By resolutions of Parliament on December 15, 1964 (House of Commons) and December 17, 1964 (Senate); proclaimed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, to take effect on February 15, 1965 - the day the maple leaf flag was first raised over Parliament Hill (in Ottawa).
The flag is red and white, the official colours of Canada as appointed by King George V in 1921, with a stylized 11-point red leaf in its centre.
Two by length and one by width.
The St. George's Cross, an English flag of the 15th century, was carried by John Cabot and flown over Canada when he reached the east coast in 1597. Thirty seven years later, Jacques Cartier planted the fleur-de-lis on Canadian soil when he landed here and claimed the land for the King of France. The fleur-de-lis was flown until the early 1760s, when Canada was ceded to the United Kingdom.
Although first flown over Canada in 1621, the Royal Union Flag (with the Crosses of St. Edward and St. Andrew) replaced the fleur-de-lis after 1759. Following the Act of Union (1891), the Cross of St. Patrick was addded to the flag that we now know more commonly as the Union Jack.
The Red Ensign was created in 1707 as the flag of the British Merchant Marine. A form of the Red Ensign, with quartered arms of Canadian provinces (later the shield of the Royal Arms of Canada), gave rise to the Canadian Red Ensign, various forms of which were flown from approximately 1870 to 1965. The red-and-white maple leaf flag replaced it on February 15, 1965.
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A tradition since July 1, 1996 (appropriate, eh?).
Last modified on July 1, 1996.
This monstrosity of a home page was created by Jimmy Liem.
©1996 by Jimmy Liem, of course.
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