This canadian history for kids exclusive, looks at the birth of our great flag it was a debate that lasted almost two years but on february 15, 1965, the. How the canadian maple leaf flag came to be canada has an extensive history with its national flags. Its symbolism should be expansive, representing perspectives from across the country. I also recently purchased a canadian flag from a collection from an american serviceman who served with the canadian forces in the first world war. Even though matheson was a resident of brockville and a representative for leeds when the flag was introduced, blackwell politely disagrees with the notion that the plan for the canadian flag was. Pearson eventually used the rules of closure to limit speeches to 20 minutes and force a vote on. On june 15, 1964, he opened the great flag debate, with extensive historical. Peter easton is one of the most successful pirates of the early 17th century who even managed to retire and spend his treasure in peace. Rewind celebrates fifty years of our now familiar maple leaf flag. Canadas official flag from 1867 had been britains union flag, although the red ensign with the canadian badge was regularly flown for qualified purposes.
It is a cursory biography about the creation of the canadian flag and the various uses the flag is used for. Canadas maple leaf flag born amid bitter debate the star. Months of public and parliamentary debate resulted in approval december 1964 of the new maple leaf flag, which became official by royal proclamation on. Flag of canada this is a wikipedia book, a collection of wikipedia articles that can be easily saved, imported by an external electronic rendering service, and ordered as a printed book. Feb 15, 2020 if you want to celebrate national flag of canada day by learning more about its storied past, including the long debate over its creation and design, check out some of these books in our tpl collections. The colours of the flag are the official national colours of canada, red and white. February 15, 1965 canadas new red and white maple leaf flag is inaugurated in a ceremony on parliament hill. Its the maple leafs 50th anniversary as canadas national flag, and an apt time to remember the events surrounding its inauguration. What to do with old canadian flags the globe and mail. Canadas flag facts and figures, measurement crayola. The winning flag was selected for the following reasons. International disputes over territory can be ugly affairs, waged with all the nastiness of a divorce. The debate would rage for more than six months, cause acrimony in the house of commons, unleash an emotional debate among canadians everywhere, and, in the end, do little to unite the country.
The story of the maple leaf flag, that debate over the flag stands among the nastiest in our. The canadian national flag the canadian flag, sometimes referred to as the maple leaf, is a true symbol of canada and shows how we love our land by having a maple leaf on the flag. Which means weve come to a rather immovable impasse on this debate. The canadian flag debate took place in 1964, when a design for a new canadian flag was selected in the mid1960s.
The great canadian flag debate or great flag debate took place in 1963 and 1964. Jun 30, 2016 the story of one man who was ordered to remove the american flag from his apartment balcony because of a violation of community policy embodies a debate about when it is appropriate to display the. Jul 04, 2016 look up great canadian flag debate to learn all about it. A national flag is a simple, effective way of identifying a country and expressing its collective will and sovereignty. In the 37 years since, the maple leaf flag has become our symbol of national pride, the unique and perfect canadian logo and canadians, for all their supposed reticence, have become a nation of exuberant flagwavers. For almost a century, canada did not fly a flag of its own. A history and evolution of the flag of canada lester pearson and the great canadian flag debate the canadian public was also invited to submit ideas for a new flag. The great canadian flag debate or great flag debate was a national debate that took place in 1963 and 1964 when a new design for the national flag of canada was chosen although the flag debate had been going on for a long time prior, it officially began on june 15, 1964, when prime minister lester b. On february 15, 1965, canada s official flag was raised for the first time on parliament hill. If you want to celebrate national flag of canada day by learning more about its storied past, including the long debate over its creation and design, check out some of these books in our tpl collections. There were instead the union jack and the canadian red ensign. The new brunswicker put his red pen to work to explain why the single maple leaf. While it was officially a naval flag used by canadian ships starting in the 1890s, the canadian red ensign a combination of the union jack and the shield of canada had been used unofficially both at sea and on land since the 1870s and was widely recognized as a national symbol. A closure ends the canadian flag debate hajdkvjecn.
Nylon canadian flag embroidered oxford 210d heavy duty nylon, durable and long lasting sewn panels canadian flag, 3x5 feet. Our next, and distinctively canadian, flag will most probably be designed by lt. A look at the forgotten runnersup to the beloved maple leaf fearing that canada would soon by symbolized by a hated threeleaf banner favoured by pm lester pearson. Ottawas tribute to the canadian flag is embarrassing the. Search terms must be at least 3 characters in length. Prime minister pearson wanted a flag that was canadian, therefore removing the british union jack. Canad the great canadian flag debate 1421 words 6 pages. Known as the scrapbook debates, newspaper clippings pasted into scrapbooks by library of parliament staff from 1867 to 1871 remain the only organized source of parliamentary proceedings during that period. The canadian government has a federal identity program, which sets out the colour values that should be used when reproducing official government symbols, including the flag. The clarity and striking design made it easily recognizable.
