How Canada Got It’s Flag - and Why it Took so Long

Photo by Jason Hafso on Unsplash

Canada, it seems, was in no hurry to pick a flag. In true Canadian fashion, we took our time, had plenty of polite debates, and eventually came to a decision that (mostly) made everyone happy. But how did the iconic red and white maple leaf come to be? And why did it take nearly 100 years after Confederation to get our own unique flag?

What Took So Long?

Canada officially became a country in 1867, but for decades afterward, we didn’t have a flag of our own. Instead, we mostly flew the British Union Jack (which, yes, is the UK’s flag) and something called the Red Ensign—a red flag with the Union Jack in the corner and a bunch of Canadian symbols on it.

That worked for many years, especially since we were still pretty tied to Britain. But as Canada grew more independent - especially after World Wars I and II - Canadians started feeling like we needed a flag that truly represented us.

The Great Flag Debate 

In the 1960s. Lester B. Pearson was Prime Minister and he believed it was time for a flag that Canadians could all get behind. Not everyone agreed - some people loved the Red Ensign, while others wanted something fresh. What followed was a classic Canadian moment: the Great Flag Debate of 1964.

There were thousands  of designs submitted. Some had beavers, some had maple leaves, some even had blue stripes to represent the coasts. One had a goose. (We politely passed on that one.)

After weeks of passionate but respectful debate (and more than a few heated arguments in Parliament), a simple, bold design emerged as the winner: a red flag with a white square in the middle, and a single red maple leaf. Clean. Recognizable. Unmistakably Canadian.

The Maple Leaf Rises over Ottawa

On February 15, 1965, Canada’s brand-new national flag was officially raised on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The maple leaf - already a beloved Canadian symbol - was now front and centre. Red and white were chosen as Canada’s official colours, and the whole design was meant to be simple, modern, and representative of our nation  

60 years later, it’s hard to imagine Canada without the beloved maple leaf flag. It’s on our backpacks, our mittens, our hockey jerseys, and proudly waving at every Canada Day celebration coast to coast. And while it may be relatively new compared to other national flags, it didn’t take long for it to become deeply rooted in our national story.