DIEFENBAKER
CANADA
CENTRE
A LEAF OF THEIR OWN:
SEARCHING FOR A
NATIONAL FLAG
A LEAF OF THEIR OWN: SEARCHING FOR A NATIONAL FLAG
T H E MA PL E L EA F
A LEAF OF THEIR OWN:
TH E DE BATE
The maple leaf served as a symbol for over a century before officially
becoming part of the National Flag of Canada on February 15, 1965.
One of its first recorded uses was in 1834, when it was made the
emblem of the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste. The president of the
Société called the maple leaf “Canada’s emblem,” declaring it the
“king of our forest.”
(U of S University Library, University Archives & Special Collections)
T HE ROYAL UN ION FLAG
The Royal Union Flag (also known as the Union Jack), a major part of all Red Ensign designs, was first
raised in the 1600’s at the British settlement in Newfoundland. The Union Jack became the official flag
of Canada in 1904; however the Red Ensign was approved for use on government buildings abroad in
1924. A 1945 Order in Council authorized use of the Red Ensign on federal buildings in Canada.
T H E F L EUR DE L IS
Fleur de Lis symbolism dates back to medieval
France. In Canada, three Fleur de Lis were carved
into the cross that was ceremonially planted during
Jacques Cartier’s first voyage to North America in
1534, claiming the New World for the French Crown.
The banner of France, which features three Fleur de
Lis, was flown over Île Sainte-Croix and Port Royal,
the first two permanent European settlements in
British North America.
ISSUE S OF N ATION AL UN ITY
By the 1960s, years of war, economic uncertainty, and a sudden
influx of immigrants led to rapid changes and instability in Canada.
These important social transformations created new perspectives on
Cartier erecting a cross at Gaspé, 1534
Political cartoon by Aislin for the Montreal
Gazette, 1990
T H E R ED EN S I G N
(Aislin, Montreal, The Gazette.)
The Red Ensign was based on the flag flown by the British Merchant
Marines since 1707. Three different versions of the Red Ensign were
used in Canada, each featuring a different shield.
national unity. At the same time, post-war immigrants identified less
with the established British and French cultures than they previously
had. Tense French-English relations had been challenging to unity,
however, the nationalism and support for separatism that emerged in
Québec was without precedent. It was under these circumstances
that Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson proposed the creation of a new
flag for Canada. He argued that a distinctively Canadian flag would
unite the entire country.
SEARCHING FOR A
NATIONAL FLAG
Following the announced search for a new national flag
on June 15, 1964, a summer of intense parliamentary
debate followed. Pearson called for the creation of
a special all-party committee composed of fifteen
members, who were tasked with choosing the new flag.
Canadians were so captivated by this debate that
thousands sent designs to the committee to be viewed.
In all, over 2,600 designs were submitted from across
the country. A staunch supporter of the Red Ensign,
Diefenbaker himself received numerous design
submissions. These were from citizens favoring the
Red Ensign and from those concerned by the notion of
the “Pearson Pennant” becoming the National Flag of
Canada. Others were sarcastic submissions meant to
mock Diefenbaker’s opposition to a new flag.
The members of the flag search committee
( Cliff Buckman, Queen’s University Archives)
Cartoon by Duncan Macpherson
(Copyright: Estate of Duncan Macpherson. Reprinted with
permission – Torstar Syndication Services
The committee narrowed down their selections to three categories:
• those with three maple leaves (such as the “Pearson Pennant”)
• those with a single maple leaf (such as the one designed by historian Dr. George F.G. Stanley)
• those containing other symbols (such as the Red Ensign)
1871-1921
1921-1957
1957-1965
The Red Ensign was
commissioned to include a
fly with the arms of Ontario,
Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New
Brunswick. The shield was altered
to incorporated symbols from
other provinces as they entered
Confederation.
In 1921 an Order in Council
replaced the shield with the shield
portion of the Royal Arms of
Canada.
In 1957 the approved artistic
interpretation of Canada’s arms
changed the maple leaves on the
Canadian Red Ensign from green
to red.
Illustration from Punch magazine
honouring Canadian forces at
Ypres, April 1915.
Cartoon by Duncan
Macpherson
Robert Chambers - Halifax
Chronicle-Herald; 15
February 1965
(Copyright: Estate of Duncan
Macpherson. Reprinted with permission
– Torstar Syndication Services)
(With permission from the family of
the late Bob Chambers)
Canadian Heritage website: Historical Flags in Canada
On October 22, 1964 the committee decided in favour of the single maple leaf design. The stylized maple
leaf we now see on the national flag was originally designed by Québec nationalist Jacques Saint-Cyr.
The concept of a maple leaf on a white background with red stripes on either side was suggested by
Dr. George Stanley. Ultimately, MP John Matheson, often referred to as the father of the Canadian Flag,
combined Stanley’s two components along with Saint-Cyr’s maple leaf to create the design that the
committee would unanimously approve.
THE NEW FLAG
Proclamation signed by Queen
Elizabeth II declaring the Maple
Leaf the National Flag of Canada
The final step in choosing Canada’s national flag came when Pearson put forth a free vote on the approved design. On December
15, 1964 the motion passed in the House of Commons with 163 votes in support and 78 against. The proclamation declaring the
maple leaf the National Flag of Canada was signed by Queen Elizabeth II on January 28, 1965 in London, England.
On February 15, 1965, the Maple Leaf was raised on Parliament Hill for the first time. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Constable
Joseph Secours lowered the Red Ensign and the newly appointed National Flag of Canada was raised to the sounds of a choir
singing ‘O Canada’ and ‘God Save the Queen.’
The raising of the new
National Flag of Canada on
the HMSC Saskatchewan,
1965
(Library and Archives Canada/
Department of National
Defence fonds/e010788072)
The announcement of the newly selected
National Flag of Canada, December 1964
(Library and Archives Canada/Credit: Duncan
Cameron/Duncan Cameron fonds/a136153)
“The flag is the symbol of the nation’s unity, for it, beyond any doubt, represents all
The first raising of the new National flag of
Canada on Parliament Hill on Feb 15, 1965
(Library and Archives Canada/Credit:
Duncan Cameron/Duncan Cameron fonds/
e010836276)
The lowering of the last Red Ensign on
Parliament Hill on Feb 15, 1965
(Library and Archives Canada/Credit: Duncan
Cameron/Duncan Cameron fonds/e011093246)
DIEFENBAKER
CANADA
CENTRE
the citizens of Canada without distinction of race, language, belief or opinion.”
- Honourable Maurice Bourget, Speaker of the Senate
MPs holding the newly selected flag in
December, 1964
(Library and Archives Canada/Credit: Duncan
Cameron/Duncan Cameron fonds/PA-142624)
DIEFENBAKER
CANADA
CENTRE
This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.
Ce projet a été rendu possible en partie grâce au gouvernement du Canada.