Flag designs that we didnt pick in the 1960s canadians were invited to submit their own flag suggestions to a multiparty flag committee. Feb 14, 2015 canadas maple leaf flag born amid bitter debate. Today is flag day 15 january and i thought it would be apropos to read this book today. All logos from this logo set are based on the maple leaf the official symbol of canada, represented on the countrys flag as well. Pearson eventually used the rules of closure to limit speeches to 20 minutes and force a vote on december 15, 1964.
Find highquality canadian flag stock photos and editorial news pictures from getty images. The canadian flag is result of the contribution of many, extending over a century. The process of choosing the design, was a long one that stirred national debate. Red and white have been canadas official colours since the royal arms of canada were introduced in 1921. Historian says brockvilles claim as birthplace of modern. Bob harper, chairman of the 50 years of our flag committee. It has taken nearly 100 years to agree on a national emblem and about 35 days of parliamentary debate to decide what. Typical were the claims and counter claims made by two canadian books. Rejected designs include dozens of badly drawn beavers, a crude cutout of the. The great canadian flag debate by maya patel on prezi. During his short career on the sea, he managed to amass the vast fleet of pirate ships that became stronger than any military might that roamed atlantic. The great flag debate of 1964 climaxed one of the most exciting episodes in canadian history. Pearson to move forward with a new flag resulted in almost of year of often acrimonious debate. A new flag would give canadians a feeling of national identity and unity.
For him is just one flag that can properly be flown. The socalled great canadian flag debate began on june 15, 1964 when prime minister lester b pearson proposed the design and selection of a. But it should also be singular, offering a picture of unity. Though pearson had called for a new design and pressured parliament to make a.
Oct 17, 2017 learn about the red ensigns origin in the british navy, how the canadian flag evolved as new provinces joined confederation, and how to date a flag. The story of our flag and the kids book of canadian exploration. Great canadian flag debate news newspapers books scholar jstor december. The red ensign, called the canadian flag, with the canadian coat of arms in the field is proper only afloat. It would be the start of six months of arguing and accusations. The horrible canadian flags that might have been youtube. Use colours which symbolize important canadian traits too, either things like red for britain, or blue for water and white for france and snow. The red colour is known as fip red, and the values are. The house of commons got into a debate in the summer of 1964, where. Search the worlds most comprehensive index of fulltext books.
It was the flag of the league of the canadian flag. Chadwick recommended to the government that canada should have its own national flag featuring a maple leaf. He also believed that the new flag should be unique and not be mistaken or confused with the emblem of. Our canadian flag by maxine trottier and brian deines ages 412. No stranger to controversy, political writer yves engler would strike. The drive to estabish a madeincanada flag began in the 1920s with prime minister wiliam lyon mackenzie king. It was a debate that lasted almost two years but on february 15, 1965, the maple leaf flag became the national flag of canada. Pearson introduced his new flag in the name of giving canada a greater sense of national identity and of creating greater national unity at a time of considerable french canadian unrest. A year later, the maple leaf made its first appearance upon a canadian flag, albeit an. Canada and denmark fight over island with whisky and. The story of maple leaf flag and the great flag debate of 1964 to birth of the canadian flag in february 15th 1965 by accomplished writer rick archbold. The great canadian flag debate or great flag debate was a national debate that took place in 1963 and 1964 when a new design for the national flag of canada was chosen.
Pearson proposed his plan for the new flag in the house of commons. The great canadian flag debate a look back at the great flag debate of 1964. The great canadian flag debate the parliamentary debate on canadas proposed flag was lengthy and ugly. It took her less than a minute to spot it out on the deck.
The book opens in may of 1964, when prime minister lester pearson travelled to winnipeg to address the national convention of the royal canadian legiona group fiercely opposed to a maple leaf flag. On february 15, 1965, canadas official flag was raised for the first time on parliament hill. In 1964 the flag committee chose the current flag, designed by george stanley and based on the flag of the royal military college of canada. This unique collection has been placed on the canada memory of the world register. Canadas flag canadian icons series by lesley evans ogden ages 38. Canadas own flag 1964 miscellaneous tokens and medals. A major change in symbols took place in 1921, when canada was granted a distinctive new coat of arms. Additional information on the origin of the canadian flag. Red ensign canadien served as the civil ensign for canada from 1892 to 1965, and as an informal flag of canada from the late19th century to 1965. A canadian flag raising on hans island in 2005, left, and a danish flag raising in 2002. Pearsons remarks were sometimes drowned out by the boos and catcalls, but he gallantly stood his ground. George stanley was pitching his idea for a new canadian flag even before government was officially looking for one. Pearson proposed his plans for a new flag in the house of commons.
