Flag of Canada

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Flag of Canada

Use	National flag and ensign.
Proportion	1:2
Adopted	February 15, 1965
Design	A red, white bicolour with a red maple leaf charged in the centre.

The National Flag of Canada, popularly known as the Maple Leaf and l'Unifolié (French for "the one-leaved"), is a base red flag with a white square in its centre featuring a stylized, 11-pointed, red maple leaf. Before this flag, Canada used variants of the British Red Ensign with the shield of Canada charged in the fly. The Red Ensign that took familiar shape in Canada was introduced by Prime Minister Mackenzie King after the First World War. From the 1940s until 1965, Canada made several attempts to create its own flag by holding national contests, but the Red Ensign still flew for Canada. A serious debate about a flag change did not occur until 1964, when a committee was picked by Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson. Out of three choices, the maple leaf design by George F.G. Stanley was chosen as the winner. The current flag was adopted in 1964. The flag made its first appearance on February 15, 1965, which is now celebrated yearly as Flag Day.

Other than the Maple Leaf flag, several other flags have been created to be used by Canadian officials, government bodies and military forces. Most of these flags contain the Maple Leaf motif in some fashion; either by having the Canadian flag charged in the canton or by inclusion of maple leaves in the design.

The Royal Union Flag is also an official flag in Canada, used as a symbol of Canada's membership in the Commonwealth of Nations and of her allegiance to the Crown. The Royal Union Flag forms a component of the flags of several provinces.^[1] In Quebec, the provincial flag (a blue cross with four fleur-de-lis) is often considered a national flag along with the Maple Leaf flag, as is the Acadian flag in the Acadian regions of the Maritime provinces.^[2]

Contents 1 Design 1.1 Symbolism 1.2 Technical description 2 History 2.1 Royal Union Flag 2.2 Great Flag Debate 2.3 Fate of the first Maple Leaf 3 Protocol 3.1 Flying the flag at half-mast 3.1.1 2006 controversy over military deaths 4 Government promotion 4.1 "One in a Million National Flag" Challenge 5 See also 6 External links 7 Footnotes

[edit] Design

The current flag of Canada was approved by the House of Commons on December 15, 1964 and by the Senate two days later. The flag was later approved by Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen of Canada, an order which took effect on February 15, 1965.^[3] The national flag is also employed as the naval ensign for Canadian ships and military vessels.

[edit] Symbolism

In 1921, King George V proclaimed the official colours of Canada as red, from the Saint George's Cross, and white, from the French royal emblem since King Charles VII.

As early as 1700, the maple leaf served as a symbol celebrating the nature and environment of what is now Canada. The maple leaf on the flag is a sugar maple leaf. Sugar maples are native to Canada and have brilliant fall foliage. The number of points on the leaf has no significance; they do not, for instance, represent the ten provinces plus the territories. In fact, some of the very first Canadian flags made had maple leaves of variously 13 and 15 points.

By a figure-ground reversal of the white square, the two upper corners of the square can be seen as silhouettes of two angry faces arguing. This has often been considered evocative of the nature of Canadian federalism, but was wholly unintentional.

In Canadian culture, various patriotic comic book Canadian superheroes use the Maple Leaf flag as the basis for their costumes, much as Captain America's costume is based on the American flag. Hence, these characters' costumes are typically red and white with a red maple leaf as their symbol. Canadian superheroes who use this visual motif include Captain Canuck, Guardian and his successor, the Vindicator and Northguard.

[edit] Technical description

The ratio of the Canadian flag is 1:2, meaning the length of the flag is twice the width of the flag. The white field is a Canadian pale (a square central band in a vertical triband flag, named after this flag), and each bordering red field is exactly half its size.

The Department of Canadian Heritage has listed the various colour shades that should be used when reproducing the Canadian flag, these include:

• Printing ink
  • FIP red: General Printing Ink, No. 0-712;
  • Inmont Canada Ltd., No. 4T51577;
  • Monarch Inks, No. 62539/0
  • Rieger Inks, No. 25564
  • Sinclair and Valentine, No. RL163929/0.

