Posted on 02/15/2015 7:30:30 AM PST by matt1234
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.
Beginning in 1610, Lower Canada, a new British colony, flew Great Britain's Union Jack, or Royal Union Flag. In 1763, as a result of the French and Indian Wars, France lost its sizable colonial possessions in Canada, and the Union Jack flew all across the wide territory of Canada. In 1867, the Dominion of Canada was established as a self-governing federation within the British Empire, and three years later a new flag, the Canadian Red Ensign, was adopted. The Red Ensign was a solid red flag with the Union Jack occupying the upper-left corner and a crest situated in the right portion of the flag.
The search for a new national flag that would better represent an independent Canada began in earnest in 1925 when a committee of the Privy Council began to investigate possible designs. Later, in 1946, a select parliamentary committee was appointed with a similar mandate and examined more than 2,600 submissions. Agreement on a new design was not reached, and it was not until the 1960s, with the centennial of Canadian self-rule approaching, that the Canadian Parliament intensified its efforts to choose a new flag.
In December 1964, Parliament voted to adopt a new design. 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 11-point red maple leaf in its center. Queen Elizabeth II proclaimed February 15, 1965, as the day on which the new flag would be raised over Parliament Hill and adopted by all Canadians.
Today, Canada's red maple leaf flag is one of the most recognizable national flags in the world.
Canada ping please.
As a Canadian, I just wish our flag wasn’t so ugly and boring.
But I suppose it fits, seeing as, to many folks around the world, Canada is barely even thought-of, other than as the punchline to lame jokes. X.x
The maple leaf seems an odd symbol to me. Pine trees are much more representative of Canada from my perspective.
Maybe it is just me, Kriggerel.. but I always liked your flag. Simple? Maybe. However, I think it is a nice one!
Canada Ping!
Wrong. The proclamation was made by Queen Elizabeth II of Canada.
It’s one of the few flags made post WW2 that doesn’t look like it was a complete afterthought or a variation of existing flags.
Simple, easily recognized and reproducible.
That’s not the only error, it’s the Canadian Coat-of-Arms, not some nondescript “crest”. Reporters are idiots, and those who write on such subjects should be drawn and quartered when they make such glaring and insulting mistakes.
That said, the trudeau liEberals are trying to make hay out of Harper’s not making a big deal out of the anniversary of L.B. PEARSONS flag. There’s a reason there is no Tory blue in the flag.
I’m still trying to figure out where exactly this Lower Canada is/was/might have been.
“Beginning in 1610, Lower Canada, a new British colony, flew Great Britain’s Union Jack, or Royal Union Flag.”
I'm surprised that Québec never objected to the absence of blue. Not Tory blue but still...
Sing along
In Days of yore, From Britain's shore
Wolfe the dauntless hero came
And planted firm Britannia's flag On Canada's fair domain.
Here may it wave, Our boast, our pride
Enjoined in love together, The thistle, shamrock, rose entwined,
The Maple Leaf Forever.
[CHORUS] The Maple Leaf
Our Emblem Dear,
The Maple Leaf Forever.
God save our Queen and heaven bless,
The Maple Leaf Forever.
At Queenston Heights and Lundy's Lane
Our brave fathers side by side
For freedom's home and loved ones dear,
Firmly stood and nobly died.
And so their rights which they maintained,
We swear to yeild them never.
Our watchword ever more shall be
The Maple Leaf Forever
[CHORUS]
Our fair Dominion now extends
From Cape Race to Nootka Sound
May peace forever be our lot
And plenty a store abound
And may those ties of love be ours
Which discord cannot sever
And flourish green for freedom's home
The Maple Leaf Forever
[CHORUS]
Lower Canada was what is now Québec while Upper Canada is now Ontario. The designations were based on their relative positions along the St. Lawrence River.
Upper Canada=Ontario (headwaters of the St. Lawrence: Up river=upper)
Lower Canada=Quebec {”new” colony after the war with France}(run of the river: downstream=lower)
My gawd, there’s something else I am older than.
I’ve lived my life in two states - Washington and Alaska with lots of trips to and thru Canada, mostly B.C. and the Yukon. Great country, people, food and drink including my favorite O’Keefe’s Extra Old Stout. A couple bottles of that and you can speak Canadian fairly well.
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