The canadian flag debate was a major controversy to canada because many thought it was about time for canada to have their own flag years after gaining their independence from britain. Flag of canada flag of canada flag of canada maple leaf canadian pale great canadian flag debate canadian parliamentary flag program historical flags flag of the hudsons bay company canadian red ensign see also list of canadian flags. In the case of the canadian flag, i cannot entirely forget that it is both my flag and a passing imitation of a beer. On 15 february 1965, the red ensign was lowered and the maple leaf was raised in a ceremony on parliament hill.
Pearson that canada would acquire its own national flag prior to the centennial of confederation in 1967. Canad the great canadian flag debate 1421 words bartleby. Read one of the picture books about the canadian flag. But progress was not made until 1964, a few years before canadas centennial year. Okay, the maple leaf has been a symbol for canada and canadians for a.
The parliamentary debate on canadas proposed flag was lengthy and ugly. Mar 09, 2010 canadas seal debate, dead in the water. When prime minister lester pearson said canada needed a new flag, the suggestions were mixed with protest. Pearson suggested this design, which became known as the pearson pennant. Garden flag canada canadian garden flag,garden decoration flag,indoor and outdoor flags,celebration parade flags,anniversary celebration, national day,doublesided. Ottawas tribute to the canadian flag is embarrassing. To celebrate the adoption of the new canadian flag with the maple leaf. Heated debate took place in 1964 following the promise of prime minister lester b. A canadian maple leaf flag flies near the peace tower on parliament hill in ottawa on feb. Consult the flag specifications and waiting periods. The canadian army, not having a distinctive flag for themselves started to use the red ensign with the shield of the coat of arms of canada in january 1944. Debate heats up over birthplace of canadian flag claim.
The great canadian flag debate actually started in 1963 but officially began on june 15, 1964 when prime minister lester b. The long and often bitter debate over the new canadian flag began in the house of commons on 15 june 1964. Download premium images you cant get anywhere else. Advertisment cbc digital archives cbc butterfly logo. Peter easton canadian pirate the way of the pirates. While the countrys fate hung in the balance, two largerthanlife antagonists fought for their political lives. While the widely recognized maple leaf flag is a universally recognized symbol of canada in the 21st century, it took many years for canadas national flag to reach that status. Did the adoption of maple leaf flag save canada from breaking up.
The process began in 1895 when heraldry enthusiast edward m. Here you will find all the information on the canadian flag debate. Jan 25, 2015 pearson laughed, shrugging off the interruptions and continuing with his speech. Because this is a chance to show your understanding of canada and canadian symbols, not a test of your artistic ability, you will write a description of your new flag. Canadians born after the poisonous flag debate of 1964 may have little.
Annmaureen owens is coauthor of the popular childrens information books forts of canada, canadas maple leaf. This canadian history for kids exclusive, looks at the birth of our great flag. King decided to try to bring the issue of a distinctly canadian flag to the forefront of debate in parliament. The great canadian flag debate had now officially begun. The biggest loser in the great canadian flag debate was the prime minister himself. The historical occurrences that happened in the sixties in canada that were the most significant to canada in terms of bringing changes to canada were the occurrences known as the great canadian flag debate, the quiet revolution and the occurrence known as trudeaumania. Discuss the idea of symbols in general, and cultural symbols something that people in that country feel is important about the country, or part of the country. Alan beddoe, obe, rcnr, the ottawa expert who recently changed our national crest and whose staff drew the books of remembrance now in the house of commons. The maple leaf had already become a popular emblem of canadian national identity at home and abroad. Flag debate, the debate over the proposed new canadian flag which opened in the house of commons 15 june 1964 and ended by closure 15 december 1964. Canadas seal debate, dead in the water colin horgan.
An orderincouncil dated september 1945 adopted it officially as canadas flag. Opposition leader john diefenbaker demanded that the flag honour canadas founding races and feature the union jack. To be added to the waiting list for a flag, complete the form below or provide us with the requested information by mail, email or fax. After the longest debate in canadian parliamentary history, the house of commons voted to adopt the flag committee s surprisingly successful compromise. How the canadian maple leaf flag came to be courageous. Theres also alot of fun stuff, like trivia, video clips, pictures and more, so be sure to check around. Also i have seen photographs in canadian history books covering ww1 displaying the red ensign with canadian forces. Great canadian flag debate history of the canadian flag duration. Our canadian flag is a childrens picture book written by maxine trottier and illustrated by brian deines. Read about the maple leaf from symbols of canada open book. The flag is a british red ensign, featuring the union jack in the canton, adorned with the shield of the coat of arms of canada.
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