The following colours 0/100/100/0 in the CMYK process or PMS032 (flag red 100%) or PMS485 (used for screens) in the Pantone colour specifier can be used when reproducing the flag. In the Pantone Matching System, the colour used (not officially) is 186c.^[4] In 1984, the National Flag of Canada Manufacturing Standards Act was passed in order to unify the standards in making the national flag for uses indoors and outdoors.^[5]

In heraldry, the flag has been blazoned as "Gules on a Canadian pale argent a maple leaf of the first."^[6]

[edit] History

[edit] Royal Union Flag

The Royal Union Flag, called the Union Flag (or, commonly, Union Jack) in the United Kingdom, was used as a de jure flag until the adoption of the current flag in 1965. It remains an official Canadian flag, being flown on certain specific occasions.

Currently, regulations require federal installations to fly the Union Flag beside the Maple Leaf where physical arrangements exist (i.e., a second flagpole) on the following days: Commonwealth Day (the second Monday in March), Victoria Day (which is also the Sovereign's official birthday in Canada), and the anniversary of the Statute of Westminster (December 11). The Union Flag can also be flown at the National War Memorial or at other locations during ceremonies that honour Canadian involvement with forces of other Commonwealth nations during times of war. The Union Flag is always preceded by the Maple Leaf flag, the latter occupying the place of honour.

The Union Flag is also part of the provincial flags of Ontario and Manitoba, forming the canton of these flags. A modified version is used on the flag of British Columbia. The flag of Newfoundland and Labrador is a stylized version of the Union Jack.

Several of the provincial lieutenant-governors formerly used a modified Union Flag as their personal standard, but the Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia is the only one who retains this design.^[7]

The Union Flag and Canadian Red Ensign are still sometimes flown in Canada by veterans' groups and others who continue to stress the importance of Canada's British heritage and the Commonwealth connection.

[edit] Great Flag Debate

Main article: Great Flag Debate

In 1963, the minority Liberal government of Lester B. Pearson gained power, and decided to adopt an official Canadian flag, by act of Parliament. The idea of an official national flag had been discussed for decades in the 20th century, particularly during the Liberal governments of Mackenzie King; indeed, during the Second World War there was for a time an effort to create a national flag for Canadian troops to carry into battle, but in Pearson's words, "It was a ridiculous design by some heraldic expert in National Defence, with all sorts of symbols on it." But it was not until the 1960s that the debate intensified, and became a subject of considerable controversy culminating in the Great Flag Debate of 1964. The principal political proponent of the change was Prime Minister Lester Pearson. Pearson had been a significant broker during the Suez Crisis of 1956 (for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.) Pearson was disturbed when the Egyptian government objected to Canadian peacekeeping forces on the grounds that the Canadian flag (the Red Ensign) contained the flag (Union Jack) of the United Kingdom, one of the belligerents. According to Mike: The Memoirs of the Right Honourable Lester B. Pearson, Pearson's principal concern was for the Canadian flag to be distinctive and unmistakably Canadian. The main opponent to changing the flag was the leader of the opposition and former prime minister, John Diefenbaker, who eventually made the subject a personal crusade.

Pearson was leader on a minority Government and risked losing power over the issue, however Pearson knew the Red Ensign with the Union Jack was unpopular in Quebec, a Liberal base of support. The Red Ensign was strongly favoured by rural English Canada, the heart of Tory support. On May 27, 1964, Pearson's minority Liberal government introduced a motion to parliament for adoption of his personal favorite design of a "sea to sea" (Canada's motto) flag with blue borders and three conjoined red maple leaves on a white field. This motion led to weeks of acrimonious debate in parliament, and the design came to be known as the Pearson Pennant. Diefenbaker demanded a referendum be held on the flag issue, but Pearson instead formed a 15 member multi-party parliamentary committee to select a new design. Through a period of study with some political manoeuvring, the committee chose the current design, which was created by George F.G. Stanley, inspired by the flag of the Royal Military College of Canada, in Kingston, Ontario. The ultimately favoured design with red bars and a single maple leaf was voted unanimously by the committee on October 29, 1964. The new flag was passed by a majority vote in the House of Commons on December 15, 1964. The Senate added its approval two days later.

