The British flag has flown over Canada since the late medieval period, when the colony of Lower Canada raised the Union Jack in 1610. In 1867, Canada remained part of the British Empire, but the country became a self-governing federation, the Dominion of Canada. The Dominion adopted the Red Ensign, a red banner with the Union Jack in the upper left corner and Canada鈥檚 crest in the lower right. The Canadian Red Ensign experienced various design changes until 1957. The flag in the illustration dates from 1896.聽
The Red Ensign is still used in variations as the provincial flags of Manitoba and Ontario. Bermuda, a British Island Territory in the North Atlantic, has flown their version of the Red Ensign since 1910. The Canadian Red Ensign didn鈥檛 receive official status until 1945, when Governor General Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone, formalized the use of the flag on federal buildings. 聽
The current flag with a maple leaf in the centre became Canada鈥檚 flag in February 15, 1965. The adoption of this flag proved controversial for many, who hoped to keep the Red Ensign. The official flag debate began on June 15, 1964, when Prime Minister Lester Pearson proposed to change our national symbol in the House of Commons.
Pearson favoured a flag with a prong of three maple leaves framed by two blue bars on either side, meaning from sea-to-sea. The design for this flag was leaked to the press in February 1964. Later in the same year, Pearson spoke at the Royal Canadian Legion convention in Winnipeg in May. Pearson gave a speech about his idea of having a new Canadian flag, but he was booed by several Legionnaires holding Red Ensigns.
Canadian traditionalists referred to the new flag as the Pearson Pennant, a flag designed by heraldry expert, Alan Beddoe. Yet, many Canadians were supportive of having the nation switch to a flag without apparent British or French imagery. The July 29, 1964 issue of the Assiniboia Times features Sam Popescu, a Kayville District farmer, pointing at the so-called Pearson Pennant painted on his car. 鈥淢ister Popescu had full colour reproductions of the flag painted on the doors of his car, creating much comment and discussion wherever he drives,鈥� the Times reported.聽 聽聽聽
In December 1964, Canadian Parliament chose the single maple version over the three-pronged version, because of the design鈥檚 elegant simplicity with an 11-point maple leaf in the centre and a white background framed by red bars. Red and white have been Canada鈥檚 traditional colours since 1921, based on a decision by King George V, the same year when Canada鈥檚 coat of arms was adopted, featuring three maple leaves. A parliamentary committee examined several other choices, but the single red maple leaf in the centre proved to be the most popular selection, pleasing traditionalists and progressives. 聽
The current maple leaf flag was designed by George Stanley, dean of arts at the Royal Military College in Kingston Ontario. Stanley heard the government was searching for a new flag. He designed a flag with a maple leaf framed by two red bars after studying the RMC banner with two vertical red stripes, a white background and an armoured fist raising three maple leaves. Stanley mailed his design to Liberal MP, John Matheson.
In September, 1964 the Special Flag Committee, representing 15 members of Parliament from each political party, studied 3,541 flag proposals before Stanley鈥檚 version was chosen in 1965 鈥� a flag with traditional roots, but a national symbol capable of representing all Canadians.
