History of the Canadian Flag

The History of the Canadian Flag

Canadians have been no different than any other peoples in their search for an emblem representative of Canada. There have been five flags used in Canada as it developed into a nation. The first was a white flag with three gold fleurs-de-lys. This flag was used by Jaques Cartier in his voyage up the St. Lawrence (1535) and by Champlain (1605) in his explorations of eastern Canada. It was under this flag that the French lived under until the conquest of New France in 1759 by the English.

The flag used by the English from around 1700 was the Union Flag which contained two crosses - the cross of St. George (the patron Saint of England - red) and the cross of St. Andrew (the patron Saint of Scotland - white) representing the United Kingdom's 2 countries, England and Scotland. This falg was also flown over Upper and Lower Canada, the name given to the two territories from which Canada was made ( present day Ontario and Quebec ) from 1759 to 1801.

In 1801, the Union Jack, with three crosses, those of St. George, St. andrew and St. Patrick (the patron Saint of Ireland) was introduced when Ireland was annexed to the United Kingdom. This flag flew over Upper and Lower Canada, and finally, over a united Canada after confederation in 1867.

The Red Ensign was approved in 1945 for use by Canadians overseas and on certain occasions in Canada. This flag was used until 1965.

The Canadian flag was authorized by Royal Proclamation on February 15, 1965, following approval by the Canadian House of Commons and Senate in December 1965. The Canadian Flag is red. In its center is a white square the width of the flag, with a single red maple leaf in the centre. The flag must always be twice as long as it is wide. The colors white and red were given to Canada by King George V, on November 21, 1921, when he granted arms to Canada on the recommendation of the Canadian government. The maple leaf has always been an emblem of Canada. There is no significance to the eleven points on the maple leaf.

Excerpted from the Fieldbook for Canadian Scouting, 1990

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	Canadians have been no different than any other peoples in their search for an emblem representative of Canada. There have been five flags used in Canada as it developed into a nation. The first was a white flag with three gold fleurs-de-lys. This flag was used by Jaques Cartier in his voyage up the St. Lawrence (1535) and by Champlain (1605) in his explorations of eastern Canada. It was under this flag that the French lived under until the conquest of New France in 1759 by the English.
The flag used by the English from around 1700 was the Union Flag which contained two crosses - the cross of St. George (the patron Saint of England - red) and the cross of St. Andrew (the patron Saint of Scotland - white) representing the United Kingdom's 2 countries, England and Scotland. This falg was also flown over Upper and Lower Canada, the name given to the two territories from which Canada was made ( present day Ontario and Quebec ) from 1759 to 1801.
	In 1801, the Union Jack, with three crosses, those of St. George, St. andrew and St. Patrick (the patron Saint of Ireland) was introduced when Ireland was annexed to the United Kingdom. This flag flew over Upper and Lower Canada, and finally, over a united Canada after confederation in 1867.
The Red Ensign was approved in 1945 for use by Canadians overseas and on certain occasions in Canada. This flag was used until 1965.
	The Canadian flag was authorized by Royal Proclamation on February 15, 1965, following approval by the Canadian House of Commons and Senate in December 1965. The Canadian Flag is red. In its center is a white square the width of the flag, with a single red maple leaf in the centre. The flag must always be twice as long as it is wide. The colors white and red were given to Canada by King George V, on November 21, 1921, when he granted arms to Canada on the recommendation of the Canadian government. The maple leaf has always been an emblem of Canada. There is no significance to the eleven points on the maple leaf.