Oh! Canada!

National Flag of Canada

National Flag of Canada

First flown over Parliament on 15 February 1965, following The Great Canadian Flag Debate over choosing a distinctly Canadian Symbol.  The Right Honourable Lester B. Pearson ignited what turned into bitter division of the people on 15 June 1964, when he proposed a new flag for Canada in the House of Commons to replace the Royal Union Flag.  Following rancorious and often acrimonious debate, as well as a special committee that considered thousands of suggestions, the adoption of our Maple Leaf was finalized on 15 December 1964.  Queen Elizabeth II signed the Royal Proclamation on 28 January 1965, while Lester B. Pearson and John G. Diefenbaker were in London for the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill.  Designated in 1996, 15 February is officially observed as National Flag Day in Canada.  Click here to learn about the Official Symbols of Canada. 

Royal Union Flag

Royal Union Flag

On 17-18 December 1964, Parliament passed Special Committee Report No 7, recommending that the Royal Union flag continue to be flown as it represents allegiance to the Crown as well as membership in the Commonwealth.  The Royal Union Flag is authorized to be flown on federal buildings, airports and defence installations where physical arrangements permit on the following days: Her Majesty's Birthday (Victoria Day;) the anniversary of the Statute of Westminster, (11 Dec;) and on the date of the official observance of Commonwealth Day, (second Monday in March.)  Click here to learn more about the Crown.

Learn more:
1. Ontario, Former Province of Canada, founding British North America province, 1 July 1867.  Capital: Toronto
2. Quebec, Former Province of Canada, founding British North America province, 1 July 1867.  Capital: Québec City
3. Nova Scotia, Former British Colony of Nova Scotia, founding British North America province, 1 July 1867.  Capital: Halifax
4. New Brunswick, Former British Colony of New Brunswick, founding British North America province, 1 July 1867.  Capital: Fredericton
5. Manitoba, Formerly part of Rupert's Land, then part of Northwest Territories, admitted to Confederation 15 May 1870.  Capital: Winnipeg
6. British Columbia, Former British Colony of British Columbia, admitted to Confederation 20 July 1871.  Capital: Victoria
7. Prince Edward Island, Former British Colony, admitted to Confederation 1 July 1873.  Capital: Charlottetown
8. Saskatchewan, Formerly part of Rupert's Land, and Northwest Territories, admitted to Confederation 1 September 1905.  Capital: Regina
9. Alberta, Formerly part of Rupert's Land and Northwest Territories, admitted to Confederation 1 September 1905  Capital: Edmonton
10. Newfoundland, Former Dominion and British Colony of Newfoundland, admitted to Confederation 31 March 1949. Capital: St-John's

A. Northwest Territories, Formerly part of Rupert's Land, department created 15 July 1870.  Capital: Yellowknife
B. Yukon Territory, Formerly part of Northwest Territories, department created 13 Jun 1898.  Capital: Whitehorse
C. Nunavut, Formerly part of Rupert's Land, and Northwest Territories, department created 1 April 1999.  Capital: Iqaluit (Frobisher Bay)

At the time of European contact, North America was occupied by innumerous independent groups of people, some lived in villages or networks of villages and others lived more in harmony with the land, mobilizing as dictated by the seasons and migratory paths of the animals they depended on for sustenance.  There were complex systems of councils in some communities, while others required less formal traditional leadership or social systems.  There is no homogenous indigenous community that can be considered representative of all First Nations, and thus there is no single specific Canadian Indigenous flag.  However, many of the more than 600 indigenous groups in Canada, have identified with particular flags that speak to their experience and tradition - for example, the Haudenosaunee flag represents the longhouses of the five original nations of the Iroquois confederacy that existed since 1722.  The Métis flag with its prominent infinity symbol recognizes the eternal nature of their nation, the result of the joining of European and Indigenous cultures.  Click here to see a map of the First Nations of Canada, and click here to read A Declaration of First Nations.   Learn more about the Every Child Matters flag movement.

Looking For...

Historic: Canada Blue Ensign, Hudson's Bay Red Ensign, Borough of Scarborough, any Centennial Flag.