Queen Elizabeth II proclaimed the new flag on January 28, 1965.^[8] It was inaugurated on February 15, 1965, at an official ceremony held on Parliament Hill in Ottawa in the presence of Governor General Major-General Georges P. Vanier, the prime minister, the members of the Cabinet, and Canadian parliamentarians. Since 1996, February 15 has been commemorated as National Flag of Canada Day.

Despite the preceding acrimony, the new flag was quickly embraced by the Canadian public, and internationally the flag quickly became a welcome and easily recognizable marker of Canada worldwide.

Attachment to the old Canadian Red Ensign persisted for quite a while for many people, especially veterans. In 1967 the Canadian Government first used the Canadian Coat of Arms (whose shield was used on the red ensign) on a red flag for the nation's centennial celebrations [1]. It was designed to appeal to those who were used to the Red Ensign and had not yet become accustomed to the Maple Leaf Flag. The Canadian Red Ensign itself can be frequently seen today across Canada, usually in connection to veteran's associations.

Occasionally, the Pearson pennant itself can still be seen as a Canadian cultural marker. Most notably, in the 1990s Martin Tielli of the Canadian rock band Rheostatics often played a double-necked bass guitar with a modified Pearson pennant painted on it.

[edit] Fate of the first Maple Leaf

The first Maple Leaf flag was sewn by Joan O'Malley in November 1964.[2] After this flag was first raised in February 1965, it was said that Prime Minister Pearson gave it to the Liberal caucus. On February 15, 2000, a ceremony was held in which the Chair of the National Liberal Caucus presented Sheila Copps, then Minister of Canadian Heritage, with that flag.^[9] However, what is also said to be the first Maple Leaf was discovered in 2005. That Maple Leaf had been given to then Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, Lucien Lamoureux. Mr. Lamoureux was later appointed as Canada's ambassador to Belgium. After his death and some delay, the flag was returned to Canada.^[10]

[edit] Protocol

Officially, there is no law that dictates the proper use of the Canadian flag. However, Canadian Heritage released guidelines on how to correctly display the flag alone or with other flags. The guidelines deal with the order of precedence the Canadian flag is placed, where the flag can be used and how it is used and what people should do to honour the flag. The suggestions, titled Flag Etiquette in Canada, was published by Canadian Heritage in a book and online format, which had a last update at April of 2003.^[11] With the weather permitting, the flag itself can be displayed on any day at buildings operated by the Canadian Government, airports, military bases and diplomatic offices, as well as by citizens, during any time of the day. When flying the flag, it must be flown using its own pole and must be superior to all flags, save for, in descending order, the Queen's Personal Standard, the Governor General's Standard, any of the Personal Standards of members of the Canadian Royal Family, or flags of the Lieutenant-Governors.^[12]

[edit] Flying the flag at half-mast

When a flag is placed at the half-mast (or half-staff) position, it indicates that a period of mourning is occurring. To raise a flag in this position, the flag must be flown to the top of the pole first, then brought down halfway before the flag is secured for flying. When such a period occurs, all flags should be flown at that position or not be flown at all, with the exception of flags permanently attached to poles.

In Canada, the decision to fly the flag at half-mast on federal buildings rests with Canadian Heritage. For the flag to be half-masted nationwide, one of the following deaths must be announced:

• The Canadian Monarch – from the time of announcement of the death up to and including the funeral. This clause includes members of the Royal Family related to the Sovereign by the first degree, such as a spouse, children, parents or siblings.
• The current or former Governor General of Canada
• The current or former Prime Minister of Canada
• A current minister of the federal cabinet

Each province can make its own determination of when to half-mast the flag when provincial leaders or honoured citizens pass away. Canadian Heritage has the right to half-mast the flag under extraordinary circumstances, such as honouring former American President Ronald Reagan or for international events as the September 11th attacks in 2001.

