It’s National Flag of Canada Day and the country is celebrating 58 years of waving the instantly recognizable red and white flag.
But have you ever wondered what flag we could have ended up with instead?
According to the government of Canada, our national flag is relatively young and a few different flags were flown before it was adopted.
1871
This earliest variation of the Canadian flag was the Canadian Red Ensign back in 1871.This flag includes the Union Jack, the national flag of the United Kingdom, and Canada’s coat of arms.
It was recognized as one of the main flags of Canada until 1921.
1921
King George V gave the greenlight for Canada’s new official coat of arms, which takes its place on the Canadian Red Ensign. This would hold as the official flag until 1957.
However, years would go by with Parliament attempting to form a committee to review the flag, as early as 1925 even. But it wasn’t until 1946 that a second parliamentary committee was formed to consider a design for a new national flag.
Unfortunately nothing came of it.
The Union Jack would remain the national flag and the Canadian Red Ensign was flown over government buildings.
1957
In 1957, the Canadian Red Ensign got a slight makeover.T he leaves on the shield of Canada’s coat of arms were changed from green to red.
In 1964, also known as the year of The Great Flag Debate, a new parliamentary committee was formed and was tasked with selecting a national flag before 1967. In the end, the committee chose a design that resembles our flag today.
1965
Finally in 1965, Canada adopted what we know as our flag today, with its “iconic and singular graphic design.”
According to the government’s website, a royal proclamation was signed by Queen Elizabeth II on January 28, 1965, and the new flag was raised on Parliament Hill on February 15 of that same year.
