Flag of Canada
The
National Flag of Canada, also known as the
Maple Leaf, and l'Unifolié (French for "the
one-leafed"), is a red flag with a white
square in its centre, featuring a stylized
11-pointed red maple leaf. Its adoption in
1965 marked the first time a national flag
had been officially adopted in Canada to
replace the Union Flag. The Canadian Red
Ensign had been unofficially used since the
1890s and was approved by a 1945
Order-in-Council for use "wherever place or
occasion may make it desirable to fly a
distinctive Canadian flag". In 1964, Prime
Minister Lester B. Pearson appointed a
committee to resolve the issue, sparking a
serious debate about a flag change. Out of
three choices, the maple leaf design by
George F. G. Stanley and John Matheson based
on the flag of the Royal Military College of
Canada was selected. The flag made its first
appearance on February 15, 1965; the date is
now celebrated annually as National Flag of
Canada Day. Many different flags have been
created for use by Canadian officials,
government bodies, and military forces. Most
of these flags contain the maple leaf motif
in some fashion
Also read: Canadian Governmental System
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