canadian flag grew after World War II, culminating in heated debate in 1964 and the eventual adoption of the Maple Leaf Flag.
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How was the design of the Canadian flag chosen?
In 1964, after growing agitation for a uniquely Canadian flag, Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson promised that Canada would have its own flag before the centennial of the confederation in 1967. Months of public and parliamentary debate led to the approval of the new Maple Leaf Flag in December 1964. It was officially adopted by royal proclamation on February 15, 1965, and has gained widespread support among Canadians. The final design broadened the stripes and changed them to red to emphasize the national colors. The single maple leaf provided a distinctive and easily recognizable central symbol.
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How has the flag of Canada changed over time?
The flag of Canada has evolved over time. After the Canadian federation was established in 1867, the imperial Union Jack and other British flags were used. In 1892, the Canadian shield became a badge on the British Red Ensign, which unofficially served as a national flag. A new coat of arms was granted in 1921, which replaced the 1868 original in Canadian ensigns three years later. A revised artistic version in 1957 incorporated red maple leaves instead of green.
Agitation for a distinctive Canadian flag increased following World War II. In December 1964, the Maple Leaf Flag was approved and became official on February 15, 1965. The red color is a symbol of Canadian sacrifice during World War I. The final design broadened the stripes and changed them to red to emphasize the national colors.
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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.
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