Canada’s National Flag – A Source of Pride for Canadians

From coast to coast to coast, Canadians are celebrating our great nation’s 143rd birthday this week. It’s a wonderful opportunity for all of us to pay tribute to Canada’s history and take pride in our multi-cultural society. It’s also a time when we can embrace our country’s traditions and showcase its symbols, the most recognizable of which is our National Flag.

The National Flag of Canada was approved by Parliament in 1964 and proclaimed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to take effect on February 15, 1965. As we all know, the flag contains in its centre a white square bearing a red maple leaf. Red and white are Canada’s official colours and, along with the maple leaf, are the symbolic elements found in the Canadian flag.

From Canada’s early days, the maple leaf was used to symbolize its land and its people. For example, it was used as part of the decorations for the Prince of Wales visit to Canada in 1860. It also appears on the coats of arms that were granted to Quebec and Ontario in 1868 and as a distinctive emblem on the royal arms of Canada that was proclaimed in 1921. In addition, for many years, the maple leaf was the symbol of the Canadian Armed Forces and was used to identify Canadian contingents in the two World Wars. It wasn’t until 1965 that the maple leaf received official status when the National Flag of Canada was proclaimed by Her Majesty the Queen.

While the maple leaf, as found on the national flag, is a stylized design, there is no special significance to its eleven points. The symbolism lies in the maple leaf itself, which is the traditional emblem of Canada. 

The National Flag of Canada is a symbol of honour and pride for all Canadians and as such, it deserves the utmost respect. It should always be displayed in a manner that is befitting this important national symbol.