The National Flag of Canada

The Canadian red and white maple leaf flag is officially called The National Flag of Canada. The Canadian flag shows a stylized red maple leaf with 11 points on a white background, with red borders down each side. The Canadian flag is twice as long as it is wide. The white square containing the red maple leaf is the same width as the flag.

The red and white used in the National Flag of Canada were proclaimed the official colours of Canada in 1921 by King George V. Although the maple leaf did not have official status as an emblem of Canada until the proclamation of the national flag in 1965, it had historically been used as a Canadian symbol, and was used in 1860 in decorations for the visit of the Prince of Wales to Canada. The 11 points on the maple leaf have no special significance.

It wasn't until the 1965 inauguration of the maple leaf flag that Canada had its own national flag. In the early days of Canadian Confederation the Royal Union flag, or Union Jack, was still flown in British North America. The Red Ensign, with a Union Jack in the upper left corner and a shield containing the coats of arms of the Canadian provinces, was used as the unofficial flag of Canada from about 1870 to 1924. The composite shield was then replaced with the Royal Arms of Canada and approved for use overseas. In 1945 it was authorized for general use.

In 1925 and again in 1946, Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King tried to get a national flag of Canada adopted, and failed. In 1964, Prime Minister Lester Pearson appointed a 15-member, all-party committee to come up with the design of a new flag for Canada. The committee was given six weeks to complete its task.

The suggestion for a red and white single maple leaf design for the Canadian flag came from George Stanley, a professor at Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario.

In his speech at the national flag inauguration ceremony, Prime Minister Lester Pearson said:

"Under this Flag may our youth find new inspiration for loyalty to Canada; for a patriotism based not on any mean or narrow nationalism, but on the deep and equal pride that all Canadians will feel for every part of this good land."

Flag Etiquette in Canada on the Canadian Heritage Department site provides the rules for flying and displaying the Canadian flag in different situations - affixed to a car or carried in a procession, for example.

Fundamental to these rules is the principle that The National Flag of Canada should always be treated with dignity and that it takes precedence over all other national flags and ensigns when flown in Canada.

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