There are certain days every year that will call for the national flag to be flown at half-mast. These include:

• April 9 - Vimy Ridge Day
• April 28 - Workers' Mourning Day
• Last Sunday in September - Police and Peace Officers' National Memorial Day
• November 11 - Remembrance Day
• December 6 - National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

[edit] 2006 controversy over military deaths

A controversy surfaced in April 2006 when the newly-elected Conservative government discontinued the practice, initiated by the previous Liberal government, of flying the flag at half-mast on all government buildings whenever a Canadian soldier was killed in action in Afghanistan.^[13] The policy of half-masting upon every death had been initiated after the Tarnak Farm incident.

The issue divided veterans' groups and military families, some of whom supported the return to the original tradition of using Remembrance Day to honour all soldiers killed in action, while others who felt that it was an appropriate way to honour the fallen and to remind the population of the costs of war.

In spite of the federal government's policy, local authorities have often decided to half-mast the national flag since then to honour fallen soldiers who were from their jurisdiction. Examples include Toronto and Saskatchewan.^[14]

[edit] Government promotion

Ever since the adoption of the Canadian flag in 1965, there have been programs sponsored by the Canadian government to promote the flag to their citizens and to the world at large. Two of the most famous examples is the Heritage Department's Parliamentary Flag Program and the flag program run by the Department of Public Works. The flag has also been featured on several definitive stamp series issued by Canada Post since 1989. This increased exposure of the Canadian flag and the flag as part of the Canadian identity at home and abroad through the circulation of postage stamps.

To increase awareness of the new flag, the Parliamentary Flag Program was set up in December 1972 by the Cabinet. The purpose of this program was to allow members of the Canadian House of Commons to distribute flags and lapel pins in the shape of the Canadian flag to their constituents. The program has been in operation since 1973.^[15]

Flags that are flown from the Peace Tower, the East and West blocks of Parliament Hill are packaged by the Department of Public Works and can be obtained free of charged from their offices. However, the program has a waiting list that lasts about 10 years and is available to Canadians only.

[edit] "One in a Million National Flag" Challenge

In 1996, Sheila Copps, as the Minister of Canadian Heritage instituted the "One in a Million National Flag" Challenge^[16]. This program was intended to provide Canadians with one million new Maple Leaf flags in time for Flag Day, 1997. The program was controversial in that the program cost approximately CDN$45 million and the flags had no means to be hoisted or flown. The official numbers from Canadian Heritage put the expenses around $15.5 million, with approximately 1/7th of the cost being off-set by donations.^[17]

[edit] See also

• Coat of arms of Canada
• List of Canadian flags
• List of Canadian provincial and territorial symbols
• Flag
• National Flag of Canada Day
• Great Flag Debate
• George F.G. Stanley

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Flags of Canada

• National Flag of Canada (Department of Canadian Heritage)
• George F.G. Stanley's Flag Memorandum, 23 March 1964
• Flag Etiquette in Canada
• Canada at Flags of the World
• Canadian Flag Clip Art Gallery
• CBC Digital Archives - The Great Canadian Flag Debate

[edit] Footnotes

List of Canadian flags

National: Canada • Royal Standard • Governor General • Red Ensign Provinces and territories: Lieutenant Governors • Alberta • British Columbia • Manitoba • New Brunswick • Newfoundland and Labrador • Northwest Territories • Nova Scotia • Nunavut • Ontario • Prince Edward Island • Quebec • Saskatchewan • Yukon Territory Cities: Calgary • Edmonton • Montreal • Ottawa • Toronto • Vancouver • Winnipeg • Windsor • more

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Flags of sovereign states	Coats of arms of sovereign states
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Flags of formerly independent states